MValentine

I was curious to see what size torque wrench you guys use the most on your LS400 ranging from engine to suspension work. I have the choice between either craftsman digi-click torque wrench in 3/8 or 1/2. And what size and length flex handle/breaker bar would best compliment the torque wrench Id need.

RA40

iTrader: (6)

You'll find uses for them all. I might also suggest a look at CDI Torque Products, a division of Snap-On that is off shore produced with assembly-testing stateside, some are USA made too. :
http://www.cditorque.com/

Some of the China produced torque wrenches are not evenly calibrated so testing values may be off by 15% or more. Harbor Freight has been notorious but at the same time, some have been quite accurate. Sears varies depending on the line of tool chosen.

I use a US made Crafstman 1/2" clicker and it has been pretty good but it is for pretty crude applications. I haven't tested it in a long time. For the more precise values, the CDI has made me without draining the wallet. For my uses, this was a good balance. If I were wrenching regularly, I'd get nicer tools.

Kansas

I use the same old fashioned 1/2" 150 ft. lb. Indestro needle type torque wrench I bought in 1971 when doing a complete rebuild of a Mercedes engine and still use it today on a regular basis. Never needed anything fancier. Never heard of using a breaker bar on a torque wrench.

MValentine

well i would look elsewhere for other brands of torque wrenchs. but my choices are only down to either the 3/8 or 1/2 craftsman digi-click torque wrench since my GF purchased one of them already. and also i didnt mean that i would be using the flex handle with the torque wrench together. i just meant as a compliment for removing bolts and lugs. i also just found out that i have a 3/8 0-75 ft. lbs. craftsman beam style torque wrench. so i guess my best bet would be going with the 1/2 digi-click torque wrench and a 15 inch 1/2 flex handle. just wanted to see what torque wrench you guys use the most.

Dranom

iTrader: (7)

I use a 1/2 size torque wrench (lugnuts and suspension bolts) and also have a 3/8 one.
I dont use a torque wrench to break off bolts.
Use a 1/2 breaker bar with a long handle to break off bolts. Racheting one is very handy

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

9/10 times you'll use a 3/8 torque wrench that reads from ~5-80 ft. lbs. This gets used for everything from ball joints to lug nuts to braces/etc...
the rest of the time you'll either need a 1/2" that goes higher than that (pretty much only for a couple suspension points like strut rods and control arms) or a 1/4" that reads in inch. lbs.

I use a 3/8" breaker bar most of the time, I have a 1/2" one as well but at that point I just get out the impact guns


For everything other than engine building or torqueing small things into/onto aluminum, i stick to clicker torque wrenches. And usually with a cheaper one from harbor freight that I calibrate.

(there have been a fair few articles on their cheaper TQ Wrenches being comparable to the chinese made craftsman ones, easily with the acceptable accuracy level for the bulk of tasks. GRM had a great article too.)

LScowboyLS

here is a little known trick to save you some money, the old dial style torque wrenches such as old Snap-On are actually far more accurate than a clicker of the same brand, but since everyone wants a clicker so as not to have to pay attention, the prices on ebay for a dial type are quite the bargain, given their accuracy (~$50)

as far as which is used the most,

● for engine work: 3/8" - the crankshaft pulley bolt is about the only exception needing a 1/2" drive torque range

● but if you are doing a lot of suspension work as well as for lug nuts then the 1/2" get's most of the use

● a few delicate items need a 1/4" torque wrench for inch-pounds, such as transmission pan bolts and items in the interior


just keep in mind when choosing the right wrench for the task that any torque wrench tends to be most accurate in the middle of it's range and most off-spec at the extremes

another good idea is to give the $50 dial type you bought on ebay to your Snap-On man and let him send it in for $30 to have a professional calibration - now you have a torque wrench more accurate than the $300 new Snap-On clicker for $80!

1sWt2GS

iTrader: (6)

1/2 for lug nuts and spring, strut , swaybars

timmy0tool

iTrader: (7)

i use my 1/2" husky brand (home depot) all the time for lugs of course, but for others like the crank pulley. it is LONG so you need to get creative with extensions and adapters when working with suspension in the limited space but the torque range is perfect. what i like about husky is their lifetime warranty, where craftsman is limited to a year i believe (owned both). what breaks on me is always the ratcheting head, and i NEVER use it to break anything loose. simply return it to home depot for a replacement.

i recently bought a 3/8" craftsman (on sale) mainly for the water pump replacement but i find i'm using it more and more. i say if you have the coin, it's a good investment to have both sizes.