torque sticks

[caper]

Glad to hear no one was hurt.I've stated my opinion of torque sticks several times so I won't do it again but I'll relate a story that happened to me last week.

My wife's car was due for it's Provincial safety inspection.Part of said inspection here in Nova Scotia is to pull the wheels and check the condition of the braking system.Since I've been licensed to do them for 20 yrs I'm pretty familiar with the process.The only problem is my employer doesn't do retail work so we're not permitted to do our own anymore.I took the car to one of the local shops to have the safety done and kinda hungout and BS'd with the young guy doing the check as I've known him for years.When he went to put the wheels back on he grabbed his torque stick and started hammering away with the gun.I was going to stop him and them I thought the hell with it.When I went back to my shop I pulled the nuts with my airgun.Man they were TIGHT.My aw434 had to hammer on them to get them to move.Reinstalled them with my torque wrench.

 

[MarcSeattle]

Yep, time is money. It seems to me that in the auto repair business, one broken stud, warped rotor, suspension failure or crash lawsuit can take a lot of time.

 

[nato]

I don't know what all you're using them for, but I do not like them. Just because they're "set" to establish their predetermined rating, doesn't mean that they'll not exceed the specified rating up to 25 or so ft/lbs. (I've witnessed this) You have to match your gun setting & stick setting accurately. Most people don't do this. Plus, you need a qulity product. I havven't seen or heard over a top-notch torque stick...ever.
Even though your t/w tolerance may vary 10-20% +/-, that is still possibly, considerably lower that a maxed impact wrench setting with a much lower rated torque stick.
I'm so accustomed to checking critical components w/ my t/w after service, i could not image doing it any other way.
For instance, if I set my 2135Ti to it's 3rd or 4th setting, put on a 19mm socket w/ a 100ft/lb rated torque stick/torque stick socket and tighten the lug nuts on my Escape in one pass, then quickly go over them again for reassurance, I could GUARANTEE that they would be overtightened passed 100ft/lbs.
I know it's preference, but I'll take a little more comfort having my t/w checked once or twice a year and use that as the method of choice.