Wisconsin Tacomas and bad financial advice

Mine have survived quite a bit of off-road abuse

 

So my new suspension kit arrives on Tuesday. @Supr4Lo was kind enough to send over a list of all the torque specs. It's time to do something I've wanted to do for a long time... upgrade my torque wrench. I have an old HF one that has served me alright, but I have no idea how accurate it is and I'd just like something of higher quality. I don't want to break the bank though.

$122 TEKTON Micrometer Torque Wrench Set (10-80 ft.-lb., 25-250 ft.-lb.)

This set from Tekton looks pretty nice for the price. I have the matching 1/4" torque wrench already for those touchy Audi component torque specs in in-lbs.

$145 TEKTON 1/2" Drive 72-Tooth Split Beam Torque Wrench (40-250 ft.-lb.) TRQ62203

This guy from Tekton also looks real purty.

I really like my Wera sockets and wrenches, but their torque wrenches top out at 300nm or about 221 ft-lbs. Needs to go to 11 for suspension work.

Also, who wouldn't want to try out

$679 Milwaukee 2466-20 M12 FUEL Cordless Lithium-Ion 1/2 in. Digital Torque Wrench with ONE-KEY (Tool Only)

this one if you had an extra $800 laying around? Only goes to 150 ft-lbs though...

What are you guys using? What are your thoughts on the Tekton wrenches?

 

I don't have any Tekton stuff but always see good comments about them. I now @Shellshock has some of their tools.

I have 1/2 and 3/8 drive torque wrenches from Harbor Freight. Like you I should probably upgrade.

For larger torque I have

$54 LEXIVON 1/2" Drive Click Torque Wrench 25-250 Ft-Lb/33.9-338.9 Nm (LX-184)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MKSJ4SG which goes to 250 ft/lbs. Not top end but seems to work fine.

 

Precision Instruments 1/2" torque wrench (

$248 PREC3FR250F Torq Wr 1/2 Dr Split-Beam Click Style 250Ft Lbs

PREC3FR250F). I splurged on it a year or so ago, worth every penny. Made in USA, actually in Illinois not far away from me. I live 10 blocks away from Snap-On headquarters but I can't afford their nice stuff so figured this is the second best option I could ever get.

I have just recently acquired sets of shallow and deep 1/2 Tekton metric impact sockets and so far they have done well.

 

I've heard good things about Tekton as well.

Never seen a torque spec on a taco go higher than 180 though

 

13 miles on the new differentials and gears. Didn't blow up, so I have that going for me. Going to take a long time to get the 500 mile break-in done

Just have to finish wiring up the front locker. That is for a warmer day!

 

Only a few that need big torque from what I remember. Drive pinion and ring gear probably always the highest but most people just ECGS swap so it isn't needed. Off the top of my head probably CV axle nut at 173 is the biggest one anyone actually does regularly and the reason I bought a wrench that does 250. Torque spec guide shows prerunners have a 203 lb-ft adjuster on front spindle. SPC UCA balljoints need 150 for the nut but thats special case. LCAs are 100 but I'd go slightly higher to like 105/110.

Nice!! Supposed to warm back up in the 40's next week. I have a feeling you're getting up that one rock on the pipeline come springtime, eh?

 

When I did the supercharger install the crank bolt got torqued to something like 220 ft-lbs if I remember right. Not sure if that's a stock torque spec though.

 

That rock is the only reason for the upgrade lol. I'm going to win dang it!

 

I know the Rokblokz and Rek Gen flaps are both really popular options but there is a Rek Gen flap for second gens

 

Thanks, fellas.

Yeah, I was eyeing that Lexivon wrench too, but I'm really liking the split beam style now...

Yeah, that's a sweet looking wrench, similar to the Tekton split beam. While the Precision Instruments may be a bit better quality, it's also a bit pricier. It's on my list now though.

There are a few, as @wi_taco mentioned, and my current wrench only goes to 150 ft-lbs, so figured I'd get one that would handle everything.

 

For suspension, the Harbor Freight click type is fine. The Tekton ones are probably more than sufficient as well.

If you're building an engine, then it's worth splurging on a fancy one.

 

Yeah, to be fair, the HF torque wrench might be the only tool I've bought there that hasn't broken. Not hatin' on HF. I know they have some stuff that works for some people. I've been wrenching for many years and have wanted a better torque wrench for a while. Mine only goes to 150, so good time for a new one.

Yes, I've done suspension before, but the torque specs for that on a 2003 F-150 are listed as 18" breaker bar.

 

So its electric actuated rather than air??? Do tell.

 

You got up it didn't you? I thought you went up that thing the first day when I got up it. Is that the rock your speaking of?

 

From what I've read, the HF ones are generally pretty accurate. I don't recall what mine tops out at. I've used it for suspension, lugnuts, and mechanical lugs at work.

If you just want a nicer one, go for the Tekton, or whatever. I'm just saying that you don't need it for doing suspension.

 

Isn't that last years pic??????

 

Yeah not buying a set each year...

 

BUSTED

 

Actually, it was Christmas 2020. That was a WILD year and I treated myself enough to cover a couple of Christmases.