Torque Wrench

[Californication69]

What’s the mid range price for a torque wrench that would suffice in a twice yearly wheel change ?
What make Torque Wrench do you have, and is it still working ?

 

[GrahamB]

Probably about £30-£40. I have a Draper (along with socket sets from the same brand) which has lasted years.

 

[sidepod]

The wheel brace that comes with the van. If you can get the wheel off with it then it's perfect.

 

[kurienp]

Got myself one of these. Comes in a handy storage case and much smaller than a full-fledged torque wrench ... and have it in the van all the while so that it can be used whenever required.

can be easily used with the 1 m extension rod that I have, which makes tyre changes much easier.

Clarke PRO238 ½" Drive Digital Torque Adaptor - Machine Mart - Machine Mart

www.machinemart.co.uk

For use at home have a Draper. Was about £22. Works well.

 

[Loz]

Toolzone £20 on amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001KIWTB4/?tag=eliteelect-21

 

[Californication69]

The wheel brace that comes with the van. If you can get the wheel off with it then it's perfect.

Thanks so much for your answer, but I wasn’t asking that question.
I know there is a wheel brace.
I want a torque wrench, so the wheels are bolted to the hubs to the correct torque specification.

 

[Californication69]

Got myself one of these. Comes in a handy storage case and much smaller than a full-fledged torque wrench ... and have it in the van all the while so that it can be used whenever required.

can be easily used with the 1 m extension rod that I have, which makes tyre changes much easier.

Clarke PRO238 ½" Drive Digital Torque Adaptor - Machine Mart - Machine Mart

www.machinemart.co.uk

View attachment 72589

For use at home have a Draper. Was about £22. Works well.

View attachment 72590

The draper is only up to 80Nm.
VW spec is 150 to 180 Nm ?

 

[kurienp]

The draper is only up to 80Nm.
VW spec is 150 to 180 Nm ?

Apologies for not clarifying. Yes, also that is a 3/8th and so not suitable for that high torque situations. I use that for all else. For the tyres it is just the Clarke Pro with the breaker bar.



PS: Was just showing off my torque wrenches. I have a smaller 1/4 as well that gets used on the motorcycle and the bicycle.
PPS: Can you have too many torque wrenches?

 

[B J G]

This would be an economical solution. Could be carried in Cali and used to undo wheel bolts as well so need for a breaker bar.
Either a short extension plus 19mm socket or a special wheel nut deep socket needed.

Pardon our interruption...

I have a Norbar one, expensive at £130 new but I had it from car engine building use.

Norbar 15004 Pro 200 Torque Wrench 1/2" Drive 40-200 N.m 30-150 lbf.ft

Norbar 15004 Torque Wrench Pro 200, 1/2", 40 - 200 N-m, 30 - 150 lbf-ft The new professional torque wrench has been re-engineered to be even more precise

www.toolstop.co.uk

 

[Ferryman]

I bought one of these recently. Cant comment on suitability but its cheap!

Auto XS Torque Wrench

Find Auto XS Torque Wrench at ALDI.

www.aldi.co.uk

60-210nm on the box not used it yet.

 

[Californication69]

Apologies for not clarifying. Yes, also that is a 3/8th and so not suitable for that high torque situations. I use that for all else. For the tyres it is just the Clarke Pro with the breaker bar.



PS: Was just showing off my torque wrenches. I have a smaller 1/4 as well that gets used on the motorcycle and the bicycle.
PPS: Can you have too many torque wrenches?

Answer, No ! You cannot have to many

 

[B J G]

I bought one of these recently. Cant comment on suitability but its cheap!

Auto XS Torque Wrench

Find Auto XS Torque Wrench at ALDI.

www.aldi.co.uk

60-210nm on the box not used it yet.

Have you checked the Torque range?

Only ask as I bought one specifically for wheel nuts, preset so not adjustable. The preset was for cars so not suitable for the high Torque needed on the Cali.

 

[Californication69]

I bought one of these recently. Cant comment on suitability but its cheap!

Auto XS Torque Wrench

Find Auto XS Torque Wrench at ALDI.

www.aldi.co.uk

60-210nm on the box not used it yet.

That's the cheapest one for sure and 3 years warranty !!

 

[Californication69]

Have you checked the Torque range?

Only ask as I bought one specifically for wheel nuts, preset so not adjustable. The preset was for cars so not suitable for the high Torque needed on the Cali.

https://www.aldi.us/fileadmin/fm-dam/Services/Warranties_2015/May_27/5.27.2015_WORKZONE_Torque_Wrench_Warranty_and_Manual.pdf

 

[sidepod]

And my point is, you need to be able to remove the wheel at the road side so tighten the bolts to the point where you can remove them with the wheel brace. That will be plenty tight.

You are of course assuming that a torque wrench is the correct way to apply torque to the bolts. For all you know the preferred method could be a given angle of rotation from finger tight or measuring bolt stretch. Unlikely but you get my point.

 

[Californication69]

Have you checked the Torque range?

Only ask as I bought one specifically for wheel nuts, preset so not adjustable. The preset was for cars so not suitable for the high Torque needed on the Cali.

looks like 180Nm is 132ft-lb

Range is 20 to 150 ft-lb
Or 28 to 205Nm

 

[Californication69]

And my point is, you need to be able to remove the wheel at the road side so tighten the bolts to the point where you can remove them with the wheel brace. That will be plenty tight.

You are of course assuming that a torque wrench is the correct way to apply torque to the bolts. For all you know the preferred method could be a given angle of rotation from finger tight or measuring bolt stretch. Unlikely but you get my point.

Aha. but my question was not "How do you remove a bolt from a wheel, whilst not at home"
So your answer is irrelevant.
I assume VW just guessed they could use something that every person in the world could get hold of and use so that all the bolts are within specification. (Ie: a Torque Wrench)
I do get your point but I am not stretching bolts on a 120 tonne wind turbine blade destruction testing equipment that I used to install. Also 80 tonne destruction testing equipment to shake the gearbox to sh1t. I also used equipment to stretch the bolts that held it to the metal grids, inserted into concrete bases.
I just want to torque my wheel bolts and locking bolts to 180 and 150 Nm respectively, whilst at home, changing winter and summer tyres.
I have changed wheels for nearly 40 years, and know when it's tight, and just right, and not silverback tight. I have money to spend on getting it just right.
I have a breaker bar and 6 flat sided 1/2" socket for the job, as the wheel brace sucks.
Are you trolling me @sidepod

 

[sidepod]

Absolutely not, just trying to save you some cash. Apologies. 80)

 

[Californication69]

Absolutely not, just trying to save you some cash. Apologies. 80)

I got the Aldi one, as 3 years warranty for £17 is a no brainer

 

[GrahamB]

I got the Aldi one, as 3 years warranty for £17 is a no brainer

Looks great value with the sockets included but does it have the torque range needed? Can’t see it on the online descriptions?

 

[GrahamB]

Looks great value with the sockets included but does it have the torque range needed? Can’t see it on the online descriptions?

D’oh - just read further down in the comments, 28-210nm. Just the job

 

[Vagophile]

I bought this at an autojumble about ten years ago. It's by Sykes-Pickavant, Model 670250; 40-200Nm; 30-150lb.ft. I bought it for £5 at the end of the day. I wonder if that's why my wheels keep falling off?

 

[Ferryman]

Heres a pic of the box range is quoted 60 to 210nm.

 

[Vagophile]

Could be carried in Cali and used to undo wheel bolts as well so need for a breaker bar.

I was always told not to use a torque wrench as a breaker bar as it can upset the calibration.
The wrench I show in #22 has a printed warning against doing this stating that the warranty will be invalidated.

 

[Eber123]

I got the Aldi one, as 3 years warranty for £17 is a no brainer

I just looked, they are not available in Ireland (yet?). But I will have an eye out for it. I think that is a good idea to have that tool and for EUR 20.00 I can't say no.

Happy California,
Eberhard