| Welcome back to my series on automotive tools for | | | | is the smaller the bearing clearances may be. Some |
| the person just starting out as a do it yourself car | | | | torque wrenches simply make an audible noise when |
| enthusiast. Today I will talk a bit about torque | | | | at the set torque limit, while others use a needle and |
| wrenches, what they are, and how to shop for one. | | | | pointer gauge to determine the amount of torque |
| Really a torque wrench might sound like something | | | | being applied. |
| pretty simple, and for the most part it is. However a | | | | When shopping for a torque wrench, please follow |
| torque wrench can be absolutely critical if you are | | | | my general guidelines for all plated tools. Make sure |
| ever going to consider building an engine or doing any | | | | that the chrome of nickel plating is uniform and even |
| kind of differential work. A torque wrenches | | | | in its thickness and appearance. Be sure that there |
| accuracy may vary with age or abuse, so be sure | | | | are no sharp edges on the surface as these may |
| not to buy a used one unless it has been recently | | | | indicate flaws in the plating or machining process, or |
| calibrated, or you know where to get one calibrated. | | | | worse yet, that the tool was made out of inferior |
| What a torque wrench does is actually very simple. It | | | | materials. I typically prefer a slim design, audible style |
| operates much like a regular ratchet in many cases, | | | | wrench. There is no reason to buy a wrench with a |
| but as the bolt get tighter the torque wrench will | | | | digital readout unless you get really deeply involved |
| measure the amount of torque that you are applying | | | | with car work, but that's for another article all |
| to the fastener. This is critical for fasteners that are | | | | together. |
| securing bearing surfaces, as the tighter the fastener | | | | |