Pittsburgh 1/2" Torque Wrench Review

Overall 5.00 of 5 (by 1 user)

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kid-kansas
Clearwater, KS

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Make sure your lug nuts are torqued Properly!

budget conscious, A 4x4 pickup owner, a homeowner, Safety conscious

Pros

carry case included, 10 to 150ft. lbs., 1/2, 18, lifetime warranty, reversible

JAN

2008

If you have paid attention when you get new tires on your vehicle you would notice after they use the Air Impact Wrench too install your wheels they lower the vehicle and use one of these to check the lug nuts. Kinda of a waste you might think but actually the safest way of doing it. When lugs are not tightened properly you could lose a wheel while driving. Too tight and it warps your wheel and breaks the stud, too loose and the wheel comes off!

Pittsburgh 1/2" Torque Wrench

Anyone that changes their own tires needs one of these to feel safe and secure going down the road. Approximately 18" long it has a 1/2 fitting for the Socket on one end and a dial to adjust the torque on the other. You can find your proper setting by looking in the manual that came with your vehicle. This wrench will go as high as 150ft. lbs. of torque, it will tighten the lug to the proper setting and then click (or slip if you will) when it reaches the setting you chose.

There is a thumb screw on the end to lock the wrench at the setting you choose. This wrench is also reversible and can be used as an extended ratchet wrench. This Torque Wrench is accurate to within 4% of what you set it at.

Guessing how tight you have a lug nut is dangerous and can result in Death! If you tighten too much you can warp and ruin an expensive aluminum wheel, too loose and it will come off going down the road. Why take the chance with your life or the lives of loved ones or others on the road.

This Torque Wrench also comes in its very own carrying case and keeps it protected from getting damaged. I caught this on sale 6 months ago for only $18 and it is worth much more than that just in the safety value. Another good practice (and if you read your tire receipt they give you it tells you right on it) is to recheck the torque setting after driving 25 miles when you have changed a tire!

Torque wrenches can be used with extensions as needed....BUT NEVER use a knuckle type extension! Also always use the shortest extension possible to get the job done, the closer you are the less likely you will bust a knuckle or bang your head because it slipped off.

Bottom Line

I call this little beauty a Redneck Insurance Plan! For the price it is a cheap way to insure you have done a proper job of putting on a wheel. It saves you money by making sure you don't warp those $200 rims or worse yet have an accident because you didn't tighten your wheels enough. This can be had a Harbor Freight as Item # 239. You can visit their website at www.harborfreightusa.com