85085 1" Drive Electronic Torque Wrench 150-1000 ft/lbs. - Gearwrench (2024)

FAQs

Is 150 ft lb torque wrench enough? ›

Torque Requirements for Common Automotive Fasteners

Light duty automotive torque applications range from 30-150 ft. lbs. Most automotive repairs fall into this range. In other words, without a torque wrench in this range, you won't be able to complete the majority of automotive repairs.

The 20% rule for torque wrenches is a guideline recommending that these tools be used at between 20% and 100% of their maximum rated capacity to ensure optimal accuracy and longevity. This rule underscores the importance of selecting a torque wrench whose range appropriately matches the application's requirements.

Many torque wrenches have a torque range of up to 150foot-pounds. Any wrench with torque less than 100foot-pounds is not suitable for most mechanical and automotive torque wrench needs. It may, however, be excellent for use on bicycles and lawnmowers.

This ensures you have plenty of power to break them loose. For most passenger vehicles equipped with standard lug nuts, a 1/2 inch drive impact wrench providing around 300-400 ft-lbs of torque is sufficient. This covers common lug nut sizes of 14-21 mm on sedans, coupes, hatchbacks and some light trucks or SUVs.

Most vehicles have lug nuts that require around 100 pound-feet of torque. However, certain vehicles require more or less. It's best to check your vehicle's manual to find out the exact specifications you need.

However, exceeding the maximum torque rating that the wrench can handle (except for the digital type) can affect the wrench calibration or damage the tool itself. This is more likely to happen when loosening a tight bolt; hence most manufacturers will recommend using it for tightening applications only.

The permissible deviation from the set value depends upon the specific tool type but is either +/- 4% or +/- 6% depending upon the type of tool used. When tested to the standard, the force needs to be applied to the torque tool within +/-10 degrees of a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the tool.

Turn the torque wrench until you hear two clicks. This means the correct amount of torque has been reached.

Ideally, a good digital torque wrench should have an accuracy or tolerance deviation of around 1% (the lower, the better). Higher-end digital torque wrenches with good precision commonly cost hundreds of Euros in the market.

To perform most automotive work, you'll need a wrench with a range of 10 to 150 foot-pounds or 10 to 200 inch-pounds (and the corresponding newton meter). A smaller range of around 10 to 80 foot-pounds is typically sufficient for plumbing or HVAC jobs.

How many ft/lbs to remove lug nuts? ›

How many foot pounds does it take to remove lug nuts? Well most cars today list anywhere form 80–100 ft-lbs while trucks and SUV are upwards of 150 ft-lbs. So in that range. And if they are installed correctly, in theory you should have to go over the tightening torque by only a few pounds.

Torque Wrench Accuracy

Most automotive applications require a torque wrench that can apply at least 100.0 lb-ft of torque, so we don't recommend a torque wrench that falls below this range for your garage.

Choose the Optimal Range

This can cause damage to the bolt or even snap it. To avoid this issue, pick a torque wrench with a range that falls between 30-90% of what you need to torque. This is considered the optimal range for users and can help you avoid over-torquing a bolt.

If you are working with large and heavy-duty nuts and bolts, a ¾ to 1-inch wrench is most likely your best choice. For smaller jobs, a 1/4-inch or 3/8-inch torque wrench will be more suitable. It is also important to consider the range of torque your wrench can provide.

In general, lug nuts are often tightened to a torque specification ranging from 80 to 120 foot-pounds (ft-lbs) during installation. So, to remove them, you would ideally need at least the same amount of torque.