Retorquing the Lugnuts

Its simple the extension allows for some twist. Torque is off after that longer the extension the more twist you get. Pretty simple concept. If you don't believe it check it at the end of the wrench and the end of your extension. Again it's just designed to get close not exact when torquing wheels

 

3/4" drive or 1" drive isn't going to change the torque. What he is talking about is the play/slack/looseness of the extension on the torque wrench and the same thing of the socket on the extension. It's not a precision fit. That's going to affect the torque. If these were head bolts or main bearing caps then using an extension would be a no-no. Also do not put your extra hand anywhere but on the torque wrench handle do not have someone holding it on the nut. But really it's lug nuts, so not a huge deal if you are not exacting in how you use it, but still. Anyways, they won't be perfect but will be close and will all be about the same. Another thing do not ever use your torque wrench as a ratchet and most definitely do not use it as a breaker bar. Do not toss it on the ground, carefully put it away. It's an expensive precision tool treat it as such.

 

Sorry to say that. But allow me to ask. Are you paid per mile, per hour or per nut?

 

I trust he knows what he is talking about and I wouldn't trust head bolts to be properly torqued if someone put an extension on there. I don't know the physics but my gut tells me it shouldn't be done that way.

 

There is a torque loss when using a clicker style torque wrench, but this loss is not from what most people think Technically, there is no loss through an extension. But seeing is believing and you can actually test it. What is really happening is you get a delay in torque from the twist and the wrench clicks before all torque is transferred. You do not get this discrepancy when you use a dial or beam torque wrench. If you're going too fast, you can tell by slowly giving it a second click, if it moves a little more, slow down.

I'm not trying to start an argument, I heard what you are saying a long time ago and believed it myself for many years, but I was wrong. When it comes to a clicker style torque wrench, the faster you go, the more torque you lose. You'll get more error with a cheap flimsy extension than you will with a good rigid one.

This torque loss is pretty insignificant when you have a 50 ft/lb window . Set it to 500 and you'll be fine.

 

The click style is what I have seen them use at loves along with the non impact style extension.

I do agree with what your saying on the beam and dial type wrench.

 

If a lug nut torque thread is good for 10 pages, one on valve stem caps should be good for at least six.