From: Fatter Than Ever Moe on
mike(a)nosamm.com wrote:
> I'm considering a 3/8" drive click-stop torque wrench at $15 HF:
> http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=807
>
> (I also shop at Kmart and target when I'm willing to pay extra for the
> name)
>
> -accuracy: HF claims 4%,
> Set the torque by rotating a sleeve, with vernier.
>
> My Sienna manual says to torque wheel nuts to 76 ft-lbs.
>
> Do they also mean plus or minus 3 or 4 lbs - more or less?
> I'm retired and have driven since age 12 and never knew there was a need
> for any of this. Just tighten until your hands hurt was the rule <grin>.
>
> What has changed?
> m

Nothing has really changed except the snow was deeper when were kids.
A wheel stud is still a wheel stud and a lug nut is still a lug nut
and you tighten them up all even and tight enough to not come loose but
not so tight as to damage the treads, break as stud, or wallow out the
wheel.
But you can take it to the Nth degree as usual.
http://www.raskcycle.com/techtip/webdoc14.html
I still use the elbow pop method on the front wheels and the snapping
back on the back wheels. When something on my body snaps crackles or
pops it's tight enough. But then again if it were me putting the heat
tiles on the space shuttle I'd be using 16 penny nails and a hammer.
From: in2dadark on
On Sep 19, 1:42 pm, m...(a)nosamm.com wrote:
> I'm considering a 3/8" drive click-stop torque wrench at $15 HF:http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=807
>
> (I also shop at Kmart and target when I'm willing to pay extra for the
> name)
>
> -accuracy: HF claims 4%,
> Set the torque by rotating a sleeve, with vernier.
>
> My Sienna manual says to torque wheel nuts to 76 ft-lbs.
>
> Do they also mean plus or minus 3 or 4 lbs - more or less?
> I'm retired and have driven since age 12 and never knew there was a need
> for any of this.  Just tighten until your hands hurt was the rule <grin>.
>
> What has changed?
> m

It can't hurt to do it right. HF has a lifetime guarantee on a lot of
their tools. Many don't know this... I'm not sure that include this
one.. They also, as you may know, have 20 % of coupons that they send
to your email almost weekly if you register..
From: Ray O on

<mike(a)nosamm.com> wrote in message
news:e75ab5hvv1oanka6vrjna617e083uas66q(a)4ax.com...
> I'm considering a 3/8" drive click-stop torque wrench at $15 HF:
> http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=807
>
> (I also shop at Kmart and target when I'm willing to pay extra for the
> name)
>
> -accuracy: HF claims 4%,
> Set the torque by rotating a sleeve, with vernier.
>
> My Sienna manual says to torque wheel nuts to 76 ft-lbs.
>
> Do they also mean plus or minus 3 or 4 lbs - more or less?
> I'm retired and have driven since age 12 and never knew there was a need
> for any of this. Just tighten until your hands hurt was the rule <grin>.
>
> What has changed?
> m

A torque wrench is generally most accurate near the middle of its
measurement range, and the one in the link has a max of 80 foot pounds. The
other difficulty you will have with the torque wrench in the link is that it
is 3/8" drive, and the lug nuts on your Sienna are probably 21 mm, which
usually come in 1/2" drive.

HF's 1/2" drive torque wrench is $19.99 so for $5 more, you will get a
wrench with 1/2" drive that 21 mm sockets fit more easily, and the torque
measurement you are looking for is towards the middle of its range. Here is
HF's 1/2" drive torque wrench:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=239

Get a 21 mm 6 point deep socket so the wrench body will clear the wheel
ornament.

As far as lug nut torque, plus minus 3 or 4 ft lbs is OK, although it is
probably better to go more rather than less. If you have alloy wheels, make
sure the lug nuts are centered in the wheel holes so the wheel seats
properly, tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern, and tighten to about 70 ft
lbs with the wheel in the air and then tighten to 76 ft lbs when the wheel
is back on the ground, using the start pattern when tightening the nuts.
The reason for using the star pattern is to make sure that the wheel is
seated properly and is not warped. The reason for using a torque wrench is
recommended more now than in the past is that alloy wheels can warp more
easily than the heavy steel wheels, and wheels in general have gotten
lighter to reduce unsprung weight, which helps handling, and to save fuel,
and over-tightening or uneven tightening can warp the brake rotor or drum
that the wheel mates to.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)


From: Jeff Strickland on

<mike(a)nosamm.com> wrote in message
news:e75ab5hvv1oanka6vrjna617e083uas66q(a)4ax.com...
> I'm considering a 3/8" drive click-stop torque wrench at $15 HF:
> http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=807
>
> (I also shop at Kmart and target when I'm willing to pay extra for the
> name)
>
> -accuracy: HF claims 4%,
> Set the torque by rotating a sleeve, with vernier.
>
> My Sienna manual says to torque wheel nuts to 76 ft-lbs.
>
> Do they also mean plus or minus 3 or 4 lbs - more or less?
> I'm retired and have driven since age 12 and never knew there was a need
> for any of this. Just tighten until your hands hurt was the rule <grin>.
>
> What has changed?
> m

A 3/8 drive torque wrench will not have the capacity to tighten your lug
nuts. It is going to have a useful range of about 20-ish to 45-ish foot
pounds. This is a tool for far smaller projects than you intend to use it
on.