What's a good torque wrench? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

In The Ten Ring · 11-19-2015, 05:03 AM

Title says it all! I need 1/2 inch drive though. Suggestions? This is for when I rotate tires.

ERASER5 · 11-19-2015, 10:30 AM

My 1/2" is a Craftsman. I used to have the calibration checked every year and it was always with in tolerance. How much money do you want to spend? Just for lug nuts, you don't need a torque angle measurement, but if you will use that same wrench on engines and what not, you might need that.

My 3/8" is a cheap Harbor Freight lb-in unit. It's OK, but inferior to the Craftsman.

russgoodman · 11-19-2015, 10:36 AM

Someone on here turned me on to a brand called CDI. Its made by Snap on. I got mine off of Amazon and it had really good reviews and was pretty reasonable (like $120 maybe)

Bigdav160 · 11-19-2015, 10:40 PM

Snap On bought CDI for their torque wrench technology. The OP could buy anything from a Harbor Freight, Brownline to a CDI/SnapOn depending on tolerance and budget.

In The Ten Ring · 11-21-2015, 02:23 AM

I will probably get a Snap On. I'll have to save for it though. Thanks everyone!

kaycee · 11-22-2015, 11:24 AM

I bought a Kobalt awhile back on sale looks exactly like my snap-on

implanenuts · 02-16-2016, 02:20 PM

I have the Kobalt also. I have 1/2" and 3/8" and paid less than $100 each. They have a lifetime warranty and they have calibrated fine. Have had them for a year and a half so calibrated twice not problem. Nobody else has lifetime warranty that I know of. Watch for them to go on sale. For the money they are the way to go.

I see Kobalt also has digital now, but only a 1 year warranty on those. I have had HF before and the wont calibrate after a year on some and some will. typical hit and miss.

I have Snap-On for work and I like the Kobalt almost as well. I was going to get craftsman but they only have a 1 year warranty with proof of purchase, and their digital are only 90 days.

DarkFlounder · 02-19-2016, 08:21 PM

If you're only using it for torquing down lug nuts, Harbor Freight is plenty accurate. And it'll remain accurate enough so long as you remember to unload the twist handle when you're done, and store it in the case.

11-19-2015, 05:03 AM	#1
In The Ten Ring Registered User Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: West Virginia Posts: 6,421	What's a good torque wrench? Title says it all! I need 1/2 inch drive though. Suggestions? This is for when I rotate tires.

11-19-2015, 10:30 AM	#2
ERASER5 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 4,859	Re: What's a good torque wrench? My 1/2" is a Craftsman. I used to have the calibration checked every year and it was always with in tolerance. How much money do you want to spend? Just for lug nuts, you don't need a torque angle measurement, but if you will use that same wrench on engines and what not, you might need that. My 3/8" is a cheap Harbor Freight lb-in unit. It's OK, but inferior to the Craftsman. __________________ '70 GMC C1500 LWB Power disc brakes. WooHoo! Posi 6 Lug Dana 60

11-19-2015, 10:36 AM	#3
russgoodman Registered User Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Cache, OK Posts: 458	Re: What's a good torque wrench? Someone on here turned me on to a brand called CDI. Its made by Snap on. I got mine off of Amazon and it had really good reviews and was pretty reasonable (like $120 maybe) __________________ 1969 Chevy C10 SWB Fleet - Build thread > http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=593554 2008 GMC Sierra Denali - 6.2L AWD - my daily 2011 Ford Flex Limited - Ecoboost AWD - wife's daily 1987 Buick Regal Turbo T - 63K miles - Strip/Street car 1965 Ford Mustang Coupe - 289, c4, 53K miles

11-19-2015, 10:40 PM	#4
Bigdav160 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Klein Texas Posts: 3,852	Re: What's a good torque wrench? Snap On bought CDI for their torque wrench technology. The OP could buy anything from a Harbor Freight, Brownline to a CDI/SnapOn depending on tolerance and budget. __________________ My Classics: '72 K20 Suburban + '65 Dodge Town Wagon '72 Corvette Roadster +'67 Corvette Roadster '73 Z-28 Camaro '63 Ford SWB Uni Pickup '50 Ford Coupe

11-21-2015, 02:23 AM	#5
In The Ten Ring Registered User Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: West Virginia Posts: 6,421	Re: What's a good torque wrench? I will probably get a Snap On. I'll have to save for it though. Thanks everyone!

11-22-2015, 11:24 AM	#6
kaycee Registered User Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Wyoming USA Posts: 2,445	Re: What's a good torque wrench? I bought a Kobalt awhile back on sale looks exactly like my snap-on __________________ 2001 Silverado K-1500 2005 FXDWG stage3 69 CHEVY Short/Step 327/4L60 373 posi 63 IMPALA 327

02-16-2016, 02:20 PM	#7
implanenuts Registered User Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Magna, Utah Posts: 135	Re: What's a good torque wrench? I have the Kobalt also. I have 1/2" and 3/8" and paid less than $100 each. They have a lifetime warranty and they have calibrated fine. Have had them for a year and a half so calibrated twice not problem. Nobody else has lifetime warranty that I know of. Watch for them to go on sale. For the money they are the way to go. I see Kobalt also has digital now, but only a 1 year warranty on those. I have had HF before and the wont calibrate after a year on some and some will. typical hit and miss. I have Snap-On for work and I like the Kobalt almost as well. I was going to get craftsman but they only have a 1 year warranty with proof of purchase, and their digital are only 90 days.

02-19-2016, 08:21 PM	#8
DarkFlounder Registered User Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 281	Re: What's a good torque wrench? If you're only using it for torquing down lug nuts, Harbor Freight is plenty accurate. And it'll remain accurate enough so long as you remember to unload the twist handle when you're done, and store it in the case. __________________ 72 K2500 Sierra Longbed Wideside 350/TH350/NP205 66 Plymouth Barracuda 225 Slant6



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.