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How to Use a Torque Stick

Over tightening a bolt or a lug nut can cause a real problem. The bolt can get jammed or stripped and you may have to weld it off or install special inserts to make its hole useable again. To avoid this hassle and the potential cost of professional repairs, use a torque wrench, which is also known as a torque stick because of its long, straight shape. The price of these tools varies based on their length and power.

Instructions

1

Consult the manual that came with your vehicle to determine how much torque adjustment is required for a certain task and purchase a torque stick accordingly. Choose a metric or standard wrench based on the requirements of your application.

2

Locate the dial and indicator needle on the torque stick. Adjust the dial to the torque rating required by your application so that you are sure not to over tighten your bolt.

3

Tighten the bolt slowly until you here a cracking sound and feel a slight break in pressure. This indicates that your bolt is set to the correct amount of torque.

4

Double-check that you have set the right amount of torque by applying one more slow pull on the wrench. It should crack right away to indicate that the level is correct. Re-adjust the dial and repeat the process if this does not occur. Note that some torque wrenches are designed to lock at this point and some will continue tightening with pressure. Do not tighten bolts beyond their ratings.