When I rotate tires on alloy rims on my Forester is it absolutely necessary to use a torque wrench. If yes, how important is it to spend big bucks ($30-$50) for one or do the cheapies ($15-$18) work just as well. I don't want to over-invest in a torque wrench when I'll probably only use it when rotating the tires. Appreciate any feedback.

No, it is not "absolutely" necessary to use a torque wrench. When I was a full time mechanic, I could get torque on a rim within 5 LBS. of the required torque and 2 LBS between the lugs. But if that isn't the case, I've got a question for you. Is there any torque wrench on the market today that costs more than an alloy wheel? (Sans a computerized machinist's torque wrench.)

BTW, I thought good torque wrenches were in the $150.00 to $500.00 range.

A garage overtorqued a wheel on one of my Vettes using an impact gun, and warped the rotor, destroying it. Since then I've used a cheap torque wrench to ensure it doesn't happen again. A cheap one that you'll only use for wheels, whether the long pointer type or click type, will cost well under $20.00 USD.

After your inital install, don't forget to recheck the torque after 1k miles for alloy wheels.

I have a suitable torque wrench that I use just for lug nuts. I snug the nuts, then get out the little tire iron that came with the car, and stand on it. I weigh x pounds, I stand y feet horizontally from the fulcrum. x * y = torque. I figure it's got +/- 20% accuracy.

I won't allow even experienced mechanics to put my wheels on with an impact wrench (unless it's someone I know and trust). The place I go to for new tires has a nice torque wrench sitting in it's case next to the torque chart. One time they didn't use it, I commented on it but drove away. Lost a nut on the way home, found the stud threads cross threaded, grrr. Even if they don't obviously damage them, overtorquing weakens them and stretches the threads making them harder to thread later. And how would you get the wheel off on the side of the highway? I had a shop owner swear his impact wrenches would torque correctly. I grabbed his torque wrench and we checked a few finished jobs: way over-torqued. Guys rarely take time to set their impact wrenches properly. Anyway, get an inexpensive beam-type torque wrench if you're doing your own wheels.

"how important is it to spend big bucks ($30-$50) for one or do the cheapies ($15-$18) work just as well. I don't want to over-invest in a torque wrench when I'll probably only use it when rotating the tires."

 

Like previously mentioned, how much is replacing a ruined/damaged alloy wheel, warped brake disc or cross-threaded wheel stud worth vs. a "cheap" torque wrench?

 

If you like cars and enjoy working on them yourself, think of your tools as an investment.. That is how mechanics I used to work with felt. Good tools last a lifetime and make doing the job correctly easy and satisifying, cheap tools are just that.. cheap tools.

 

BTW: Not to sound like an a#$%^*&, but $30-$50 on a torque wrench hardly seems like big bucks to me..

 

Hiergehts

If you dont want go out and buy a torque wrench, find a friend or neighbor or someone who has it. This works great esp if you dont plan on using it much at all. Or you can do what I did when I had to do the brakes on my subie, stand on the tire iron til it stops moving.

I can torque lug nuts rather acurately with out a torque wrench.

but I feel much better if I use it.

or at work we use torque sticks with our impact guns. its an idiot proof method to alow mechanics to use impact guns to tighten bolts without over torquing.

if you have found a good torqu wrench for 30-40 bucks then grab it. the ones i'm use to cost close to 200$

How accurate are the torque sticks? They work by flexing just far enough to let the impact gun vent and snap back right? I use them in shop all the time, but I still wonder.

Well, I paid roughly $100 for my torque wrench, and I trust it. Once you have got one, you can also use it to torque the engine and transmission oil nuts. Brake caliper pins and supports, and if you feel there is room the spark plugs.

 

Saves you a lot of headaches in the future when you don't over or under tighten things.

How accurate are the torque sticks? They work by flexing just far enough to let the impact gun vent and snap back right? I use them in shop all the time, but I still wonder.

 

really dont know for sure. I just know I dont get come backs with ruined lug nuts/studs like some of the other lazy @$$ mechanics I work with.