How to Properly Use a Torque Wrench

Knowing how to use a torque wrench properly is one of those important factors that come with maintaining your car. Just as you want your vehicle to run properly, you want to make sure everything is safe and done right. You can either do it yourself or take it in to a professional mechanic who will do it right. Either way, the right tools and the "know how" needed to be involved.

When you are tightening bolts and nuts, using a torque wrench should be used to assure things are done right. Tightening the nuts and bolts too tight on your car can ruin the threads on your bolts or even strip the nuts. This will be a huge problem later on when you need to take them off and replace them.

To use a torque wrench properly, there is a dial at the end of the handle which allows you to adjust the force of tightening a bolt to its proper torque. In the owner's manual of your car, you will need to find out what the maximum torque is. Once known, you can set the dial by twisting it back and forth to the desired setting. The wrench must be set at the right unit that is stated in your owner's manual. It will either be stated in the metric system or the U.S. Imperial system.

Now find the right size of socket to fit to the nut or bolt that you're going to tighten. Make sure that you don't just take one steady pull to the torque wrench, but use short strokes so as to do it properly. When the torque wrench clicks or snaps when you're tightening, this means that the torque that you have set it at has been reached. Double check the nut or bolts tightness by doing it one more time to ensure it is done properly. If you hear or feel it click or slip, that is when you know for sure that it has been done right and tightened properly.

Many mechanics know the proper way to maintain their car. If you want to keep it running and in good mechanical shape, it is good to have the knowledge to do so. You can be sure that your vehicle will last a lot longer and run the way that it was made to run when you repair car parts that have been damaged.

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