Which size torque wrench do I need to rotate wheels? Should they be torqued to 80 lbs. like manual says? Whats a good brand to get?

 

You want to get a 1/2 inch torque wrench (uses 1/2 inch sockets). If you are not a serious/professional mechanic and will only be using it for the wheels, get one in the $40 - $60 price range.

 

This. No need for anything super fancy.

 

honestly most people don't even use a torque wrench for the wheels, I use a breaker bar and a socket and I torque it until my arm says its good. Just don't take my advice and then have your wheel fall off either, or conversely torque it so hard you mess up the hub studs

 

It might be better than any amusement park ride such as Kingda Ka.

 

I have never used torque wrench to rotate my wheels and never ran in to any problems. Who needs torque wrenches? lol

 

I do! Well, I use them. I have 2. a 3/8 that goes from 15ft lbs to 80ft lbs and a 1/2 that goes from 20ft lbs to 150fts lbs. Brands are Neiko and Craftsman. They both are less than $65 each. I want an inch lb one next.

 

I have personally seen the results of bot over and under torque.Too loose and the nuts loosen, then the holes in the wheel get wallered out, the studs getground down and the hub gets ground where the fits over the bore. Eventually the wheel comes off and your making sparks. Too tight and the lugnuts snap clean off, and again you make sparks.
Buy a $40.00 torque wrench and be sire to set it back to 0ft/lbs when done using it.

 

You can get a Craftsman beam type torque wrench for about $25. It's accurate enough for wheels and suspension parts and you don't have to worry about calibrating it like you would with a click torque wrench.

You really only need click torque wrenches when your working in areas where you can't see the gauge on a beam torque wrench or when your torquing down bolts where more precision is needed.

 

After re doing my whole suspension set up I realized how important it is to have torque wrenches. There are just too many things to take chances with... even If your only going to plan on using it for wheel right now you will probably need it for something else too in the future. I say definitely invest in one!