$3 pawn shop tool find

[mike100]

80 lb/ft torque stick for lug nuts.


I like to torque my wheels to 90 lb/ft so I tried these out and it works as advertised. Run them on the impact until the marks on the tool slow down to almost no rotation. Then check w torque wrench to add the last 10 lb/ft- quick click and done.

[PLRX]

That's a good price Mike.

Why do you torque the lug nuts 10 lbs-ft shy?

[mike100]

Originally Posted by PLRX

That's a good price Mike.

Why do you torque the lug nuts 10 lbs-ft shy?

It is an 80 lb torque stick- you can't torque any more than that (in theory) even if you keep hitting it with the impact wrench. The spring steel on the shaft twists and won't let more than 80 lb/ft to make it to the lug nut.

In actuality, you might be able to somewhat over torque if you run the gun long enough. You just have to look at when the marks on the lug end stop turning then you have hit the tool's preset twist torque. It's fast. I generally run 10 lb/ft more than this stick so I just wanted to double check to see if it really was working to 80...it was- just needed a bit more torque on the wrench to get my click at 90.

I wasn't really sure these things worked, but I trust it now.

[mike100]

this is all there is too it:

N.J. Lesson Of The Day: Tightening lug nuts properly - YouTube

[PLRX]

I know that, I asked why do you torque to 90 instead of 100?

[mike100]

Originally Posted by PLRX

I know that, I asked why do you torque to 90 instead of 100?

Oh...my target is 90 lb ft so I thought you meant why start at 80. The answer is because I'm lazy. I leave the torque wrench set to 90 because that value pretty much universally works for all car lugs.

Maybe I'll keep an eye out for a 90 or 100 lb ft torque stick.