Recommendations for analog torque wrench for wheels?
 

Today at the HPDE event at Poconos, someone's wheel came off during the race. This scared the shit out of me and i want to carry a torque wrench with me when ever I go to a track.


Any recommendations? I am specifically looking for a decent analog for torque-ing and twerking wheels.



Thanks in advance

I'm pretty happy with my EPAuto click-type torque wrench from Amazon. 1/2 drive with a range of 25 to 250 ftlbs bought for around $40. I haven't verified its calibration, but it feels consistent over time and about right on the torque, so probably good enough.

I know the bar style are actually pretty accurate and cheaper, and for lug nuts they might be easy enough to read. But I can't imagine using them in a tight spot, lying on my back and working overhead. A click-type is much easier to use.

some years back Car Craft had an article testing torque wrenches and the Harbor Freight 1/2" 20-150lb/ft clicker type was essentially as accurate as any competing mechanical torque wrench and unbeatable for the price at what I believe was ~$20 (I think it's $25 now). I've had an HF for over a decade and it's still accurate tested against my neighbor's digital wrench.

Keep in mind, all mechanical torque wrenches need the adjuster backed off after use. Leaving the spring loaded during storage will rapidly decrease the accuracy.

CDI

They are unbranded snap-on torque wrenches. About 120-150 on amazon.


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I often wonder how much of an effect this really has; particularly for something that actually has a reasonably wide range of 'functional' values like wheel torque. The better the spring quality the less of an issue this should be.

Yes, there's 1 (or 2) numbers that the torque should be but how many times through history have people tightened up the bolts with just a tire iron and going 'good enough' and never had an issue? Realistically there's a wide range of torque values which will keep your wheels on just fine.

On topic: I got one like this on sale for about $50 several years ago.
https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/m...9643p.html#srp

Though I see a cheaper option here which is probably equally as good
https://www.princessauto.com/en/1-2-...t/PA0008533168

This one is very nice, and much easier to read than my HF one that I have owned for years.
TEKTON 1/2 Inch Drive Click Torque Wrench (25-250 ft.-lb.)

I have all three tektons (1/2, 3/8, 1/4) and they've done me very well. As stated above, just make sure to follow the storing instructions.

Whatever you do, DON'T TORQUE THE WHEELS RIGHT AFTER YOU COME OFF HOT AFTER A SESSION.

-You'll end up snapping studs. Everything expands slightly when hot and will seem like they can take some more tightening. However if you cinch them down when they're hot, they will eventually contract and have additional preload on them. This can lead to over-torquing and snapped studs



Torque them when they are cooled off, or before your first session.

I met a guy once who told me about a time he had torqued them after a hot session. He had titanium lug nuts and when everything was cooled down he couldn't get them off again!

Torque before your first session and them leave them alone! If for some reason you have to torque while hot (things happen), loosen them off and let the car sit while it cools down, then re-torque.

Yet another vote for the Tekton torque wrenches. I previously had two Harbor Freight ones, and they were awful. Very inaccurate and sometimes didn't get the "click" in the low range of the 3/8", and the ratchet head came apart on the 1/2". I use the 1/2" as a small breaker bar now, and Tekton wrenches when I want to torque something correctly.

Pretty sure this is why a Zupra lost a wheel at a TT event about a month ago. He was about two turns ahead of me when it came of on a slight turn at about 115.

I'll also vouch for Tekton. I bought the 10-100 lb-ft one since I don't know of anything that needs more than 150. I was overtightening the hell out of my lug nuts before having this. I decided to buy it after watching a YouTube video of someone comparing a few torque wrenches with testing equipment worth thousands of dollars that they had borrowed and it actually beat the Snap-On for repeatability, if I remember correctly. Unfortunately, I can't find the video now

I use their inch pound torque wrench, no complaints! Been using it for years. My go to torque wrench is a craftsmen that I bought from sears a long, long time ago.

CDI for the reason noted above.
I also have a Tekton around. Not as nice, and I'm less confident over time... But it gets the job done in a pinch.