4 Types of Torque Wrenches (Differences)
Torque wrenches are an essential tool for working on cars. They are most commonly used to tighten lug nuts and wheel bolts to specifications and can be used for many automotive repair and maintenance tasks.
In this article, we’ll explain what a torque wrench is, the 4 common types of torque wrenches, and how to use a torque wrench.
What is a torque wrench? Torque is the rotational force that turns something. The word “torque” is often used to describe various components in automobiles, especially internal combustion engines.
However, torque can refer to any part of a car that needs to turn, either automatically or by another person. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a large part; it can be something small like a screw or a nut.
Torque wrenches are regularly used by mechanics when performing maintenance and repair work on vehicles. This is a special type of wrench that differs from a regular wrench in that it is calibrated to provide the correct torque to tighten nuts and bolts. In most cases, a torque wrench is a socket wrench that makes it easy to tighten nuts and bolts to specifications.
There are several points where you will need a torque wrench when working on a vehicle. For example, there are the wheel nuts (or wheel bolts) that are used to attach the wheels to the wheel hubs of your vehicle.
If you need to change a tire, apply the brakes, or do any other work that requires you to remove the wheel, you will need to use a torque wrench when reinstalling the wheel and give it a final torque according to the manufacturer’s torque specifications.
Also, if you need to do more demanding mechanical work, you will need a torque wrench to tighten various nuts and bolts on the engine, transmission, exhaust, or other parts of your vehicle.
Of course, many of these areas should be left to a mechanic. Many car owners use a torque wrench only to tighten lug nuts or bolts.
Important (Torque)
Never use a torque wrench to loosen fasteners for removal. This type of tool relies on internal parts that require precise calibration. A torque wrench that is out of calibration is virtually useless and, if you think about it, very dangerous.
Different Types of Torque Wrenches
There are four common types of torque wrenches: click torque wrenches, beam torque wrenches, electronic torque wrenches, and dial torque wrenches. The least expensive and easiest to use are beam torque wrenches. The most accurate type of torque wrench is debatable. Some say it’s the dial type, while others believe the digital type is the most accurate. The biggest difference between them is how they are set and displayed.
1) Click Torque Wrench
Click torque wrenches have adjustable scales that allow you to change the current torque setting for different applications. They are high-quality wrenches that can tighten nuts and bolts quickly and properly. They are also reasonably priced, so they are used in many home workshops and some auto repair shops.
2) Beam Torque Wrench
The design of the beam torque wrench is quite old-fashioned, but some people like it. It is a beam torque wrench that is simple and easy to use.
It has a long bar attached to the top that can be used as a plumb line. The handle also has a scale. When torque is applied, the handle bends and the scale moves. The position of the pointer on the scale is the torque reading.
3) Electronic Torque Wrench
The electronic or digital torque wrench is one of the more modern wrenches. It has a digital screen that displays the current torque of the wrench as it is being used.
You can also set the wrench to sound, flash, or vibrate when a preset torque (or a warning before a measurement) is reached. It has a sensor that detects the torque being used. Electronic torque wrenches are often more expensive than others, but they offer very high accuracy and can also display various units of measurement.
4) Scaled Torque Wrench
Scaled torque wrenches are not as common as others, but they are great for measuring torque and are very accurate. This tool allows you to see how much torque is being applied or already applied to nuts, bolts etc. using the built in needle scale.
