Best Beam Type Torque Wrench
Tooluxe Dual Drive Beam Style Torque Wrench | 3/8” & ½” Drives | 17” Length | 0-150 Ft-Lbs | SAE | Premium Steel Alloy
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The Best Torque Wrenches You Can Buy
Don't let what should be a quick fix become an expensive, all-day ordeal.
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When performing mechanical work on a vehicle, it’s crucial to know torque specifications. They refer to the unit of measurement for rotational force, or twisting, needed to properly fasten nuts and bolts. Go too far with the twisting and your quick fix could instantly become an expensive or all-day ordeal when righty-tighty suddenly becomes righty-loosey from stripped threads.
Torque wrenches prevent over-torquing nuts and bolts while also guaranteeing the correct amount of force is applied for proper security. They are a must-have item in every professional and hobbyist mechanics’ toolkit and are depended upon equally by both. But not all torque wrenches are the same.
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Best Split Beam Torque WrenchPrecision Instruments Drive Split Beam Torque Wrench with Flex Head Precision Instruments Read More
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What are the different kinds of torque wrenches?
The four most common types of torque wrenches in the automotive space are click and split-beam, digital, beam, and dial or gauge. If you’ve ever been at the tire shop and watched your technician secure your lug nuts or bolts with a large wrench that "clicks" every time they tighten one down, that’s your classic type and split-beam torque wrench at work in the field. The digital type just turns that "click" into a beep and digital readout, and the dial type has a classic analog lever and gauge readout with no audible indicators.
Other types include slip torque, hydraulic and pneumatic, and no-hub. The latter three — hydraulic and pneumatic and no-hub — are found in more professional auto and non-automotive settings while split beam torque wrenches are often found in professional garages because of their quality grade and greater accuracy, which means they’re often more expensive.
Slip torque wrenches are reserved for extreme low-torque situations and aren’t as common. But dial and gauge-type torque wrenches are often the crème of the crop for their utmost accuracy and long service life, which is reflected in their price premiums.
We’ve rounded up a list of the best and most popular torque wrenches on sale today. But do note there are plenty of options out there and a torque wrench from any reputable brand will certainly get the job done.
Know Your Specs
Torque specifications are measured in either metric Newton meters or "Nm" or pound-feet for those utilizing the Imperial system. Sometimes, pound-inches can be found on low-torque wrenches and applications. Calculating conversion for either is as easy as a quick Google search away.
Additionally, the size and rating of torque wrenches vary based on the size of the drive on the sockets. The three typical drive sizes are the same as standard socket wrenches: ¼-inch, 3/8-inch, and ½-inch. That said, it’s important to be cognizant of the job you’re performing and the range of torque specifications—if any—of any of the nuts and bolts that you’ll be unfastening and refastening.
As with any mechanical job, the bigger and tougher ones require larger and more robust tools. The same principle applies to torque wrenches. Typically, low-torque situations involve the smallest ¼-inch drive wrench, while the larger drive wrenches typically handle the more torque-demanding tasks. That’s because the majority if not all 3/8- and ½-inch-drive torque wrenches are incapable of torquing anything below 15-25 Nm due to physical constraints.
But if you need to torque something down to 80 Nm or higher, chances are you’ll need the big-boy ½-inch-drive torque wrench. The 3/8-inch-drive torque wrench is for the range medium in between. Thankfully, the majority of torque wrenches are available in all the typical ranges and socket drive size combinations.
It’s also important to consider torque specification adjustments, particularly when using anti-seize lubricant (if specified) or if using extensions. Thus, having quick links to such calculators is handy to have at your fingertips.
