So, I decided to take TTSurgeon's advice and just get me some tools and dig into this beast! I'm buying mostly Craftsman stuff as I'm more into the value and can't justify Snap-On at this point in time.

As far as Craftsman torque wrenches, there's a 3/8" drive which measures from 5-80 ft.lbs. with 0.5 ft.lb. increments. There's also a 1/2" drive with a range 25-250 ft.lbs. with 2 ft.lb. increments. Which should I get? Do I need the precision of the 3/8"? If I recall correctly, the lug nuts are 87 ft.lbs. (or is that Nm?). I'm thinking the 1/2" is the way to go and I'm looking for any input. Thanks guys!

 

Aluminum lugs are 96 and my buddy said Snap On for the torque wrench because Craftsmen are not accurate.

 

I use an SK 1/2 inch drive . Foot Pounds. Get a good 19mm deep socket as well, I use Facom.

 

The Craftsman .5" should be all you need.

 

I'm going with a Snap-On. I was gonna say they're too expensive for now, but then I thought about a wheel developing a wobble at speed... the heart attack will be MUCH more expensive!

 

In my opinion, lugs alone don't justify Snap-on cost... as long as you are within a few lbs, you are OK. But a torque wrench is a tool you will need for many other purposes where a fine degree of accuracy is needed. It's those other purposes that do justify a really good torque wrench.
Snap-on tools are awesome

 

for most uses, the 1/2 inch drive is the ticket.I survived many years with just that. Just get the 3/8 drive for torqueing smaller fasteners like valve cover nuts

 

I agree with Cactus, book calls for 96 ft lbs.

 

Had snap-on till they were stolen by the movers (all 3/8 drive). Now just got Sears Craftman "professional" which work just as well, I guess.

Go Snap-on for torque wrench and other precision/accurate pieces. Just my two cents.

 

I didn't get it just for the lugs, the lugs were my justification. The automotive equivalent of a helicopter's "Jesus nut."

 

Oh, just to let you guys know, Costco has a killer DIY air compressor kit for only 199 bucks. It's an 8 gallon compressor comes with lots of tools, impact gun, spray bottle, impact wrench, 25 foot air line with roller.

Jaime

 

Honestly you will need both, and a smaller inch-pound torque wrench as well. The 1/2" drive torque wrenches are longer than the 3/8" drive and sometimes you will not have enough clearance to actually use it. Most torque settings on suspension bits will be in the 40-50# range. The only time you see >100# torque settings would be on a crank pulley bolt, possibly a torquing down a head.

 

+1; any basic automotive tool kit should have a 3/8" & 1/2" drive torque wrench along with a proper selection of 6 pt & 12 pt sockets (deep & shallow, inches & metric). Don't forget a 3" & 6 " extension to get to the lug nuts and clear the body work. And a breaker bar (3/8" & 1/2") always comes in handy

 

I use the craftman pro model, encased in black rubber, sweet. You can't go wrong with craftsman, I've used them for years, very accurate imo.