Hey Guys,

I want to change out my radiator fluid soon. I wanna make sure I do everything correctly the first time, so I'll need a torque wrench. I wanted to know what you guys thought on what is a good torque wrench that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. The bolts I need to tighten are all around... well here are the specs:

[From Factory Service Manual]

Radiator Drain Plug:
0.78-1.6 N*M (0.08 - 0.15 kg-m, 7-13 in-lb)

Cylinder Block Drain Plug (LH):
17.6-21.6 N*M (1.8-2.2 kg-m, 13-15 ft-lb)

Cylinder Block Drain Plug (RH):
17.6-21.6 N*M (1.8-2.2 kg-m, 13-15 ft-lb)

Cylinder Block Drain Plug (Front Side):
7.8-11.8 N*M (0.8-1.2 kg-m, 69-104 in-lb)

Thanks for the Help

 

Home Depot in house brand Husky works fine for me. Got the click type which makes things go quicker - that is unless you have a wide range of torque settings to do in one setting. I believe it was something like $50.00.

 

make certain that the wrench covers the torque range you are using. These are relatively low torque settings. Brakes and suspension are much higher...probably more important to torque these correctly than the drain plugs.

 

Ah good advice. Yes well I want a torque wrench for the lower spectrum for now as that is what I will be messing with. Any recommendations on these "lower power" wrenchs? Btw, are these like ratchets with a gauge? I think once I need a heavier duty torque wrench I will go all out and get something nice, for the drain plugs I just want something that is good quality and reasonably priced.

 

Hate Sears but the one I just got from them works well. I think it was around $80.

 

Which model was it? The Craftsman they list for $79.99?

 

Yeah, and I bought the smaller one today. It works good to.

 

I just got a torque wrench on ebay (Matco -- 20-2500) for $50. I know this thread ws dead for a bit-- but if I am like others -- we are still shopping -- so I wanted to have people know

 

i got a cobalt one from lowe's. it's 79.99 or somewhere around there. i had a $10 off coupon so i picked one up making it 69.99 :-P

 

Torque wrenches are not a place to "cheap out" on.

I always carry two in my trailer, since I've broken them before.

 

i got a cheap one five years ago from Harbour Freight.....still working fine...used it for all the suspension bolts. Made in Taiwan on sale for 12 bucks.

 

with an instrument that you want the highest precision of measurement, perhaps the cheapest way is not the best way.. you get what you pay for.

 

Yeah, I still haven't picked one up. After borrowing one all day from ppl at the event (Drift event in orlando) I think I want one for myself now. I'll go stop teh matco truck and pick one up.

 

I got two from Sears, both on sale for about $59. I waited quite a while for them to go on sale from the regular $79 price. You ask "why two"? Different torque ranges - one is 20 to 150 ft-lbs, the other is 25 to 250 in-lbs. You need a big one for wheels, suspension, etc. The other works on delicate stuff like the plenum bolts.