DIY Projects

The other day I was helping a friend’s son do a brake job on her van. After we were done with the brakes we were putting the wheels back on and I was explaining to him how to make sure that we did not over tighten the lug nuts.

After checking the owner’s manual to see what the correct torque should be, I showed him how to use the torque wrench. By presetting the calibration, the torque wrench will get to the desired tightness and the clutch will slip, signaling that it is time to stop tightening. This keeps you from over tightening the lug nut, but also insures that it is tight enough.

There are several types of torque wrenches but this is my preferred version.

Over time, coil springs will lose their structural integrity. This loss can result in a drop in the height of the vehicle, reduced maneuverability and increase wear of important structural suspension components. Replacing the worn coil springs with new springs will restore the vehicle’s proper ride height and result in a significant improvement in handling. Properly removing the old coil springs necessitates the use of a coil spring compressor.

This automotive specialty tool will help make the job at hand easier and quicker whether you are a seasoned professional or a casual weekend mechanic. This unique tool will help you get the job done right the first time, saving you time, money, and frustration in the process!

While working on the tear out, I had to shut the water off at the bathroom sink. The shut off valve was so corroded that I had to get my channellocks to unloosen it.

Since channellocks have right angle teeth grip in all directions they give maximum bite and minimum wear. They also have no slip jaw action which allowed me to get enough leverage to break away the corrosion and loosen the shut off valve.

Which really is man’s best friend, his car or his dog? A lot has been written about the dog being the man’s best friend. I say his best friend is his car. Does a man’s garage not overflow with car care products while his dog is allotted a box in the corner for his things? Does he not spend the whole of Sunday polishing and buffing his car while he grudgingly takes some measly minutes to give his dog a bath?

As far as car care products go, the man will surely have polishes, waxes, cleaners and varied tools, like a torque wrench, in his garage. His fender will be buffed to perfection and the tires will look like they have not been used in weeks.  He will spend hours waxing and polishing the body of his car.  Listen to him swear to high heavens when sweet little raindrops decide to bless his beloved car.

There are two common types of torque wrenches for home use; the “beam” type and the “clicker” type. Today we will talk about the beam type. The beam type torque wrench is the least expensive torque wrench.

The beam wrench works by the beam bending in response to the torque applied. This type is very simple, reliable, and accurate, and there is little that can go wrong with it when used properly. When tightening a bolt, make sure to only apply force in the center of the handle. This allows the beam to bend in the manner it was designed to indicate the correct torque. Do not over torque the wrench or the beam may bend permanently. Do not drop the wrench because rough handling can bend the pointer arm or pointer. If the pointer is bent, it can be bent back to the center without affecting accuracy. If the beam is bent it cannot be bent back.

An impact wrench is also known as an air gun, air wrench, or torque gun. They are designed to deliver high torque output, with minimal exertion by the user.

Impact wrenches are widely used in many industries, including auto repair, heavy equipment maintenance, product assembly, and major construction projects. Anywhere high torque output is needed.

Impact wrenches are available in every standard socket wrench drive size, from small 1/4″ drive tools for small assembly and disassembly, up to 3.5″ and larger square drives for major construction. Impact wrenches are one of the most commonly used air tools and are found in virtually every mechanic’s shop.

Did you know that most cars on the road have improper air pressure in the tires? This not only affects your gas mileage, but the handling of your vehicle as well. It also makes the tires wear unevenly.

Do not check the tire pressure after you’ve been driving! The friction of the tires on the road creates heat and will give you the wrong reading. Always check the tire pressure before you start driving, or after it has set for at least 3 hours.

Look in your owner’s manual, which will usually refer you to a label or decal somewhere on the car, typically on the driver’s side door jamb, the tire pressure recommended in the manual or on the door jamb is what is called a cold pressure. This does not mean that it is only for cold weather but the temperature that your tires should have before starting to drive on them for the day.

I recommend that you use a good tire pressure gauge. One that holds the reading so that you can remove the gauge from the tire to get a closer look at the number, also, one with a flexible hose so that there is no fiddling with the valve stem.

Check your tire pressure often, tires can lose 1 PSI for every 10 degrees the temperature drops, so it is important to regularly check your vehicle’s tire pressure at least once a month.

Did you know that the starting capacity for your car battery dramatically drops in the winter months? According to Battery Council International, when the outside temperature is 80 F, a fully charged battery has 100% of its power available to start the vehicle, but when the temperature starts dropping that changes. When the temperature drops to 32 F, a fully charged battery has 2/3 of its power available, and when the temperature drops to 0 F, a fully charged battery has only 40% of its power available to start the vehicle.

So there are a few things that you can do to prevent battery failure during the cold months. If possible keep your vehicle in the garage at night, also, make sure the battery posts are tight and free of corrosion. Limit the amount of accessories charging in your car, and last but certainly not least, if you notice that your vehicle is having a hard time starting, plug it into a battery charger overnight to give it that little extra boost.

Channelocks

When you start building up your tool box there are a few hand tools that are necessary. Pliers come in many shapes and sizes. One choice is a pair of, tongue and groove pliers, also referred to as channellocks. Channellock is a name brand but almost everyone refers to their tongue and groove pliers as channellocks.

Channellocks are used by a wide range of professionals: plumbers, electricians, auto mechanics, and firefighters, so if they put their trust in this tool, why shouldn’t you?

The special jaw design can accommodate many shapes and sizes. They can grip irregularly shaped items such as, round, square, flat and hexagonal, they also have serrated jaws to provide positive grip and they have insulated grips. Channellocks also have a tongue and groove mechanism that keeps the two handles in synch and allows you to really get a grip on what you are working on. The mating surfaces are undercut so they work to tighten against each other as you squeeze rather than spreading apart as other pliers do.

These are professional grade pliers, and cost a little more than your bargain basement type tools, but the old saying “You get what you pay for” is certainly relevant in this case. A quality pair of channellocks can last you a very long time, if properly taken care of.

When the tightness of a screw or bolt is critical, a torque wrench is used. This tool is used to precisely apply the proper tension to match the manufactures specifications.

It is very important to have a reliable, accurate torque wrench to properly tighten fasteners to specification. A torque wrench is used to measure the precise amount of pressure (torque) applied to a bolt. This is usually done to assure you do not over-tighten the bolt and thereby strip threads.