Torque wrench range for lug nuts

[Jaguar Fan]

I'm looking for advice on a torque wrench for lug nuts. Currently I have 3 vehicles with the following torque specs:

* 135 ft-lbs
* 105 ft-lbs
* 80 ft-lbs

I'm looking at Tekton wrenches. I can get one with a 10-150 range, or one with a 25-250 range.

What do you suggest for lug nuts (mainly)? Or should I go with a different brand?

Thanks for any real-world advice.

 

[Tonyuk]

I like Norbar torque wrenches but i doubt you'll get them over there in the US.

Really just for lug nuts i would just get a cheap one, around £20 ish. My first torque wrench went from 30 - 210 NM and was fine for pretty much everything for basic DIY use, cost about £25.

This looks like the one i had;

https://www.harborfreight.com/1-2-half-inch-drive-click-type-torque-wrench-239.html

Good price too.

 

[ghnl]

1/2" drive for $19.99 at Harbor Fright.

 

[GarageGuy89]

1/2" drive for $19.99 at Harbor Fright.

+1....have it and love it. Simple cheap and nothing fancy needed for lug nuts.

 

[Michael_in_DE]

Got a craftsman on a garage sale for $25.

For lug nutz only, I wouldn't bother getting too crazy.

 

[ItsNemo]

Go with the 25-250ft-lb one, torque wrenches are more accurate in the middle of their torque range. As well, the higher torque ones usually have a longer handle making it easier to use.

 

[jpinca]

+1....have it and love it. Simple cheap and nothing fancy needed for lug nuts.

Ditto. These perpetually have a coupon or are on sale with 20% off coupon.

 

[openwheelracing88]

Love the Tekton 1/2. Great quality and accurate. Got it for $24 after coupon at Lowes.

I also use a Kobalt 3/8 for suspension and other small jobs. Slightly better built than Tekton, highly recommend. Got this one for $33 after coupon.

 

[rlitman]

Go with the 25-250ft-lb one, torque wrenches are more accurate in the middle of their torque range. As well, the higher torque ones usually have a longer handle making it easier to use.

+1 That's the torque range you want for lug nuts on cars and light trucks.

 

[Siteman25]

I have one of the 1/4" tekton and it's pretty good, better I think than the harbor freight, for $20 more I would get the tekton in 25-250 range, as it puts your torques closer to the center of the range and about a 6 inch longer handle.

 

[anndel]

Go with the Tekton 25-250 ft-lbf

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

Any torque wrench will be fine for lug nuts, although the HF one is the worst I have ever used.

 

[JohnDeere1]

I have a Wright made by CDI I paid 50 bucks for it used but it's in New condition and bought a Craftsman made in USA off CL for $20 Lee in package both are 1/2 and work great I only use them for lug nuts. Look on eBay for a used CDI they make them for Cornwell and Wright as well as snap on and themselves should get one for $50 I bought 2 and sold one to my MIL..

 

[Coach James]

I use to use a Craftsman beam style and now use the Tekton 1/2" 25-250 wrench for lug nuts. I'm happy with both.

Coach

 

[AndeiH]

another vote for a 25-250 ft-lb torque wrench. i use mine mainly for lugnuts but a couple of weeks ago i had to torque a couple of bolts on my car to 180 ft-lbs.

 

[Jaguar Fan]

Many thanks for the advice!

 

[joe_padavano]

The reality is, it doesn't matter. First, lug nuts will hold the wheels on the vehicle under a fairly wide range of torques, second, the variables of friction, rust, lube (or not), etc, etc, mean that the actual clamping force you generate will vary widely for a given torque setting. Getting the 25-250 because it's more accurate in the middle of the range is unnecessary for this application; you'll just be fooling yourself if you think the clamping force on the lugs is that much more precise as a result.

My answer would be different if you were building race engines or the space shuttle, but if your primary use is tightening lug nuts, don't lose a lot of sleep over this.

 

[guy48065]

Go with the 25-250ft-lb one, torque wrenches are more accurate in the middle of their torque range. As well, the higher torque ones usually have a longer handle making it easier to use.

If the accuracy spec is the +/-3% typical of clickers, that's 3% of the READING--meaning the allowable error is smaller at lower settings. If your wrench is on the high side of spec your limit at 50 Ft-Lbs is 51.5, while the limit at 250 is 257.5.

And for those of you who believe the myth that clickers are unreliable, consider how accurate and repeatable it MUST be to be within 1.5# 3 times in a row.

 

[guy48065]

I use to use a Craftsman beam style and now use the Tekton 1/2" 25-250 wrench for lug nuts. I'm happy with both.

Coach

Do you need to keep a dwarf spotter around to watch that needle move just inches off the ground?

 

[wkndwarrior29]

+1 on this.

Also consider that you should not use a torque wrench in the first or last 10% of it's band... So if you are looking to torque to 140lbs most industries would not allow you to use a wrench certified to 150lbs.

Considering you are torquing lugs I will assume that you are doing other maintenance on your vehicles too. You could eventually need multiple torque wrenches... The most I can recall torquing to on my vehicles is 145 lbs for a hub nut. I would suggest something that covers the high end of the range now for your specific use and understand that you may want/need a 15-85 lb wrench in the future for other jobs...

I have Craftsman digitork wrenches, they serve a purpose but a regret that I have is selling a snap on flex head wrench that I had... Mine are bulkier and sometimes I end up getting things good and tight because I can't get the wrench where I need it.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[visionguru]

If torquing down lug nuts will be the only use, I'd recommend a digital adapter, like mine:

You can actually see exact the torque you put on.

If you like mechanical, Harbor Freight is pretty cheap and good. Tekton is nothing special and probably made in the same factory.

 

[Coach James]

Do you need to keep a dwarf spotter around to watch that needle move just inches off the ground?

Ha! First time I put it on a lug, I thought "How the heck do I read this?". Then the light bulb came on and I thought to keep it as close to vertical as possible. Sometimes simple things aren't so simple for me.

Coach

 

[artbuc]

....Tekton is nothing special and probably made in the same factory.

What is the basis for this assertion? Have you disassembled, inspected and done comparative testing? Are you just guessing about the factory location?

 

[WhiffySpark]

You guys worry about torquing a drain plug but you’re willing to put the cheapest Chinese torque wrenches on your lug nuts?

 

[gdocktor3]

I have a Wright made by CDI I paid 50 bucks for it used but it's in New condition and bought a Craftsman made in USA off CL for $20 Lee in package both are 1/2 and work great I only use them for lug nuts. Look on eBay for a used CDI they make them for Cornwell and Wright as well as snap on and themselves should get one for $50 I bought 2 and sold one to my MIL..

MIL as in mother in law??

 

[gdocktor3]

You guys worry about torquing a drain plug but you’re willing to put the cheapest Chinese torque wrenches on your lug nuts?

Basically my thoughts with everything from HF, but especially something like this.