3/8” low ft.lbs. torque wrench suggestions please

[dlefty]

Need a short length/small/compact 3/8” torque wrench that can do low ft. lb. work with decent accuracy.
Track day car has some brake bolts that require 12 ft lb to 81 ft lb. The 81ft lb ones are the tricky ones with not much space to work.

Appreciate the advice on what’s out there that you have had good experiences with.

 

[General Geoff]

1/4" drive torque wrench with a drive adapter?

 

[fourjeepin]

I found a Craftsman one about 15 years ago for my bead lock wheels. It was the only one I could find that wasn’t crazy expensive. No idea if it is still available, but it has been good to me.

 

[vwpieces]

12in/lbs in one ft/lb
I wouldn't trust the accuracy down to 12ft/lbs
I would be using an in/lb wrench at 145in/lbs another wrench for the 81ft/lb range.

 

[Komet]

Yeah, the wrench that does well at 81ft lbs isn't going to do well at 12, best to have two for that application.

 

[nadogail]

I like flexible beam torque wrenches, they tend to stay in calibration.

 

[AdAstra]

A mechanical one is gonna have trouble covering that range super accurately, they generally are only tested for accuracy down to 20% of full scale, although there are some that are marked as 10-80 lbf•ft and might possibly do OK on a case-by-case basis.

A digital strain gage one would be much more likely to perform better than a mechanical at the low end of the range.

This has both of those in range: https://etork.com/ec2100-3-8digital-torque-wrench/ and perhaps could use torque adapters/extensions/crowfeet to address the access issue.

 

[finn]

I bought a SnapOn dial type 1/4” drive for measuring pinion drag. Probably overkill for what I needed, but it’s a quality tool.

 

[pizza]

12in/lbs in one ft/lb
I wouldn't trust the accuracy down to 12ft/lbs
I would be using an in/lb wrench at 145in/lbs another wrench for the 81ft/lb range.

it's ft multiplied by lb, not divided by lb!

 

[Qualitytools]

Have a look at NORBA Inc lbs in 3/8.

 

[Rinspeed]

I seriously wouldn't waste your time and effort worrying about torquing brake components.

 

[dnschmidt]

A mechanical one is gonna have trouble covering that range super accurately, they generally are only tested for accuracy down to 20% of full scale, although there are some that are marked as 10-80 lbf•ft and might possibly do OK on a case-by-case basis.

A digital one would be much more likely to perform better than a mechanical at the low end of the range.

This has both of those in range: https://etork.com/ec2100-3-8digital-torque-wrench/ and perhaps could use torque adapters/extensions/crowfeet to address the access issue.

That is NOT a digital torque wrench. It's a clicker (spring release) type torque wrench with a digital display. Craftsman made a similar one for many years. A true digital torque wrench uses strain gauges for the torque measurement like the Snap-On Tech-Angle. True digital torque wrenches can span this range but it's still not ideal at the lower end.

 

[bob15]

A dial or beam torque wrench in inch/pounds is your friend. Snap-On, S-R (Sturtevant Richmont) and Seekonk are your friends.

https://www.seekonk.com/21/home.htm

 

[LWB]

I seriously wouldn't waste your time and effort worrying about torquing brake components.

Normally I might agree, but in the case of my track car everything is torqued to spec.

 

[LiketoFix]

FYI I'm a fan of Eastwood's, (automotive supply), 1/2, 3/8, 1/4 inch torque wrenches.

1/4" drive torque wrench with a drive adapter?

I think Geoff gave you one of the best suggestions.

LtF

 

[boom_bap]

PI makes a 10-50 that in 3/8 a 20-100 in 3/8. You are probably going to need two wrenches to get from 12 to 80. As AdAstra said they are only accurate 20% of their upper range.

 

[mikedodge]

Agreed. Sounds like you need two.

As for brand and type check this thread that's ongoing from Thursday on the same subject.

New Torque Wrench

My old trusty Mastercraft 1/2" drive 250ft-lbs 24" clicker torque wrench is getting fussy, doesn't always click anymore. I've had it nearly 15 years, so doesn't owe me anything and it's time for a new one. Wouldn't mind spending a bit more. Sooo...what to get? CDI? Snap On? Gearwrench...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[AdAstra]

That is NOT a digital torque wrench. It's a clicker (spring release) type torque wrench with a digital display. Craftsman made a similar one for many years. A true digital torque wrench uses strain gauges for the torque measurement like the Snap-On Tech-Angle. True digital torque wrenches can span this range but it's still not ideal at the lower end.

Oh good catch, I just saw the digital display and assumed, didn’t know a hybrid one was a thing. So cancel that rec then.

Yep, a real strain gage digital might not ideal for this range, but will almost certainly be way better than a mechanical, and prob good enough for most applications. I’ve taken strain gages way below 20% of full reading and they still track quite well. At some level it’s the torque tools specs that says only go to 20%, so they only test/calibrate/report to that.

 

[BillK]

I would have to say that you need two wrenches to accurately cover that range. Just curious what on the brakes requires 81 ft lb ?

I would use a 1/4" drive inch lb wrench for the 12.

 

[KnurledNut]

A dial or beam torque wrench in inch/pounds is your friend. Snap-On, S-R (Sturtevant Richmont) and Seekonk are your friends.

https://www.seekonk.com/21/home.htm

For the sake of discussion, Snap-on acquired Sturtevant Richmont back in 2016.

 

[boom_bap]

I would have to say that you need two wrenches to accurately cover that range. Just curious what on the brakes requires 81 ft lb ?

I would use a 1/4" drive inch lb wrench for the 12.

GM 1/2 ton brakes require 80 on the front/rear pins and 122r/129f on the bracket bolts.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

How's a used techangle? 300 bucks or so for a used 5-125 flex head 3/8.

 

[ronkz650]

Expensive option, Snap-on atech2fm100 but it will be smaller than most and cover 5-100ft/lb.

 

[bob15]

For the sake of discussion, Snap-on acquired Sturtevant Richmont back in 2016.

Most people don't know that and I think even fewer have even heard of S-R in general.

 

[oldmachinenut]

I bought a SnapOn dial type 1/4” drive for measuring pinion drag. Probably overkill for what I needed, but it’s a quality tool.

I saw a guy on one of the car shows on tv check pinion rotational torque with a click type torque wrench.

 

[whateg01]

it's ft multiplied by lb, not divided by lb!

Do you know how much work it was to get our tech pubs people to fix our maintenance manuals???