Torque Wrench Question

[dbirchum]

Greetings,

Quick question - for the past 6+ years, I have always changed my summer and winter tires myself. No problems or issues - just used a lug wrench.

My Father is going to buy me a torque wrench for my birthday to aid me in doing this. He wants to know if I require a 3/8th or 1/2 inch drive...

What would I need for a 2010 Toyota Corolla? Thanks!

[FlawedLegacy]

it depends on the socket you use as to which drive you need. If he gets you the wrong one, you could always use an adapter.

[pinoyesv6]

i think it all depends on what you want to torque up. a 3/8 torque wrench might not go high enough to tighten your wheels but then a 1/2 torque wrench might not be ideal if you wanted to tighten smaller things that are like 30 inch lbs.

[MiniPacou]

go 1/2inch, you can always get an adapter from 1/2 to 3/8 if you need to. You don't want to break your back torquing with a 3/8, then you could use the 1/2 for other projects. 3/8 is kinda small.

[LeanBurn]

Originally Posted by minipacou

go 1/2inch, you can always get an adapter from 1/2 to 3/8 if you need to. You don't want to break your back torquing with a 3/8, then you could use the 1/2 for other projects. 3/8 is kinda small.

+1

[SaltySteve]

Originally Posted by minipacou

go 1/2inch, you can always get an adapter from 1/2 to 3/8 if you need to. You don't want to break your back torquing with a 3/8, then you could use the 1/2 for other projects. 3/8 is kinda small.

Originally Posted by leanburn

+1

+2

[thestone11]

1/2 drive is better, 3/8 is not very strong!

[PhatRoyale]

For wheels you definitely need a 1/2" drive.

[SuperchargedMR2]

I have 2 different 1/2" drives. One is smaller & shorter with a smaller scale & one is for larger jobs & has a higher torque rating. I've never needed a 3/8" drive in my 30 years of working on cars. I just use an adapter when I use a smaller 3/8 socket.

[flamedrgn]

i have a 1/2" drive 40-250ft.lb flex-head snap-on torque wrench i just bought. im loving it

[got-rice]

Buy a Harbor Freight one for the car. You never know when you'll need it.

[joeylgarcia]

Originally Posted by flamedrgn

i have a 1/2" drive 40-250ft.lb flex-head snap-on torque wrench i just bought. im loving it

any links on where we can buy the same one you have? thanks.

[FlawedLegacy]

looks like eBay has one BIN for $224
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SNAP-...#ht_755wt_1165

Nice wrench!!!

[Shft99]

Dang, is that thing made of gold. Heres one for $25 Not heavy duty though

[dbirchum]

Hey all,

WOW, thanks for ALL of the awesome replies. I appreciate it so much.

Looks like its the 1/2" one all the way.

This is the one that we were thinking - its 50% off. It is offered in both the 3/8th and 1/2. What do you guys think? Not bad for $60 (for the 1/2", less for the 3/8th)

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brows...252BWrench.jsp