What size torque wrench for 5.3 oil pan and upper control arms?

[Sunshine Girl]

I need to replace the oil pan gasket and upper control arms. Is there a torque wrench that can do both jobs or do I need two, and what size would I need?Any specific manufacture recommendations?..I used a harbor freight wrench and it fell to pieces.

 

[OR VietVet]

Likely need two to be correct because oil pan gasket is likely inch pounds torque and I know the upper control arms will be foot pounds and I don't ever trust a foot pound torque wrench to be set at 3 foot pounds to equal 36 inch pounds. Plus, Make sure the weight of vehicle is completely on the ground before you torque the control arms. A one time buy at Harbor Freight is likely ok but maybe a little more money and buy Craftsman foreign made. IMO best is anything by Snap-On, Mac, Matco, SK, etc....but is pricey.

 

[OR VietVet]

By the way, why just upper control arms and not lower control arms? With ball joints too?
Make sure to align and post the alignment printout, that you should make sure you get, of the before and after readings and the preferred specs.

 

[Sunshine Girl]

Lower control arms or ball joints have to be done at a later date

By the way, why just upper control arms and not lower control arms? With ball joints too?
Make sure to align and post the alignment printout, that you should make sure you get, of the before and after readings and the preferred specs.

 

[Sunshine Girl]

Ok so I need 2 torque wrenches. Which sizes ¾" ⅜" or ½" ? - oil pan and upper control arm.

 

[OR VietVet]

3/8" for inch pounds and 1/2" for foot pounds.

Not doing lower arms now means 2 alignment charges and again, post pic of that before and after printout.

 

[MassHoe04]

I got a Craftsman digital 1/2" and that has been really handy! For a consumer version, it is solid and goes high enough on torque for heavier jobs.
The meter is pretty accurate and can display the set torque in any unit you could want.

For smaller jobs, anything requiring really low torque or inch pounds, I use a smaller torque wrench from Harbor Freight.
If it is something fragile and really low torque, I'll just tighten by hand and make sure I don't get carried away.

 

[Fless]

Here's what Haynes shows for the oil pan bolts (ft-lb unless otherwise indicated):



For a mechanical torque wrench, remember that they are most accurate at the upper end of their limits. In other words, use a torque wrench that has your desired torque in the upper half, or higher, of its torque range. You'll need to look at your desired values for each piece of work, and match the torque wrench to that.

 

[Sunshine Girl]

3/8" for inch pounds and 1/2" for foot pounds.

Not doing lower arms now means 2 alignment charges and again, post pic of that before and after printout.

Geeez, didn't think of that

 

[MassHoe04]

The Sears will go over 200 Foot lbs. I used it for Dana 44 Pinion nut, which was set to 200. It has a good long handle (like a breaker bar) for good leverage on the high torque jobs.
Was about $160, but found it on sale. Don't need too often (mostly only when things break), but has been very handy!