Okay on ebay they have torque wrenches that say 1/2" and i don't know if that will work for my regular socket set? will it? and also theres 1/2" with 3/8" adapter, is this what i need? thanks to anyone who posts!

 

I would get a 3/8" wrench. They're cheaper and the only thing you'll need a 1/2" wrench for is your crank pulley bolt.

 

with the 3/8" can i use my socket set sockets? thanks

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...2&category=303

theres something i might buy but i wanna know if i can use my socket set sockets on this? please help asap!!!

 

3/8ths would be best unless your doing some serious wrenching. as far as fitting your sockets it depends. you could have from 1/4 -1" drive, most commonly is 3/8ths, measure the shaft on your ratchet or the square size in socket

 

i personally use a 1/2" one that goes from 10-150 ft-lbs. The larger wrench makes it easy for me to apply light pressure until it clicks rather than use a smaller 3/8" (well they usually are shorter in length) and apply more force to get it to click.

btw, what kind of torque wrench do you guys use for the axle nut? Mine doesnt go high enough for it, and im wondering where to get one... or does autozone rent one that torques enough for the axle nut?

oooooh and my torque wrench is exactly like that too. I got it from tirerack i think for $20. For something that cheap, i dont think it matters too much what size you get. I plan to get a 3/8 drive that covers 5-20 ft-lb (marked in inches) for small ass stuff, and use this one for general stuff.

 

question: how often, or do you guys, calaborate(sp) the wrenches? im looking to invest in one.

 

if you plan on putting on a header, or anything with bolts, its nice to have a torque wrench. i cracked my exhaust gasket cuz i tightened it too much.

 

I have some cheap Pittsburgh torque wrench that I purchased from Harbor Freight and Tools a few years back. I'm pretty sure it's no longer accurate (if it ever was) but I don't plan on calibrating it. I'll probably just get a new one. Like TypeSH, I use it for almost everything but I don't trust it for little things like internal engine work. I'll probably pick up a more accurate smaller torque wrench for that.

Mine is a 1/2" drive and measures 10-150ft-lbs. I just use a 1/2" - 3/8" adapter for using my usual sockets.

 

I use the Snap on torquer wrenches in my shop but for a really good and affordable one, the Craftsman at Sears is a nice piece and stays inn calibration well. Just always make sure to back off the torque reading to zero whenever you are not using it with any click type wrench. If you leave the wrench set at say 70ft-lbs then the inner rod will take a 'set' over time and you will slowly go out of calibration.