Is it ok to do some things w/o using a torque wrench? For example, I've been meaning to replace the trans mount, but kept putting it off until I get ahold of a torque wrench. I'm tired of waiting, so will it be ok to just tighten the bolts as much as I can and leave it at that?

 

Sort of....

Torque goes with hardware size. That is, if the designer of the parts felt that more or less clamping force was required, he would have used a different bolt size. So, take a look at the bolt, and torque it accordingly.

Ft-lbs is just that.... ft time lbs. If you had a tool such that your hand was exactly 1 foot from the business end, and you put 50 lbs of force on it, that's 50 ft-lbs of torque. If the tool was 2 feet long, you'd be putting 100 ft-lbs of torque on it. And so on.

So, for your trans mount bolts, the torque wants to be around 40-45 ft lbs; that's about a 40 or 50 lb pull on a typical ½" drive ratchet with a 12" handle. A good grunt, but far from "as tight as you can get it". You don't want to gorilla it to death, because you might strip the hardware, or make it impossible to get back apart next time. Put a bit of anti-seize or grease on the bolt threads.

 

lol, thanks RB!
Informative as always.

 

i seldom if ever use a torque wrench for anything but internal bolts in an engine, trans, or rear end. after a while you'll get a feel for how tight to make something and for the tools to you, or the tools (length) for the job.

 

I'm always using my torque wrench; some things I have the feel for (like ede said), but I can't tell, for instance, the difference between 120 ft/lbs and 150 ft/lbs for my front strut-to-knuckle bolts. There's some pieces I'm worried that I won't tighten enough (critical suspension parts), and other pieces that I'm worried I'll snap (steel bolts into aluminum threads), etc.

Definately save up for one; if you trust "cheap tools" you can find them for $20 at online discount stores, but I think Craftsman's wrench is only $40 or $50 (you don't have to buy a $400 snap-on wrench)!

 

I never use a torque wrench unless I'm building an engine, and then just for internal parts like main screws, rod bolts and cylinder head screws, most everything else you can pretty much tighten it by feel if you have a good sense for that, but I know some people that don't and they will tighten stuff untill it starts smoking and then go 2 more turns for good measure Don't be one of those people.

 

Never used one except on my intake manifold. Don't even own one. I use the ol' elbow meter. I've broken enough bolts by over torqueing to know when too much is too much.

 

I dont bother with one on suspension and such. If you feel better using one then do it. You can get a cheap tq wrench at harbor freight or any of the big 3 auto parts stores for under $30. I got a spare 1/2 tq wrench while mine was out being cailibrated for 3 weeks since only 2 places in the country will calibrate the snap on one I have. Anyway the great neck one that was $28 is accurate.

 

funny how most guys say, "if you have a good feel for it, you should have to use it," and I agree with that, but the way you get the feel is a) by braking bolts in the past, or b) by using tq wrench in the first place until you can start feeling it.

Sears has 150 ft-lbs 1/2" drive for $30. With sales they have every other week you can pick it up for $20. That's what I paid for mine, and it has life-time warranty. If you plan to work on your car a lot, I don't see how you would not get it.