I'm finally getting around to installing my FSTB bar. I bought a torque wrench from Autozone a few days ago. The one I bought has a needle pointing towards a ft/lbs scale on the handle of the wrench. The guy at the counter told me that those things can be off by 20 ft/lbs or so and that I should buy the clicker kinds for about $50. The one I bought was $10 and I probably don't plan to use it much other than installing my FSTB and sway bars. Do you guys think it's ok for me to just go ahead and use the one I bought or get the more expensive clicker kind?

Thanks for your help in advance.

 

whatever you do. just dont over tighten.

if you have the one with the scale, then fine. when the needle is at ~35 lbs. stop.

if you have the clicky kind, stop when it clicks


or just hand tighten it and when it starts to get friction, stop.

 

thanks cheston, I'll try out what you said. Also, do you know if the type torque wrench that I have will under-estimate the torque on the bolts? The last thing I wanna do is to overtighten and have my struts rip out on me.

 

I bought a Craftsman clicky ratchet type. If you work on anything else on your car, it's worth having.

 

The guy is trying to scam you.

Off by 20 ft/lb? Whay kind of crappy torque wrench is that? Is it made by Fisher-Price?

I paid $24 for my torque wrench and it's one of clicky kind. And I said, I would just be using it for just my FSTB also ... and then I started using it for other things.

 

I would suggest getting the clicker kind.

Anyway your lucky you can install your FSTB, I can't.

Unfortuantely one of the bolts refuses to become loose even though it turns around. So my FSTB is just sitting there in the trunk.

 

Dude, mine was $20 and worked great. That dude was definetly trying to scam you.

 

Tire rack has a torque wrench for a reasonable price. I got mine when son started looking at nice wheels for his Civic, and I got my 02 SE, and I broke off two studs on my wife's minivan (clown at NTB decided to play NASCAR pit crew putting on one wheel. I did get them to replace all five studs on that wheel, and I made them hand torque the lug nuts.)

 

So I guess the fact that I put my FSTB on with a neumatic ratchet is bad? What sorts of problems would it show if I did that? You guys got me worried

 

off by 20 lbs? sounds like BS. I have two Craftsman needle types. One has a range of 0 - 100 and the other is 0 - 150. The instructions say that these wrenches work best when the torque spec is in the center range. So for my FSTB I use the 0 - 100 lb one. For my wheels I use the 0 - 150 lb wrench because 80 ft/lbs for the lug nuts is in the center of 0 - 150.
But, I wish I had bought the clicky one because the needle type are more difficult to use. For example, the needle can't touch the wrench when your tightening.

Clee, Off by 20 ft/lb? Whay kind of crappy torque wrench is that? Is it made by Fisher-Price?
Fisher-Price !

 

I don't know if this has already been said, but I bought the "clicker-type" torque wrench for $20 from Advanced Autoparts. It is a very thick and weights (well-made), and comes in a little plastic case. Worth every penny.
-Cyrus

 

thanks for the replies guys, I guess I might be going down to see if I can exchange my needle for the clicker kind. Also, how are the made in Taiwan ones? I've had trouble with Taiwanese made tools before, but I figure since the torque wrench isn't stressed very much...the metal won't be breaking down on me.

 

Um... I think the torque wrench has more stress placed upon it that any other tool (except maybe a hammer). But no I have not had any problems with it, and I have used it several times to tighten my FSTB, RSB, take seats in and out of an Accord, and many other uses I'm too tired to think of right now.
-Cyrus

 

There's nothing wrong with the bending bar type torque wrench - it just takes a little care and skill to use, you can see if it is becoming inaccurate, unlike the click type. It does have the problem of being awkward to use at some angles - like when trying to torque a hub nut. On the other hand, I have successfully built several racing engines with mine, they won and lasted fine.

 

JC Whitney baby. ANd I use 45 ft-lbs. It's in the middle of the range suggested for 4th gens.