Torque Wrench: Necessary or a Waste of Money?

Torque wrenches may seem like a luxury you don’t need, but they are actually used for a very specific, very important reason. They are versatile tools that can be used for multiple applications. The most common and prevalent use of a torque wrench is for changing rims. Torque wrenches allow you to tighten lug nuts without damaging the rim. This is especially important on light metals like aluminum that can scratch and dent easily. Torque wrenches can also be used to set bolt pulleys, bearings, seal the mating surface between a gasket or crush plate, and more.

 

The ABN Torque Wrench is a ratchet-style wrench made from nickel chrome plated alloy steel that provides 120-1800 inch/pounds of strength and durability. This torque wrench will allow you to preset a torque spec to match ideal pressure. Though often overlooked, torque specs exist for nearly every nut and bolt on your vehicle. No matter the project or repair, if you are tightening a bolt, the bolt has a specific pressure at which it should be tightened. For some areas on the vehicle, not following torque specs isn’t a big deal; however, for certain projects following torque specs are vital.

• Torque wrenches are important to ensure a balanced rotation of a component in relation to its axis. For example, fly wheels, wheels, drive shaft.
• Torque wrenches ensure rotating components with a center-locking nut, such as pulleys, wheel bearing, and fans, are not overtightened.
• Torque wrenches eliminate the possibility of damaging a mating surface between components and the mounting surface.
• Torque wrenches ensure a proper seal that is level.

 

On any part of the vehicle that rotates, if the part is slightly off level it’s going to create a wobble during rotation. You may not see this with your eye, but you will notice it at high revolutions or RPMs. Over time, this can cause damage to the part itself or components in relation to that part. By using a torque wrench, you can preset to the correct torque spec, guaranteeing that multiple parts that work together are tightened exactly the same.

 

Examples of problems should torque specs not be followed:

• A tire that is not on balanced because all lug nuts were not tightened to the same torque specs will cause the tire to be minutely angled, causing an in and out wobble that will prematurely wear the tire and possibly the ball joints, tie rods, and brakes.
• Overtightening a center-locking nut on a rotating component can cause drag, prematurely wearing components and creating excess friction, which can cause heat damage, warping, and excess resistance.
• On a pulley, if one pulley has more resistance than another, a belt or chain will wear sooner than anticipated.
• When sealing, if the seal is not done level, the seal may hold initially, but it will be short-lived.

 

Torque wrenches create consistent tightening across an application to prolong its life and increase its efficiency. The ABN Torque Wrench is held within the highest tolerances and is guaranteed to give you consistent results.

 

For more information about the ABN Torque Wrench, watch Clint and Mikey in the ABN garage: