Torque Wrench help

[Jigstick]

On the way from Pittsburgh to Hilton Head last summer I had a brake caliper bracket bolt back out in the middle of West Virginia. Stuck on the side of the road for 8hrs with an angry wife and my three kids all under age 5.

I’ve always cranked those bolts on tight. Then a little tighter if you know what I mean. No idea why one backed out. Anyways I want to torque them to spec from now on but all I have is a 1/2in drive torque wrench that’s about 32in long. Can someone recommend a smaller torque wrench for this type of application?

 

[reptilezs]

caliper bolts are usually 75-200 ft lb depening on the car. CDI is a good torque wrench. they are all long compared to a ratchet. use med strength loc tite for insurance

 

[plinker]

Blue Loctite can be your friend with caliper hardware, but a 1/2 drive torque wrench is likely the best bet depending on bolt size if you actually torque them. The ones rated for 20ish to 150 ft lb may be shorter overall then the ones that go up to 250 ft lb.

https://www.tooltopia.com/gearwrench-85063.aspx?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=PLA&scid=scbplpKDT85063&sc_intid=KDT85063

Precision instruments or CDI are both high quality. No experience with the newer Gearwench torque wrenches, the older US made ones were good though.

 

[joetech]

Just bought a CDI inch pound torque wrench. I am VERY impressed with what they are. I also bought a Precision Instruments 200-600lb torque wrench. That is an amazing beast as well, and the torque doesn't have to be changed when it's in storage (split beam style).

For the smaller wrenches I'd go with CDI and the bigger ones I'd go with Precision Instruments Split Beams.

This is the result of hours of research in reviews and price.

I still need to get a 5-75 ft lb wrench as I don't have a GOOD wrench available to me in that size range.

 

[dnschmidt]

You don't have a torque problem you have a Loctite problem. GM has long recommended the use of RED Loctite for caliber brackets. Specifically they call for number 272. I can only imagine it must be a vibration issue which is why they call for such an aggressive version of Loctite.

 

[unslow1]

dnschmidt beat me to it. Those are supposed to have Loctite for a reason. I've never seen anyone actually use a torque wrench on them.

 

[Wamsutta]

Jigstick, what is the actual required torque value for those bracket bolts? Tell me that and then I can recommend a specific torque wrench with its part number.