Comparing my old torque wrench to a new digital one on my 98 F150

I tried to swap out my brake calipers last weekend with my old beam-style torque wrench from the 80s, and it ended up stripping a bolt because I couldn't read the scale right. Then I borrowed my neighbor's click-type wrench and got the job done in 20 minutes with no issues. Has anyone else switched to a newer style and found it way easier to work with?

2 comments

2 Comments

walker.andrew8d ago

My buddy swore by his old beam wrench until he dropped it on concrete and the needle bent. He went digital and hasn't touched a beam since.

janaw118d ago

Honestly, a bent needle is a real bummer but dropping any torque wrench on concrete is bad news. Digital ones are tougher sure, but they can mess up too from a hard fall. The real trick is to always put a beam or click-style wrench back to zero before you store it. If you do that, the spring or beam lasts way longer. Ngl, I think your buddy just got unlucky with that drop, not so much a beam wrench problem.