Notices
Garage & Workshop Tips & Ideas for the garage or workshop. No Truck Tech Discussion   

Torque wrench recommendations

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 22, 2018 | 07:53 PM
  #1  
jacecil082's Avatar
jacecil082
Thread Starter
|
5th Wheeling
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Torque wrench recommendations

In the market for a new torque wrench for DIY jobs on my vehicles. Anyone have a recommendation that won't break the bank but offers good quality?
 
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2018 | 01:15 PM
  #2  
KC8QVO's Avatar
KC8QVO
Cargo Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,577
Likes: 57
Club FTE Gold Member
Subscribed.

I went through replacing the EGR cooler core in my 6.7 not too long ago and bought one of these:
https://www.tooltopia.com/mountain-16200.aspx

It works. I am not sure of the overall quality, but for as much as I will need to use it the tool appears adequate.

What you need to define first is what torque range you need. If you are torquing lug nuts, suspension, and drivetrain components the above torque wrench is way too light. If you are torquing manifold bolts under the hood a heavy torque wrench for lug nuts is too heavy and won't dial down to the lighter torques.

I am looking for a heavier torque wrench myself.
 
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2018 | 11:41 PM
  #3  
ford2go's Avatar
ford2go
Cargo Master
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,476
Likes: 224
From: Frequently frozen MN
Hi,
If you're not going to use it a lot, you might go for a 'beam style'. If you don't abuse it, it will stay accurate. Clicker types apparently do not.

Sears is selling their Craftsman versions (1/2 and 3/8 models ) for 20 bucks or so apiece. I have some older ones, and they work fine for as little as I use them.
If you still have a Sears nearby you could check them out. There were some complaints on their website that they've cheapened them up -- always possible.
They do have clicker versions as well.

hj
 
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2018 | 11:48 PM
  #4  
KC8QVO's Avatar
KC8QVO
Cargo Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,577
Likes: 57
Club FTE Gold Member
This is what I ended up ordering - 25-250ft-lb range, 1/2" drive:
https://www.tooltopia.com/mountain-16250.aspx

Lug nuts on 3/4-1 ton Fords is in the 150-165ft-lb range as best I can tell. The suspension and steering parts I am working with this round are between 100-150ft-lb, if I recall correctly. I will detail the specs of course. So the 25-250ft-lb range has me covered.

Of note - the other torque wrench I have goes up to 200in-lb. That converts to about 16ft-lb. So I have a gap between 16-25. Oh well. I wanted one that went up a bit higher than covered the 16-25 range.
 
Reply
Old Jul 25, 2018 | 05:38 PM
  #5  
KC8QVO's Avatar
KC8QVO
Cargo Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,577
Likes: 57
Club FTE Gold Member
Looks like I am out of my league on one of the bolts... 406 ft-lbs. Yikes!

Check the specs for the parts you are working with to see what numbers you come up with. Looks like I have everything covered except for the one bolt in the range on the wrench I got.




 
Reply
Old Jul 25, 2018 | 10:46 PM
  #6  
ford2go's Avatar
ford2go
Cargo Master
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,476
Likes: 224
From: Frequently frozen MN
Wow -- possibly you could rent one, or maybe find a local shop that does that kind of stuff to do the final on that one. Sounds like it might take the "mother of all torque wrenches."

Also, there's at least one guy who normally stops by the general auto and general non auto -- has his own shop -IIRC. His name is Tom and his username is tjc transport. Anyway, you might try sending him a PM

hj
 
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2018 | 02:12 PM
  #7  
Beechkid's Avatar
Beechkid
Moderator
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 6,104
Likes: 384
From: Southern California
Club FTE Gold Member
Electronic digital torque adapters are available to day and IMHO, will eventually put torque wrenches in the pasture as you can get a really good quality one with a very broad range (reading) ….. like this one...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GKK7DNA/?coliid=I1GSHRAZMHHK1Z&colid=2145619QL5SMP&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GKK7DNA/?coliid=I1GSHRAZMHHK1Z&colid=2145619QL5SMP&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
 
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2018 | 11:45 PM
  #8  
KC8QVO's Avatar
KC8QVO
Cargo Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,577
Likes: 57
Club FTE Gold Member
Originally Posted by Beechkid
Electronic digital torque adapters are available to day and IMHO, will eventually put torque wrenches in the pasture as you can get a really good quality one with a very broad range (reading) ….. like this one...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GKK7DNA...v_ov_lig_dp_it
Good deal. I have seen similar devices before. That is a neat concept. I asked a long-time mechanic buddy of mine about these a few years ago and his suggestion was to stay away from them and to get a proper torque wrench. I forget what the reasoning was now, but that has stuck with me.

As technology improves I can certainly see these torque adapters being a better idea.

At some point if I can find one of those I can pair with my long (40" or longer) 3/4" drive ratchet that would be a slam dunk of a combination. The ratchet is replacing my purposes of using a breaker bar - and is plenty long enough to not need a pipe extension on a breaker bar. Torque measurements way up there get expensive fast. If there was a way to get a torque adapter that would work up to some heavy torques (1000-1400ft-lbs or so) that would be awesome. Conventional torque wrenches that go up real high like that, even less expensive ones, are $500-1000.

 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-2

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-5

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-7

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
BigBlue2
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
107
Jan 24, 2026 06:42 PM
Connecticut Calvin
1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
12
Sep 29, 2015 08:47 AM
gmammakn
Excursion - King of SUVs
5
May 17, 2010 11:50 PM
packrat56
Garage & Workshop
9
Jan 2, 2008 03:02 PM
CallieDo02
Brakes, Steering, Suspension, Tires, & Wheels
3
Oct 25, 2007 08:07 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:08 AM.

story-0
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-4
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-6
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-7
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-8
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE