looking for a good 3/8" torque wrench 20-150 InchLb

W

Walter1982

Joined
Sep 10, 2024
Messages
214
Location
Florida
I have a CDI 3/8" TW that's 10 FtLb to 100 FtLb. I use this for like lug nuts (85 LbFt) and various brake bolts.

I also have a Suercup TW that's 5 FtLb to 45 Ft Lb, that I use for lower torque ranges.

I'm about to install a new gasket for the valve cover and I see that I need a torque wrench for InchLbs.

They seem a bit expensive, but I figure I buy it once and it lasts for life.

As I expand my ability to work on the car I need a third TW. I'm not doing anything advanced like rebuilding engines, just maintenance on a Kia Forte.

Since all of my tools and socket sets are 3/8", I figure I should get a 3/8" TW.

I am looking at a CDI brand TW that's 20 InchLbs to 150 InchLbs, which should be sufficient for all the low torque applications I will encounter.

https://shop.idealprec.com/products...ble-torque-wrench-20-150in-lb-range-3-8-drive


What do you guys think?
 
You don't have to spend $183 on a decent torque wrench :sneaky:

Just get the 1/4 at HF. It is good enough for someone who isn't a professional mechanic and doesn't do it for a living.

I'm surprised you don't have any 1/4 sockets, since those tool kits usually include 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 of various sizes, including the size bolts used for your valve cover, and if you don't, a set of 1/4 sockets can be had cheap at HF too :unsure:
 
slacktide_bitog said:
You don't have to spend $183 on a decent torque wrench :sneaky:

Just get the 1/4 at HF. It is good enough for someone who isn't a professional mechanic and doesn't do it for a living.

I'm surprised you don't have any 1/4 sockets, since those tool kits usually include 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 of various sizes, including the size bolts used for your valve cover, and if you don't, a set of 1/4 sockets can be had cheap at HF too :unsure:
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I first started working on my car about 2 years ago, I didn't know anything about tools back then. I ended up buying a 3/8" CDI torque wrench for wheel lugs, and afterwards I got a metric and SAE 3/8" socket sets and a ratchet that's also 3/8", I figured it'll be easier if everything's the same drive.

Also, I always wanted to avoid having to use adapters like 3/8" to 1/2" because it changes the torque value and I'm not good enough with calculations to adjust for it.

So that's why I'm looking for a low torque range wrench that's also 3/8".

However, sometime in the near future I will start doing heavier work like suspension parts, wheel bearings/knuckles, and a lot of those bolts require torque ranges over 100 FtLbs, and I was looking at torque wrenches in that range and none of them are 3/8". All the higher torque range wrenches are 1/2", so I'm still not sure what I'm going to do. I will have to buy a 1/2" torque wrench to work on wheel hub assemblies and suspension parts, and if I don't have a 1/4" socket set, I'll have to buy adapters, and adapters change the torque value, right?
 
Walter1982 said:
I first started working on my car about 2 years ago, I didn't know anything about tools back then. I ended up buying a 3/8" CDI torque wrench for wheel lugs, and afterwards I got a metric and SAE 3/8" socket sets and a ratchet that's also 3/8", I figured it'll be easier if everything's the same drive.

Also, I always wanted to avoid having to use adapters like 3/8" to 1/2" because it changes the torque value and I'm not good enough with calculations to adjust for it.

So that's why I'm looking for a low torque range wrench that's also 3/8".

However, sometime in the near future I will start doing heavier work like suspension parts, wheel bearings/knuckles, and a lot of those bolts require torque ranges over 100 FtLbs, and I was looking at torque wrenches in that range and none of them are 3/8". All the higher torque range wrenches are 1/2", so I'm still not sure what I'm going to do. I will have to buy a 1/2" torque wrench to work on wheel hub assemblies and suspension parts, and if I don't have a 1/4" socket set, I'll have to buy adapters, and adapters change the torque value, right?
Click to expand...

Start off with something like this, or this, or something similar.

Adapters don't change the torque value, as torque depends on distance from the axis of rotation. This is how breaker bars work, for example.

The torque wrenches are cheap at HF, and sometimes they go on sale for even lower prices. You will love HF when adding to your tool collection :D
 
I have a Tekton 1/4. I like it and it has worked well for me. Unfortunately everything Tekton is a lot more than they used to be. I think I paid like $50 just a few years ago.

I do have the HF wrenches in 3/8 and 1/2. There fine but I wanted something more precise for small precision stuff. The HF cheap stuff seems to be difficult to get to the click without going further where the tekton has a pretty large amount of release buffer room to it so you don't over-shoot.
 
Walter1982 said:
I first started working on my car about 2 years ago, I didn't know anything about tools back then. I ended up buying a 3/8" CDI torque wrench for wheel lugs, and afterwards I got a metric and SAE 3/8" socket sets and a ratchet that's also 3/8", I figured it'll be easier if everything's the same drive.

Also, I always wanted to avoid having to use adapters like 3/8" to 1/2" because it changes the torque value and I'm not good enough with calculations to adjust for it.

So that's why I'm looking for a low torque range wrench that's also 3/8".

However, sometime in the near future I will start doing heavier work like suspension parts, wheel bearings/knuckles, and a lot of those bolts require torque ranges over 100 FtLbs, and I was looking at torque wrenches in that range and none of them are 3/8". All the higher torque range wrenches are 1/2", so I'm still not sure what I'm going to do. I will have to buy a 1/2" torque wrench to work on wheel hub assemblies and suspension parts, and if I don't have a 1/4" socket set, I'll have to buy adapters, and adapters change the torque value, right?
Click to expand...
No, adapters don't change the torque value.
 
Walter1982 said:
So if I need to accommodate a torque range of 3.9 Nm to 9.8 Nm (34.51 in-lbs to 86.74 in-lbs), then a torque wrench such as this one that is 20 in-lbs to 250 in-lbs will be sufficient?

https://www.amazon.com/eTORK-Magnetic-Torque-Wrench-lb/dp/B0CCJZYGW9?crid=298TRJAKD983Z&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.fbtLC9yTjotvr6oxJRDVM5JLUl2pg2SnZ6d-UvB8KarGXcdzIprTt7waIXKPw6GgafFRPvs2zVBVYqlXc52Zm-gLlIcI1wVMEflMt6nwHPOQ-QZYjumtzW1k--O_RA7xL8NxTdbRVvzL1snY71MkSSy2BMKR_VJQ3p6PEoz60B75OnI_bHnFi4aXIlO-Mac9Y_NdqtEw8w9cLX8pmh7gWq4zuzz1pr2-J-IxbsZfJSy0d2wF4QurLJvq3izA04YFmw5_E9JO3NcxFbmLbBe_B6nkaOpFYfEV-Ajwi3_PSTo.Wf4gyK9N_kfbeouzyFbjfH57QDNIdGvCXtYEl63LnnM&dib_tag=se&keywords=etork+wrench&qid=1767355291&s=hi&sprefix=etork+wrench,tools,130&sr=1-8&th=1
Click to expand...
No problem, it will work fine. It is good for 3-28Nm, you have to figure up 20% from the min setting for best accuracy, that would be 3.6Nm so 3.9 is within its minimum spec.
 
Walter1982 said:
So if I need to accommodate a torque range of 3.9 Nm to 9.8 Nm (34.51 in-lbs to 86.74 in-lbs), then a torque wrench such as this one that is 20 in-lbs to 250 in-lbs will be sufficient?

https://www.amazon.com/eTORK-Magnetic-Torque-Wrench-lb/dp/B0CCJZYGW9?crid=298TRJAKD983Z&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.fbtLC9yTjotvr6oxJRDVM5JLUl2pg2SnZ6d-UvB8KarGXcdzIprTt7waIXKPw6GgafFRPvs2zVBVYqlXc52Zm-gLlIcI1wVMEflMt6nwHPOQ-QZYjumtzW1k--O_RA7xL8NxTdbRVvzL1snY71MkSSy2BMKR_VJQ3p6PEoz60B75OnI_bHnFi4aXIlO-Mac9Y_NdqtEw8w9cLX8pmh7gWq4zuzz1pr2-J-IxbsZfJSy0d2wF4QurLJvq3izA04YFmw5_E9JO3NcxFbmLbBe_B6nkaOpFYfEV-Ajwi3_PSTo.Wf4gyK9N_kfbeouzyFbjfH57QDNIdGvCXtYEl63LnnM&dib_tag=se&keywords=etork+wrench&qid=1767355291&s=hi&sprefix=etork+wrench,tools,130&sr=1-8&th=1
Click to expand...
My guess is, you will love that tool.
 
Divide inch pounds by 12 and use the small wrench you already have. Is the valve cover torque less than about 90 inch pounds?

A straight 3/8 to 1/4 adapter is only about 1/2" long. It will not change the torque in any meaningful way if you chose to buy an even smaller torque wrench.
 
valvecovertorque.webp


which is basically 34.51 in-lbs to 86.74 in-lbs

when you say small wrench, you mean the one that's 5 - 45 FtLbs?


BC1 said:
Divide inch pounds by 12 and use the small wrench you already have. Is the valve cover torque less than about 90 inch pounds?

A straight 3/8 to 1/4 adapter is only about 1/2" long. It will not change the torque in any meaningful way if you chose to buy an even smaller torque wrench.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Yes the 5-45 is what I was referring to. That is a very low torque, roughly 3 then 7 ft lbs. Like mentioned above they are not trustworthy at the bottom of their range. Seems a 1/4" wrench is what you need with the adapter.
 
BC1 said:
Yes the 5-45 is what I was referring to. That is a very low torque, roughly 3 then 7 ft lbs. Like mentioned above they are not trustworthy at the bottom of their range. Seems a 1/4" wrench is what you need with the adapter.
Click to expand...
Drive size is irrelevant as long as it is within the tools specs. The physical difference between 1/4 and 3/8 may be nothing or only slightly larger. My 3/8 inch pound Precision is the same size and specs as the 1/4 just a different anvil. There is nothing wrong with 1/4 if you have the tooling. The point is drive size is not inherently more precise because of anvil size.
I looked up the size of the eTork 3/8 it is 13" long and 1.3" head, the 1/4 is 11" and 1.1". The 3/8 is 50mm longer and 5mm wider at the head, not enough difference to care about IMO.
 
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