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Originally Posted by 2RotorMotor
Thats basically a waste of time. The reason being, if you dont plan on retorqing them after you take the car in for a rotation or tire change, then forget it. These guys use impact guns. But if you really do want to, then sears is the best place to buy them because they are pretty cheap and if it breaks you can just go and get it replaced.
Other companys offer lifetime warranty like snap on, but prepare to bend over for one of those.
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A couple of things here.
1. NEVER let them use an impact gun to install lugnuts. I've seen cases (many, actually) where someone was stuck on the side of the road because they couldn't get the lugnuts loose to change a flat tire. The wimpy little lug wrench supplied with the car can't compete with 200+ lb/ft of torque that an impact gun produces.
2. Even if you CAN get the lugnuts loose, using an impact to tighten them increases the likelihood of crossthreading or stripping the nut. Or breaking the wheel stud. I've had both happen to me personally in the past and the tire shops generally have a disclaimer posted saying it isn't their fault. So guess who gets to pay for the fix...
3. Torqueing the wheel improperly can warp the brake rotor.
4. Torque sticks are a close approximation but not terribly accurate.
When I take my car in to be serviced where they'd have to take off a wheel, I specify that they hand-torque the lugnuts and give them the proper torque setting to use. And yes, I'm an a$$ and I stand there and watch to make sure that's what they do. If they come near the car with an impact to reinstall the lugnuts, I'm there before they can get the second one tightened.
Lastly, Sears will replace the beam-type torque wrenches under lifetime warranty - the click wrenches are 1-year warranty only. Given that, I buy mine from Home Depot for $39.99 - same 1-year warranty as Sears at 1/3 the price.
I haven't checked with Snap-On or Mac for years since I got out of the mechanic business but they USED to only have a 1-year warranty on their click-type torque wrenches too. It might be different now. But you're absolutely correct about them bending you over if you buy one.
