Serious question, when did you realize you were using a torque wrench wrong the whole time?

I had this moment like 6 months ago working on a 2015 F-150, doing some lower control arm bolts. I always just cranked my 1/2 inch drive Click-style torque wrench down to the spec and let it rip, thinking the click was the end of it. Well I was helping a buddy who used to race dirt track, and he watched me and goes "you're not slowing down when it clicks, are you?" I told him yeah, that's when it's tight enough. He laughed and said I've been over-torquing everything by probably 15-20 percent. Turns out you're supposed to stop the INSTANT you feel or hear the click, not keep pulling until it clicks and then some. I tested it on a bolt with my digital torque adapter and sure enough, I was 18 ft-lbs over spec. Has anyone else had that rude awakening with a simple hand tool you thought you knew?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_elliot21d ago

Funny how that works... you think you know a tool and it turns out you've been fighting it the whole time. Kinda reminds me of how people use a tape measure wrong too - not hooking it on the edge properly or forgetting the metal tip moves. It's one of those things where you pick up bad habits early and nobody tells you different until you're deep into it.

paul28621d ago

Had a buddy who used to swear by his torque wrench for years. He was rebuilding a small block Chevy and kept stripping bolts left and right. Took him three tries before he realized he was ignoring the click and just cranking it down like a regular ratchet. He felt pretty dumb when I showed him the manual that came with it lol. Now he treats that click like gospel and hasn't had a problem since.

nancythomas22d ago

I mean I get what you're saying and I'm not trying to be difficult but I think there's a middle ground here. If you're cranking on it like a gorilla after the click yeah that's too much but I've always figured the click is just a warning that you're close and you need to ease up. I've used my torque wrench for years on engine rebuilds and never had a bolt fail or strip so I'm not sure it's as big a deal as people make it. Maybe it depends on the brand or how old your wrench is but mine clicks pretty early and I can still get another quarter turn before it feels right.