Sorry to sound stubborn. I really am trying to help. I bought low profile ratchets and sockets and never ever use them. Your own data shows an insignificant difference in head height. Would you seriously choose a tool based on a millimeter or 2?
Edit: Typically missing from the low head height discussions is what happens when you loosen the fastener and back the ratchet into the obstruction you were just trying to avoid?
In the extreme, at some point you may need to switch from ratchet to wrench (preferably ratchet wrench maybe) just to get the fastener clear of the obstruction. Most times, all I need is to loosen the fastener, then spin the hardware out by hand.
Point is, the use case for low head height ratchets is extremely rare. There's almost always another method you can use. The point at which one goes looking for a low head height torque wrench is the point at which one is tooling up to work on unicorns. I'd have to see the specific application to understand the use case.
No I wouldn't make a decision based on 2 mm difference, hoping to see if there's a manufacturer that makes a low profile one. Yes, I agree that the need for low profile ratchets and sockets is extremely rare. There may not be a low profile torque wrench, but it looks like the Tone ones might be a non-insignificant difference and lower in profile than most. Are you able to please add data for your torque wrenches?
Update
- Walmart = Hypertough and Hart torque wrenches, all in plastic cases
- Advance Auto Parts = Performance Tools torque wrenches, all in plastic cases
- Home Depot = Husky torque wrenches, all in plastic cases
- Tractor Supply = Jobsmart torque wrenches, all in plastic cases
- O'Riley Auto Parts = Power Torque and Power Tools torque wrenches, all in plastic cases
- Harbor Freight = Pittsburgh, Quinn, Icon, Floor model included torque wrenches, rest in plastic cases
- Lowes = Craftsman torque wrenches, in plastic cases
- Ace Hardware = Craftsman torque wrenches, in plastic cases
Might walk into NAPA the next time I drive by one.
Looking online at torque wrenches:
- Snap-On - lists head depth, but this doesn't include the anvil (likely)
- Koken - Doesn't make adjustable torque wrenches
- Mac - Doesn't provide head depth on torque wrenches
- Matco - Doesn't provide head depth on torque wrenches
- Proto - Doesn't provide head depth on torque wrenches
- Gear Wrench - lists head depth, but this doesn't include the anvil (likely)
- Tone - lists head depth, including the anvil, and not the anvil
- Tekton - Doesn't provide head depth on torque wrenches
- Capri - Doesn't provide head depth on torque wrenches
I might add Tone to my database later. Might also include head depth (without anvil) into the database, so that way I can include Snap-On and Gear wrench into the database.
Need for low profile torque wrench:
2002-2006 Toyota Camry with the 4 cylinder, 2AZ-FE engine, power steering pump. I believe it was designed to be replaced with the engine out of the car. It can be replaced with it in the car though. There are two 14 mm head bolts that you have to go through the pulley to unfasten. You need a 14 mm socket that is at least 30 mm in overall length. A slightly longer one is possible but will require a thinner ratchet or breaker bar. Went through my 14 mm sockets and found that:
- 3/8 " Drive Stubby = Top shallow
- 3/8 " Drive Semi-Deep = Too Long
- 3/8 " Drive Deep = Too long
- 1/2 " Drive Stubby = Just Right
- 1/2 " Drive Semi-Deep = Too Long
- 1/2 " Drive Deep = Too long
A 14 mm socket that is 30 mm in overall length is very common for 1/2 stubby sockets, even no-name Chinese brands. 3/8 " stubby was too shallow, while all other sizes were too long. I know that Koken makes a 3/8 " drive 14 mm semi-deep z-series socket that would work, or some shallow sockets with Tekton mini extension, but I didn't have these on hand, and most semi-deep 14 mm 3/8 " are too long. So, I used my 1/2 " drive stubby 14 mm socket with a breaker bar. Very difficult to unthread was loosened through the pulley. My 1/2 " ratchet was to thick, so I got a Gear Wrench 1/2 " drive 90T ratchet from Home Depot that was much thinner than my other 1/2 " ratchet and was able to get the bolt out. The problem was that my 1/2 " torque wrench was too thick, and I wasn't able to use a torque wrench for the top bolt and just had to rely on my calibrated torque arm.
This is the only case I have ever came in, were a low profile 1/2 " drive torque wrench would have helped. But I also know had I had the right 3/8 " stubby socket with Tekton mini-extension, or a very uncommon semi-deep 3/8 " drive socket.