20 Best Torque Wrench For Cars (2023 Updated)

The Good: Good fit and finish, decent plastic and metal finish. Feels good on your hand. Easy to use and instructions are clear. The Bad: Display doesn’t have a back light for the digital display, if you’re working in a dark place then your’re going to need some kind of lightning to see the numbers.

It has a buzzer and a LED light that blinks to warn you of nearing your torque setting but no vibrating function, should have been standard at this price point and time(2019). The ratcheting mechanism is VERY COARSE.

Not even a 72 teeth ratchet. The head does NOT flex either. When you’re using the ratchet with the handle moving vertically(for example, tightening a timing belt tensioner bolt in the tight engine bay of a FWD car where you can’t have your face in front of the digital display) you have to rely solely on buzzer because maybe the light can’t be seen too.

It would be nice if the wrench had a duplicate display on the side that could be seen while being used this way. I know, asking too much but I’m just stating what I see “wrong”. And last but not least, it turns OFF too fast(60sec).

2min would be acceptable.

I use this to rebuild lawnmower engines. Shipping was fast. It came with a very sturdy case which surprised me. The quality of the wrench is excellent and after reading the instructions its very user friendly.

It does not come with batteries.

Overall great wrench and my main reason for 5 stars is audible alert. Begins beeping as you get close to your preset torque to warn you and then solid beep when you hit it. You do not have to even look at the display which is nice under a car in tight space.

Needed for super low and accurate torque on aluminum high capacity tranny pan and this is worth the money. Would recommend!.

These torque wrenches are amazing. Beautiful finish and the turret spins very smooth. What I love about them most is that they come with calibration paperwork and signature of technician that calibrated it.

I checked these torque wrenches with my professional digital torque checker at work, they were spot on. For the price, you simply cannot under any circumstance get a better torque wrench.

I like that it was inexpensive but still came with calibration certificate and is +/-4% of rated torque. I don’t like the ratcheting mechanism in the head. It is clearly poor quality. It is loose and ratches roughly and is difficult to switch directions.

For me, I plan to keep it in the tighen setting for normal screws and not change it as I will only use it to tighten right hand thread screws. So it is acceptable to me but if that is important to you, you should spend more on a higher quality wrench.

I upgraded to this from my old beam and pointer inch/pound torque wrench for increased accuracy. The included calibration certificate stated mine was +/- 1% even though they advertise +/- 4%. The click at the desired torque setting is very distinct, even at 72 inch/pounds.

VERY HAPPY with it!.

Needed slightly more torque than standard smaller wrenches could provide, this wrench did it. Pay attention to driver size, I bought an adapter to get the 3/4″ down to 1/4″ sockets, this tool is overkill for my application but is very sturdily built and easy to use (standard twist style torque settings, scaled to within about 2-3 ft-lbs per dial click).

It is heavy enough that I bet I could get 400 ft-lbs out of it before needing an extension (this thing is an absolute unit on its own, over 3ft long).

I need to apply about 400 foot lbs of torque to a flywheel bolt, and only this wrench had a high enough setting while still being at an affordable price point. It is a nice unit with sturdy construction and a nice carrying case.

Bought this so I could torque the left handed lugs on my RV to 450 ft lbs. I’m a small guy, 5’6″, 160; I was able to hit the torque spec with just a little effort. Happy with the wrench and the case is very nice!.

The 1/2-in. Drive Digital Torque Wrench by Craftsman is an impressive tool. I’ve yet to be disappointed by Craftsman tools and this is of no exception. The tool itself is impressive in looks and comes with a nice storage case.

I appreciate the light weight – which makes it all the more easier to use on those hard to reach areas. We have been restoring an old tractor and this tool has come to be the go to. It’s easy to change settling and bees when getting close to the needed torque.

The handle provides a strong grip and the light is a huge bonus. It does take time to learn the lights and beeps but that goes without saying. It would be nice to have the display screen have an adjustable screen setting for brightness.

It tends to be more difficult to read in darker settings. But overall, very impressed with this tool and appreciate the ease it provides in getting the tough jobs done.

Seems like a good torque wrench, well made, easy to adjust. But keep in mind it only torques right hand threads. I tried to torque a left had thread on my bicycle and was disappointed it does not torque in that direction.

Not sure why the manufactures put a reversing lever on a torque wrench if you cannot torque in that direction. It is not recommended to use a torque as a regular ratchet wrench, especially to bust nuts loose.

I guess I will keep looking for a torque wrench that will torque left hand threads.

I am very happy with the quality and toughness of this torque wrench. I would highly recommend this brand and would say it was a must buy if are looking at buying a torque wrench. It may not be electronic but it gets the job done.

I am seriously happy I bought this one.

Great torque wrench for the price accurate as well double checked with more expensive torque wrench.

When my Craftsman model failed (after several years of dependable use) I decided to replace it with a split beam style mostly because it can be left at any setting without damaging the wrench. Honestly I always wind it back down out of habit.

However several family members have not done the same which is why this replacement is more than likely necessary. Be that as it may the quality of this torque wrench is very nice. Great finish, smooth easy to read adjustment, and a very crisp solid click when the desired setting is reached.

Only negative for me is the open/exposed end of the wrench. At this price point a simple plastic cap would give it a much nicer finished appearance instead of looking like something is missing.

The fantastic thing about these is that due to the design NOT being heavily reliant upon a coil spring as the basic reference for tension they essentially never need to be calibrated ! Also the ” tension ” does not need to be released when not in use for the very same reason.

These and the Australian made Warren & Brown tension wrench have the ” Zero need for Recalibration ” side of the market well sorted out !.

This torque wrench is a 4 piece unit, packed up nice & neat in a heavy built plastic case w/handle and actual metal clasps to keep it closed! Contents: 3/4” drive head, insert bar, main body, and handle/torque mechanism, instruction sheet, certification papers.

Dial type torque wrench that doesn’t need to be brough back to zero before storage, marked in 10 lb increments. Geared head rachet is reversible, but user must turn main body 180* when changing direction of torque.

Gear head can be used as a rachet alone with proper handle (not included) attached to loosen or tighten bolts, just not with the supplied torque handle and torque body parts. (That’s called stupidity when you use a torque wrench as a regular rachet).

Heavy, well made, snug fitting parts. Nothing cheap or light weight about it. Great price for a certified 3/4” drive torque wrench. Bought mine for checking torque of lug nuts on my motorhome, 450 ft lbs, and installing new trailing arms on it, 550 lbs.

Charging friends & fellow RV’s $ to check their nuts. Safety first, you know!.

I have used precision instruments torque wrenches for at least 5 to 7 years. I would never go back to spring type of wrenches. I run a tire shop and use a precision instruments 1/2 inch torque wrench on every lug nut , on every vehicle that gets a tire removed.

I change around 5000 tires a year, at 5 to 8 lugs per wheel. you can guess how much it is used. I have a bran new 1/2 that I bring out every year to compare. Still torques spot on compared to the new one.

I have a 3/4 drive and now this 1″ for torqueing semi wheels to 450 foot pounds. It will outlast me. It is nice to not have to waste time unwinding a spring type wrench every time I am done.

I bought this as it was much needed in my line of work being a mechanic on heavy equipment. This is a good brand tool and it is made in the USA (another reason to buy it). It can be found on any tool truck (SnapOn, MAC, Matco, Cornwell) but at a bit higher cost.

I have the 1/4” , 3/8”, and 1/2” drive wrenches in the same brand and they have held up great. I did but those through my local tool truck rep. though. I definitely recommend it.

I finally used this tool. I’m impressed. Glad I bought it.

Still have not had a chance to use this but feels well built and the price was fantastic.

I bought this when my cheap digital Torque wrench was broken. I was also doubt of my old digital wrench’s accuracy. Friend of mine who is professional mechanic told me that unless I am willing to pay $150~$200 for torque wrench, get analog Bar type wrench.

Sure enough this works great. Unless you torque 50 bolts and nuts everyday, this does enough job. I use it once or twice a year. Simple is best.

seemed to match my 4nm fixed torque key spot-on. stem clamp, steerer tube clamp and front derailleur clamp require quite specific torque settings on carbon fiber part. this seems to be a very accurate, and economical choice compared to a click-style torque wrench.

Great little torque wrench. Should have bought one of these years ago.

Just bought it, it’s my first torque wrench so I no basis for comparison but it has done it’s job. It wasn’t hard to use. And it feels sturdy enough! I’m excited about it going forward and if anything doesn’t check out with it I will be back to update this post.

Until then, it was affordable and it is doing what it says it does! I did read beforehand a lot of comments about the quality and about it not being as good as other torque wrenches that people have owned but unless you can exactly measure one next to the other in terms of if it’s giving the correct torque I don’t know how they are doing that.

This is the best torque wrench I have bought yet. I’ve had it for a long time and have never had any problems. If you take good care of this wrench then it will last a very long time just like most other tools.

I’ve thrown this wrench around so much I am surprised it still works. I even left it underneath my front tire and let my truck down off my jack on top of it and never even scratched it. I was skeptical at first about the wrench at first because of the price but even if it broke after a couple weeks I still would have thought I got my moneys worth out of it.

So if you want a good torque wrench for your money I would get this one. I will buy this wrench over and over again.

I use this torque wrench to torque the wheels on my cars and friends cars that I work on. I was able to get the wrench in tight spaces to tighten replaced wheel bearings, brake mount and sliding caliper bolts to factory torque specifications.

It gives a nice peace of mind to know you have bolts tightened to exact specifications and keeps you from breaking bolts and snapping heads. Some people say they have problems with the wrench handle changing the torque value while they are torquing a bolt, but I’ve never had that problem; there is a lock on the wrench to prevent that.

I don’t know if I’ve just had luck or if they are using it wrong. Sometimes it is hard to get this wrench into tight spaces.

Engineer perspective: Great tool. Quality fit & finish. Was a little leery about non-metallic handle when ordering, but it’s got a nice look & feel, not cheapy. Despite some reviews, power-up sequence is < 10 seconds if you do it while wrench is laying flat.

I just hit the C button while it’s in the padded case and it powers right up and calibrates. User interface is straightforward, set units, mode, desired torque & angle values. When approaching setting, (angle or torque) green LED will beep at ~80% of value and increase in frequency until value is reached, whereupon red LED will light and tone will go to solid.

Also vibrates. Easy to use in engine bay even if you can’t see display. Use: Set mode to torque, pre-torque bolt, press mode key to Angle and sweep desired degrees. When using angle, you have about 7 seconds after first sweep to begin next next sweep, before tool will revert to original setting.

Powers down after about 2 min. If I had designed this tool: “C” key would be bigger. Remember, you must hit this key after each tightening sequence, to reset the tool. Since you hit it so often, it s/b more prominent imo.

Also would allow locking of settings so lb-in isn’t accidentally changed to lb-ft or different units. Other than that, I love the tool and will definitely recommend to anyone.

It is luxurious to be able to measure the angle with your torque wrench. Some applications like head bolts and fly wheel bolts require a torque plus an angle for each bolt. It’s really valuable to have a torque wrench that’s accurate to 1.

5% out of the box without any calibration, ever. the vast majority of torque settings you’ll need in a vehicle are covered by this torque wrench at 12. 5 to 250 ft lb. Lower than 12. 5 and it’s really just hand tight (do that with a regular, short handled socket wrench).

The long handle length allows for applying most torque values without much effort. Becausee of high leverage, you won’t need an extension bar (pipe) to achieve high torque values. But I would not recommend using a pipe because of the fat plastic handle grip.

The controls take a little getting used to and it has some features that you might want to become acquainted with before first use. For instance, the ability to scroll quickly through the number settings (with the same button that defaults to 0.

1 increments on each press) is a little touchy and not intuitive at first try. You might also consider buying a 1/2 inch to 3/8 inch socket adapter to use this wrench with 3/8 inch sockets and extensions.

Greetings from South Africa, I am very pleased with my purchase of this product. The quality, from the case to the actual wreck looks awesome. I started using it on the suspension assembly of my 66 Mustang restomod and was very impressed.

It takes a bit of getting used to when chasing up on the desired torque if one is used to the conventional mechanical click sound. It produces a beep that increases in frequency when the set torque is being reached and the handle vibrates.

The display lights up and displays the actual torque being applied.

There are cheaper torque wrenches, and more expensive. I got this for peace of mind to trust the tool. It does have good positive click, and accurate per my hillbilly test: A 3/8 bolt has typical torque value of 15 ft lb (180 inch / lb) not lubricated.

I used a trusted CDI torque wrench (made by Snap On) at lower end of its 100-750 inch lb range and torqued to 150 inch lb. I used the Gear Wrench to torque at same and the fastener did not move. I set this Gear Wrench to 160 inch lb and it moved the nut slightly then clicked.

I went back and forth, each wrench confirming the other as I worked up to 200 inch lb. Although I had a good 3/8 drive 100-750 inch lb torque wrench, I wanted this 30-250 inch lb wrench for smaller fasteners and so each wrench could operate closer to the sweet spot mid-range rather than at lowest setting on my other torque wrenches.

I can recommend this 30-250 inch lb one, the CDI 100-750 inch lb, and for the bigger stuff like lug nuts I trust the more affordable TEKTON 1/2 Inch Drive Click Torque Wrench (10-150 ft. -lb. ) because I am not so concerned about stripping out a sensitive fastener in an aluminum motorcycle engine.

It is more for lug nuts and a motorcycle axle fastener.

Very good quality and finish on this torque wrench. I’ve heard of many in/lb torque wrenches out there that don’t have a solid click sound and feel when torque is reached. I can tell you that even at the lowest 30 in/lb, the click and feel is very noticeable.

The chrome is very nice and the knurled handle feels very stout and reassuring in the hand. There is no plastic anywhere to be found and I prefer this locking ring type of lock than the screw type at the bottom.

All in all I recommend this to anyone who’s looking for a mid-range pro grade torque wrench.

If you’re an automotive technician I highly recommend this torque wrench. I havent had any issues with it or the vehicles worked on with this. Much cheaper than the tool trucks and just as good. Have techs in the shop ask me to borrow it all the time especially due to the counter clockwise torquing ability as well.

Another cool feature is the ft-lbs on front and NM on the back side so you dont have to be running to the computer or checking your phones internet for the conversion. Also comes with a certificate of calibration so you know right out of the box its ready to go to work.

I use a Snap-On digital torque wrench at the shop and I’ve used click-type torque wrenches at home. Because I use a 1/2″ torque wrench often, I decided I wanted to get a good digital torque wrench to use at home.

I couldn’t justify the $800 Snap-On, and it just so happened this digital Gearwrench was on sale when I was looking. Well, I’m quite pleased with it overall. It’s easy to use and is as accurate as it claims to be from what I can tell.

You can set and save the desired torque spec, so it won’t move around on you, it tells you how tight you tightened it and you just turn it off to store it instead of having to set it to its lowest setting like with a click-type torque wrench.

The length of it is great and it’s easy to apply the right amount of torque. I have to play around with the % setting to get it to start beeping not too early and not too late. I would say the only thing I don’t like about it are the 0.

1 ft. lb. increments. I never use a “less than whole number setting” value on a 1/2″ torque wrench. It’s always a whole number, like 55, 80, 140, etc. But because you have to adjust it based on 0. 1 ft.

lb. increments, if it’s on 139 ft. lb. and you need to set it to 140 ft. lb. , you have to click “up” 10 times and listen to it beep for each click. It’s inefficient and forces you to listen to the beeping.

When you hold the button down, it will speed up but in almost unpredictable and exponential ways which, of course, causes you to go too far up or down and you end up clicking like 20 times more and listening to each beep.

I cover the speaker while I set it because the excessive beeping is just overkill. It should move up and down using whole numbers, not 0. 1 ft. lb. increments. I had to write a lot of words to explain the dislike above but that does not mean I do not like this product.

I actually really like it, but if they could do something better (at least in my mind), it would be to change the increment setting or at least give us the option to change it. All in all, excellent product.

I would recommend this to anyone who uses a 1/2″ torque wrench regularly.

I’ve wanted this tool for so long. It’s the last bit I needed to build my engine for my street/race car. I chose this because I know how important correct torque is when it comes to assembling an engine.

I nitpick and I trust a digital read out way more than my own eye on an analog torque wrench. I like that it feels sturdy and when torquing my camshafts everything seemed to go into spec. My only complaints are I wish I could turn the tone off for selecting the wrench.

A minor inconvenience but bothers me a little. Lastly even though it never failed on me, the teeth did feel like they had an expiration date and made me a little hesitant. With that I still definitely recommend it and I’m happy with my choice.

I bought this to replace an old SK they walked off. I can’t afford another SK right now, and I’ve got a few other smaller Gearwrench torque wrenches, so I decided to try this out. My older Gearwrench wrenches that I bought about 10 years ago were made in the USA.

Sadly, they no longer are and this is now made in China. However, you wouldn’t know it by using it. It’s very solid and well built and the machining is excellent. I immediately checked the accuracy on a gauge and it was less than 2lbs off at 150ft/lbs, which is very good.

I don’t like the slip coller as much as the rotating lock on my USA models, and those also have a nicer padded handle, but those are minor complaints. Overall this is a very good product and has been every bit as reliable as my old SK that someone helped themselves to.

Was a bit skeptical of this but didn’t want to invest hundreds in a new replacement for my tired 25 year old Craftsman. Especially since I no longer trust the Craftsman brand. Comes with a calibration sheet and seems to be accurate.

Release collar motion is nice. allows for easy setting. Just used it to install an intake manifold. Sensitivity at the lower end of the torque range seems good.

I haven’t done any comparing/testing as far as torque accuracy goes, but I feel like I shouldn’t worry with this brand. GearWrench has been heavily credited through the car community and my experience with this wrench is a great one.

-Good solid weight to it -Engraved markings for ft lbs and newtons -Sliding lock mechanism, easy to use -Knurled grip Feels great to work with. Has a nice tight thump for when you hit proper torque. Definitely recommend this tool.

Well not sure but my quick change has a new gasket and has leaked twice so far using this torq wrench first set at 5 lbs ea bolt of 6. Then at 10 lbs per spec. Twice. Now when I used my buddies torq wrench the type with no click just watch the gauge it was right and no leak the first time I changed flipped my gears in rear.

So not happy with this one so far.

My motorcycle needed some long neglected maintenance and I decided when I put it back together I would do the right thing and actually try and torque the bolts to spec. I looked around at different torque wrenches looking for one that was a good combination of quality and price and decided on this unit.

The torque values on my bike’s reassembly varied from as low as 20 ft lbs all the way up to 80 so I used about the full range on the tool. I found the tool easy to use and while I didn’t have a high-end wrench to test it against I am sure the results were better than what I was doing by guessing with a standard wrench.

I’ve used high-end torque wrenches before in my work in manufacturing and if I was going to be a regular user I’d look for a better tool but for the occasional user I think this is a reasonable choice.

Pretty simple to use and it comes in a nice case. Once the torque is met the unit clicks. The handle is long enough to give the user leverage when tightening. Ive used it with no problem over the past years.

Gave mines to my brother and purchased another one. I highly recommend for anyone working on there car and doing regular maintenance.

Pros: Worked about as expected. Inexpensive. Comes with a calibration certificate for 20%, 60%, and 100% range (some similarly priced competitors DO NOT come with a certificate). I did a half-baked test with weights on a string from 15 to 35 pounds, and it seemed fairly accurate.

Cons: Would be nice if the packaging mentioned that this is not reversible. Has a reverse ratchet switch, but does not click counter-clockwise (some similarly priced competitors have reversible torquing but most are not guaranteed to be accurate going counter-clockwise).

Slightly harder than expected to twist the handle near the maximum torque setting. Other: Can’t judge durability, owned for < 1 year. Clickers generally aren't intended to be used below 20% of maximum torque (16 ftlb in this case).

Get a wrench in inch-pounds for smaller torques.

Compared to other torque wrenches that have a “degree” function, this wrench is favorably priced. However, I found the programming a little difficult to use. For me, it is not intuitive, somewhat awkward.

I used it for about 10 days, read the programming directions a half a dozen times, and I’m still not sure I’m using it correctly. Even the online videos weren’t much help. One major drawback is the need to keep the wrench ABSOLUTELY FLAT AND STILL when turning it on.

If it moves at all, it displays an error and the only way to reset it is to take the batteries out. That may not sound like too big of a deal, but that depends on WHEN it happens. For example, I was standing in the engine bay, trying to torque headbolts that were difficult to reach, barely fitting a work light in the bay.

Tight work space, little room for turning the wrench. I finally got in position to torque the bolts, turned on the power button, and the wrench slid about an inch. That was all it took. error code. Struggling to get the battery compartment open, it suddenly popped open and the button batteries fell out and rolled across the floor.

So I had to climb out of the engine bay, find the batteries (under the tool cabinet), and get repositioned all over again. There must be a better way to accomplish a “reset”. Making the programming function on this tool a little more intuitive and user friendly would definitely put it into the 5-star range, making it a GREAT value.

I read the reviews on this torque wrench before purchasing it which for the most part were good but I was still a little concerned. I was able to find a coupon code that worked for it so I only paid $134.

After getting it home I tried to get the battery cover off to put the batteries in. I turned it to the unlock symbol but it would not come out so I tried loosening it farther and it popped right out.

After powering it up I found it easy to set up. I bench tested an old connecting rod in a vise before I used it and checked the torque values with my name brand click type torque wrench. They both seemed to verify each other, which made me trust the Quinn since I know my click type is correctly calibrated.

I mainly needed this one for the angle torque feature. I really like the fact that after I angle torque the wrench display reads the final angle of torque as well as the numeric torque value. It flashes back and forth so I could compare between all of my head, rod and main bolts.

I am saying I set it to 85 degrees, after I torqued it to the audible and visual tone, the display said for example 86 degrees and 58 lb ft. next fastener I may hit exactly 85 degrees and will display 57.

5 lb ft. To move to the next fastener, just hit the power button and let it zero and move on and on. The only thing I found was when I hit power to zero the angle, the wrench can not have any tension on it and does not like to be moved or it can take awhile.

I now torque a bolt and set it down, hit power to zero and it loads almost instantly. I initially tried to put the socket on the next fastener ready to move on but it does not like that. It will power off after 2 minutes.

I had no issue with that, as soon as I hit the power button it picks up where I left off. It is not like I had to reset my torque angle, it was still set. I have torqued up to 150 lb ft and it has not broke yet.

If I was building engines daily, I would buy a name brand quality torque wrench. that being said, I have had no issues with this one yet.

This torque wrench measured up perfect side by side to snap on. When I brought it home I out a bolt into the vise. And tried setting to different measurements. And then checked the calibration with a digital meter.

+ Or- about 1lb at 100 lbs. Extremely close nothing to complain about. I have only used it twice so far. But I expect it to be of decent quality. Now I do use this in my home garage. Not at my work. But I don’t think it would really make much difference.

either it’s good or not. I believe it will hold up. Plus has a lifetime warranty. Kind of what sold me in the first place. Now on the box it didn’t say so. But I clearly asked autozone employee. They said all duralast tools do have a lifetime warranty.

So just to be clear I would ask for yourself. But other than that I believe it to be of good quality especially considering the price.

Decent grip, numbers easy to read (only foot pounds, does not have NM scale). Good enough for basic applications like wheel lug torque. Only gripe is that after a torque is applied, the twist lock on the handle always loosens.

Would recommend for someone just starting in the field order a affordable hobbyist’s tool.

I think this is a very good example of “you get what you pay for. ” It’s tempting to purchase a clicking torque wrench at this price, I know. If you’re looking at this you’ve probably seen the prices for the snap-on level, or even the craftsman and under level.

I bought this wrench for exactly those reasons. HOWEVER: The locking nut on the bottom of the handle stopped working after the first use. It got jammed up at a lower torque level and no longer rotates or locks.

I used this wrench to torque down the caliper mounting brackets on my truck (per GM specs) and a week later the lower bolt fell out, and the bracket and caliper were sitting on top of the rotor. I used this wrench to torque down the slide pin bolts on the brake caliper (per GM specs) which are at a lower torque but still within the stated range of this wrench, and the wrench never clicked and I sheared the head off of the bolt.

I’ve used this wrench to torque down my wheel lugs (per GM specs), and they’ve come loose to hand-tight more than a couple of times. Basically, invest in a torque wrench that you can trust, especially if you’re working on your own vehicle.

This wrench is NOT that. The literature INSIDE (not visible on the sealed package or on the website, as far as I can see) states that “This torque wrench does not meet ANSI Specs and does not guarantee accuracy.

” So, there’s that.