Need A Good Recommendation For a Torque Wrench and Jack Stands

F

Fire0nic3FX

Member
I'm wanting to buy a torque wrench and I was wondering what model do you recommend? I wanted a digital torque to make things easier.

Also looking at some jack stands to put the car up on. Any recommendations?


I'm wanting to start doing tire rotations myself. Sick of paying $60 for something that isn't rocket science. Just at the moment I don't have the right equipment to do it. Plus someday I'd like to start changing the diff and transfer case oil myself. I figured the jack stands and torque wrench would eventually pay for itself.
 
their is a link here about a digital torque wrench, someone was selling it

---------- Post Merged at 02:50 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 02:48 PM ----------

found it

https://www.infinitiscene.com/search/1/?q=14709-Digital-Torque-Wrench-Member-Special

---------- Post Merged at 02:54 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 02:48 PM ----------

and as for jack stands. First u will need quality steel jack rated over 3tons, then you need at least 2 ton per stand not 2 ton set. I actually use heavy duty stand 4 ton each stand. Go to sears, thats where i got mine. They usually come in invidual boxes.
 
Aaron, $60 for tire rotation just crazy. Spend the money on a jack, jack stands, and a torque wrench. I bet in four rotations, you have your money back. Well it will takes a few more rotations if you go with a digital torque wrench. I had all my tires mounted at Discount Tires and it comes with free rotation, but I never go to them for rotation. I figure, by the time go and wait on them (yeah even with appointment), I'm would have it done already, plus they don't touch cars with spacers too.
 
GEE35FX said:
I don't even let the Dealer rotate my tires , I always do it myself. I would not let Wallymart do anything to my car.
Click to expand...

You have some nice rims I dont blame you. I let them do the dirty work, but I'll re-torque em.

---------- Post Merged at 08:36 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 08:34 PM ----------

matrixx860 said:
Craftsman is good and they have life time warranty on all thier tools. :good:
Click to expand...
I heard somewhere that they dont do lifetime on torque wrenches, not sure.
 
matrixx860 said:
Craftsman is good and they have life time warranty on all thier tools. :good:
Click to expand...

Not everything is life time. My compressor, air tools, floor jack and tq wrench is not.

If all your doing is wheels and suspension get urself anything. I like harbor freights $10 tq wrench. Cheap and easy to throw away. They are made in china but wheels and suspension are not high demand for exact torque. You can be off a couple pounds and not damage anything.

Now if you were doing engine internals, you would need something nice and calibrated yearly or so. I have 2 bluepoint tq wrenches for that. I like them.

Jackstands are safety items. Spend a little money on them. I've seen many cracked and broken jack stands. I have a vintage set that I mainly use. But also have some harbor freights. I stop using them after I saw some shots of broken stands.
 
Craftsman is nothing more than Chinese junk anymore. I returned a ratchet that was about 10 years old about a month ago, the old one says made in the USA right on it and feels high quality in your hands. The new one is stamped made in china and is in no comparison to the broken one I traded. Sears is now owned by kmart and from what I understand about put them under, as a result the quality was decreased for higher profits to prevent both companies from financial ruin. I wouldn't buy anything from sears. Go to home depot or lowes and get either kobalt or huskey tools which are both made in the us and are very high quality. You will pay more but you get what you pay for, also both have lifetime warrantys. JMO
 
I run big red jack stands just because they are at my local auto store. I am a bit crazy and have 4 jacks and 4 jack stands, I use jacks to raise the car, then lower onto the jackstand so equal weight to the extent possible is on both the jack stand and jack.

I have craftsmen and big red jacks.

I use a tirerack.com torque wrench, but any cheapo will do as mentioned above. You're not torquing heavy machinery which a few lbs off is going to make a difference. Always torque to spec and I torque a bit more by feel. Better to over-torque than under-torque.

You really don't want to crush 2 piece rotors or put unnecessary pressure on threads of the studs, the whole point. I torque 85-90 ft-lbs typically. You just don't want 100 ft-lbs+. If you start hearing squealing of metal/metal rub from stud/nut, you're creating heat and unnecessary force. I always dry torque as anti-seize torquing changes torque specs slightly.

Digital is nice, but I've always like the pressure ones where you get the read out by a "lever" or click.
 
Sorry needed to bring this back up. What's a better torque wrench. A 1/2" drive or 3/8" drive? I need one that can torque my lug nuts down and spark plugs.

From what I hear 1/2" is better for lug nuts and suspension stuff and 3/8" is best for engine work like drain plugs and spark plugs.

I just need something where I could do both spark plugs and lug nuts on wheels.
 
Right now though my main use will be for spark plugs and drain bolts for the engine and differentials. So the 3/8" is best for that right?

can I use the 1/2" for those or is it just for lug use?
 
Fire0nic3FX said:
Right now though my main use will be for spark plugs and drain bolts for the engine and differentials. So the 3/8" is best for that right?

can I use the 1/2" for those or is it just for lug use?
Click to expand...

U can use either drive. Remember its all bout the rating. I think my 1/2 inch starts at 35 ft/lbs-150ft/lb. A little too high for spark plugs. The 3/8 drive I forget but the high end is right at 100ft/lb so the rating is a hair too low.

I don't torque drain plugs nor spark plugs , mainly because I feel I can get them roughly in the right ball park. I don't see many people torque spark plugs on the mechanic level. Just the DIY guys mainly. Snug them up and a little more is all it needs.

But if I had to choose one, get the 3/8. U can do more harm messing up a drain plug or spark plug then u can tightening lug nuts and suspension.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top