Looking to put my winter wheels on this week, once the spacers arrive, but in the meantime I want to get a torque wrench. Nothing too expensive as it wont get much use, but I want to make sure I get the right size - will 3/8" work with my Octy's wheel bolts?

 

Thanks

I would get a 1/2 drive .

I've got both and very rarely use the 3/8 drive one

I think I saw one in aldi the other week might be worth a look

Cheers Davy

I agree, 1/2 inch drive and 17mm Socket. Needs to go up to 120nm.

I bought one 3 days ago from B&Q. £27.99.... Cheapest in Halfords was£80.

Go for 1/2".  You'll need a 17mm socket and the ability to torque up to 120Nm

 

Doh!  Beaten to it!!

 

Just to add, don't use the torque wrench as a breaker bar to undo the bolts (although I'm sure you knew that already)

Edited 9 December, 201312 yr by JulieD

After a lot of reading I bought mine from Machine Mart. £ 24

 

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cht141-1-2in-drive-torque-wrench

If you need to by a 17 mm socket i would get a deep socket just to give moor clearance.

Or you could see if some festive spirited member near you with a torque wrench could torque them up as an early Christmas pressie

Cheers whoosh

Keep and eye on Aldi and Lidl they sell a pretty decent torque wrench every so often.

 

It's a bit of a running gag with those shops too.

If you're going to get your torque wrench from machine mart, invest in one of these too for getting the wheel nuts off:

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cir13c-1-2in-impact-wrench-kit-12v

It's worth having two torque wrenches eventually; the big ones are not really sensitive enough for things like spark plugs in alloy heads.  Having said that, I rarely use a torque wrench except for spark plugs and wheel bolts.

Many thanks guys, just the info I need!

I have a 3/8" drive 20 to 110 Nm and a 1/2" drive 80 to 330 Nm which combine to cover most things. All I am after now is a 1/4" drive 3 to 22 Nm for the few low torque requirements.

 

Oh, and a nice 24" or 18" long 1/2" drive breaker bar is nice for getting things undone so that you don't damage your torque wrench.

I recently bought the following torque wrench from Screwfix for changing over to my winter wheels:

 

http://www.screwfix.com/p/reversible-torque-wrench/18289

 

The reviews seemed good and I'm happy with it. But I've not owned or used another to compare to.

 

If you're going to get your torque wrench from machine mart, invest in one of these too for getting the wheel nuts off:

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cir13c-1-2in-impact-wrench-kit-12v

 

An impact wrench like that shouldn't be necessary to get wheel nuts off. I've certainly never needed one, but I do think a long handled wrench is a good thing to have in case a garage over torques the bolts. I have an extendable one like this:

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-19152-Extending-Wheel-Wrench/dp/B0001K9QGI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386802423&sr=8-1&keywords=extendable+wheel+wrench