Wrenches for Alignments

[Rosso]

Hi,

I'm doing lots of alignments at work and have come across the same problem a number of times.

I use SO flank drive plus wrenches and on certain vehicles i find the wrench is too long and hits the ramp thus creating issue's getting the tie rod nuts loose.

For example my 22mm wrench is this:

https://store.snapon.com/Standard-H...andard-Metric-Combination-Wrench-P640793.aspx

It's 318mm long.

I see SO offer Open ended slimline in 19/22 and 21/24 which would cover all the sizes i need.

The 22/19 wrench is 241mm which should be short enough to clear the ramps etc.

My concern though is they are listed as "low Torque"

Does anyone use these wrenches ? Would they not be suitable for alignments ? It's just a lock nut so not a massive amount of torque.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Hi,

I'm doing lots of alignments at work and have come across the same problem a number of times.

I use SO flank drive plus wrenches and on certain vehicles i find the wrench is too long and hits the ramp thus creating issue's getting the tie rod nuts loose.

For example my 22mm wrench is this:

https://store.snapon.com/Standard-H...andard-Metric-Combination-Wrench-P640793.aspx

It's 318mm long.

I see SO offer Open ended slimline in 19/22 and 21/24 which would cover all the sizes i need.

The 22/19 wrench is 241mm which should be short enough to clear the ramps etc.

My concern though is they are listed as "low Torque"

Does anyone use these wrenches ? Would they not be suitable for alignments ? It's just a lock nut so not a massive amount of torque.

Those low torque spanners are very thin. More suited to holding caliper pins than doing track rod lock nuts.

Have you looked at Stahlwille Series 13s? Great quality, and should be a bit shorter.

 

[rlitman]

Those are narrow. You can get a standard double ended wrench in 22/19 that is 245mm long.

https://store.snapon.com/Standard-mm-19-mm-22-mm-Standard-Metric-Open-End-Wrench-P633475.aspx

 

[Rosso]

No i haven't looked at them, didn't even know about them to be fair.

Wonder why they make such thin spanner in large sizes what would you use them on !?

 

[Rosso]

Just found these:

https://store.snapon.com/Standard-mm-19-mm-22-mm-Standard-Metric-Open-End-Wrench-P633475.aspx

Same thickness as the standard wrench at 10mm but still only 245mm long.

 

[Rosso]

Beat me to it rlitman.

 

[rlitman]

No i haven't looked at them, didn't even know about them to be fair.

Wonder why they make such thin spanner in large sizes what would you use them on !?

They're for places where only a thin wrench will fit. Like cone and tappet wrenches. Good when you need them, but not good for much else.

Beat me to it rlitman.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Have you looked at Gedore DIN 894 or 894 spanners? They're shorter, either single or double open end spanners. And they have a wider mouth on the open end, which makes them stronger.

I have quite a few DIN 894 spanners, they're great.

 

[Rosso]

I don't want to go too short as stuff is rusted ******* tight up here in deepest darkest Scotland so need some leverage.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I don't want to go too short as stuff is rusted ******* tight up here in deepest darkest Scotland so need some leverage.

Yeah, don't deal with that too much here in London.

 

[rlitman]

I don't want to go too short as stuff is rusted ******* tight up here in deepest darkest Scotland so need some leverage.

Have you considered a Knipex Plierswrench?

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

Should only take a few seconds to cut them to length.









As a cheap *******, I'd probably sacrifice a Craftsman or something.