Look at the size of your wheels and the nuts. If you have a smaller car, a smaller wrench may be enough to tighten the nuts. If you have a big car with big rims, chances are you need more heavy equipment. Final Thoughts This Powerbuilt Universal Lug Wrench doesn’t do much wrong. It uses a standard 4-way lug wrench design, and at 20” you get more than enough leverage to get the job done. It has a fine, protected, 72-tooth ratchet, and metric and imperial scales. However, the former – and most common – is a nightmare to set, with graduations down to two decimal places. Now that you know a little more about what to look for in a torque wrench and how to care for one, now it’s time to learn a little bit about using them. The push-through drive means it can work in both directions, and it has a very easy-to-use setting window. It was just outside its claimed three per cent tolerance at 20 per cent, but within it at the higher readings. Not cheap, even at this discounted figure, but very good.

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One question you might have when you’re looking at lug wrenches is what’s the difference between a lug wrench and a tire iron? The truth is that they’re the exact same thing. The most controversial topic surrounding torque wrenches is whether or not extensions affect the torque specs of a bolt. While we tend to agree that if you use an extension correctly, it shouldn’t affect the torque spec of a bolt, we still try to play it safe whenever possible and avoid extensions unless we absolutely need them. It’s still on the lighter side of things right at 3 pounds and it’s a durable option. But the unique factor with this 4-way tire iron is that each side has a non-slip grip handle that helps ensure you don’t lose control of it. Still, because torque wrenches lose their calibration over time, it’s extremely important that you take the time to calibrate them each year. That way when you go to use them, you know you’re getting the exact right torque spec on the bolt, which is the whole point of having a torque wrench in the first place. Using Your Torque WrenchHowever, it’s not a problem you want to ignore for long. Instead, we recommend going straight to a dealership or a parts store that can get a new lug nut for you. It’s extremely heavy duty too, so you don’t have to worry about anything happening to it if you’re dealing with stubborn lug nuts. In fact, this lug wrench comes with a lifetime guarantee, so in the rare event that something does happen to it, they’ll replace it for you for free. Keep in mind this is for one lug nut, and you need to go straight to a store to get a new one. If your vehicle is missing more than one lug nut we highly recommend leaving your vehicle where it’s at until you can get new lug nuts out there. All four sides make it a universal fitment for vehicles originally sold in the US market. It’s also durable enough to last a lifetime, so you never need to worry about replacing it.

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All things being equal, higher voltage will give you more power—but there are cases for lower voltage. With smaller batteries, 12-volt impact wrenches are more compact. This makes them good for smaller jobs, working overhead, or getting into tight spaces. Tools with 18 and 20 volts have less difference between them. Generally, 18-volt tools with advanced features and capabilities make them more versatile and easier to use. In that case, you’ll need to invest in multiple torque wrenches to properly torque everything down. While that can be a little frustrating, if you’re trying to save a little money the Pittsburgh Pro torque wrench set we highlighted above comes with three different torque wrenches that should be able to handle just about any job you have. Drive Size Now that you know a little more about some of the best torque wrenches out there, it’s time to figure out which torque wrench is right for you. Not only that, but too many people get an excellent torque wrench only to ruin it because they don’t know how to care for it properly. With the help of Draper Tool’s quality assurance department, we assessed accuracy based on the BS EN ISO 6789 standard which takes readings at 20, 60 and 100 per cent of the tool’s range.Once you get the perfect lug wrench for your vehicle, the last thing you want to do is replace it anytime soon. The good news is that caring for your lug wrench is pretty simple.