I want to buy a torch wrench so I can tighten my lug nuts to factory required settings, is that the tool that automaticaly does it or is that hand operated. Im looking for one that automatically does it with power...any idea exact technical name or place I can buy one for a reasonable amount would be helpful.

 

Torque wrenches are manual and operate like a socket wrench.

 

You can buy torque sticks for an impact wrench. Each one is made for a specific torque. They flex at that point enough that the impact will ratchet back, so you simply run them down until the impact doesnt tighten any further. They arent as precise as a good torque wrench, but the ones I have used get very close and more than close enough for tightening your wheels. My dad had a whole set at his shop (they were a bit spendy) and we have tested them against a real torque wrench and they stayed within a few pounds.

But for home use I reccomend a torque wrench, which is something that you can use for other jobs. The torque sticks are really only good for tightening lugs. You can get a decent one (dial adjustment, not the spring/pointer kind) for around 50 bucks at a lot of places. You just dial it to the right setting and use it. Just make sure to store it set on 0.

 

Very good advice.

 

You can even get a torque wrench on ebay. If not comfortable there, go to sears, home depot, lowes, any local car shop, etc. I spent $25 for mine and its a nice one (ebay). Hand operated, but to torque the wheel to 76lbs can be done with 2 fingers!

 

are the "beam" type wrenches not the ones to get? Those cheaper kinds with the regular display, with a needle... sorry I don't have the terminology down. Anyway, the one with the "risk" of parallax error.

I want to get one but don't want to spend a lot of money... don't do anything super serious, so just one for things here and there.

 

what about impact wrench? I know they are expensive and they need air compressor, but I've seen some impact wrenches that don't need air compressor (runs by battery) Are they powerful enough to use on a car?

 

You can get a nice 10-150 ft-lb wrench at Napa (I've only seen one kind at all the store around here). You'll rarely need more torque than that but if you do I picked up a 20-250 ft-lb wrench at Home Depot. The first ran for about $60, the later about $80.

 

I got both of mine at Home Depot. They were about 65 a piece and worth every penny. The brand is Husky....lifetime warranty and yada yada. Feel high quality to me.

 

If you are going to use it much, I reccomend spending the money on a "clicker" type wrench. They are much nicer to use and allow for less error as mentioned above.

 

An impact wrench is different. Sorry to all the nascar haters but they use impact wrenches to get the lug nuts on and off really quickly. You could use an impact wrench but you cant really set the torque unless you were using torque sticks like someone above said. If you want to do it right dont use an impact wrench since it hammers on the lugs so that would strip the threads. My suggestion would be to get a torque wrench that you can set and clicks when you've reached the proper torque there the easiest.

 

You can get an impact wrench at sears for example that is electric...plug it in and all. No torque settings though and not as powerful as an air tool