Just realized my torque wrench was 30% off, no wonder the bolts kept snapping

Picked up a used torque wrench at a garage sale in Columbus for $15. Felt fine, clicked okay. After snapping my third lug stud on the same rotor, I borrowed a buddy's digital adapter and checked it. The thing was reading 65 ft-lbs when it was set to 45. That explains six months of mystery failures on my Subaru, not just the lugs but a caliper bracket too. I never thought to calibrate a secondhand tool, figured a click is a click. Has anyone else found a cheaper tool that was secretly way off, and did you buy a new one or just send it out for calibration?

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oscarscott21d ago

Harbor Freight ones seem fine till they don't, maybe just buy a new beam style.