How Much Torque Do I Need?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Recommendation. Generally speaking, an impact driver with

1500–1800 in-lbs

of torque puts more emphasis on higher RPM. It will do 95% of the work more quickly than a tool with more torque and slower speeds. Our rule of thumb is that, if you need to reach for a socket adapter, you’re better off grabbing an impact wrench …

How much torque does a car need?

Moderate duty automotive fasteners require

between 50 and 250 ft. lbs

. While fewer fasteners fall into this range than light duty fasteners, those which do are critical applications.

How much torque do you need impact?

An impact wrench needs about

500 ft-lbs

of torque to remove lug nuts. In most cases, you will need the same amount of torque you used to tighten the lug nut in order to remove it. So, if you over-tightened it, you might need more than 500 ft-lbs torque.

Which torque wrench do I need?

The bigger the drive and the longer the handle, the more torque they can deliver. Most home mechanics will find that

a torque wrench with a 1/2-inch drive and at least an 18-inch handle

is the best choice for lug nuts, cylinder heads, suspension bushings, and other likely uses.

Do I really need a torque wrench?


If you plan to do any major work on your engine or on some major powertrain components, you absolutely need a torque wrench

. Overtightening cylinder-head bolts, for instance, can easily cause expensive damage and catastrophic coolant loss. Too-tight exhaust manifold bolts can cause the manifold to crack.

Can you over torque with a torque wrench?


So long as users operate with caution and do not exceed the maximum torque

, most torque wrenches can be used for undoing. However, if the bolt will not free within the maximum torque of the wrench, another tool should be used instead.

Does torque make a car faster?

In terms of acceleration,

torque plays a bigger role in how quickly your car accelerates

. That’s because the torque is a result of the force the pistons generate and at what speed. The quickest vehicles can generate high levels of this torque force at relatively low rpm. This allows the vehicle to accelerate quickly.

Which car has most torque?

  • Car – 3,500 N⋅m (2,581 lbf⋅ft) – 2020 Koenigsegg Gemera, hybrid 3-cylinder + 4 electric motors,
  • Pickup truck – 1,458 N⋅m (1,075 lb⋅ft) – 2020 (2021 MY) RAM Heavy Duty, 6,690 cc (408.2 cu in) R6.
  • SUV – 1,000 N⋅m (738 lbf⋅ft) – Audi Q7 V12 TDI, 6,000 cc (366.1 cu in) V12 diesel.

Is it better to have more torque or horsepower?

Horsepower equals torque multiplied by rpm, divided by a constant. Because there is generally a limit on how fast you can spin an engine,

having higher torque allows for greater horsepower at lower rpms

.

Is 450 ft-lbs enough?

When you actually do have some real mechanical work to do, rather than horsing around with those bite-sized sub-compact models, reach for something in the 450 ft-lb torque range.

This middle range probably covers the vast majority of automotive work

.

How many foot pounds of torque do I need for a impact wrench?

Recommendation. Generally speaking, an impact driver with

1500–1800 in-lbs

of torque puts more emphasis on higher RPM. It will do 95% of the work more quickly than a tool with more torque and slower speeds. Our rule of thumb is that, if you need to reach for a socket adapter, you’re better off grabbing an impact wrench …

How much torque does a 1/2 impact have?

The M18 FUELTM 1/2′′ High Torque Impact Wrench with Friction Ring Kit features the most powerful cordless wrench in its class, delivering

up to 700 ft-lbs of maximum fastening torque, 1,100 ft-lbs of nut-busting torque

and up to 2X more runtime.

How much torque do you need for lug nuts?

Hardware Bolt or Stud Size Typical Torque Range in Ft/Lbs Minimum Number of Turns of Hardware Engagement
12 x 1.5 mm


70 – 80


6.5
12 x 1.25 mm 70 – 80 8 14 x 1.5 mm 85 – 90 7.5 14 x 1.25 mm 85 – 90 9

Do harbor freight torque wrenches work?

How much torque can a 1/2 drive take?

Drive Size Reasonable Torque Rating Limit* 1-1/2′′ Square Drive

11,500 ft-lbs

[15,600 Nm]
2-1/2′′ Square Drive 45,000 ft-lbs [61,015 Nm] 3-1/2′′ Square Drive 100,000 ft-lbs [135,590 Nm] 4-1/2′′ Square Drive 200,000 ft-lbs [271,165 Nm]

How do you guess torque without a torque wrench?

What happens if you don’t torque to spec?

Insufficient torque

Alternatively, the engine’s vibrations can cause the bolt or nut to come undone, displacing the tensioner. This, in turn, will lead to

incorrect belt tension and, eventually, to belt and/or engine damage

.

Do I have to torque to spec?


No, it doesn’t matter at all

. Unless you expect your car to be safe and reliable. The specified torque for wheel nuts is important. Too loose and you risk them loosening on their own, obviously a dangerous situation.

Should you double click a torque wrench?

Using torque wrenches can be challenging for some people, especially if you don’t use this tool daily. So, is it necessary to double-click a torque wrench? An answer to this is that

it is unnecessary, but it doesn’t hurt to double-click

.

Is it OK to use a torque wrench as a ratchet?

In these applications, a torque wrench is the proper tool to use instead of a plain ratchet. Fortunately,

in all but the tightest or most specialized of applications, ratchet torque wrenches can be used

.

How do you use a torque wrench for beginners?

Is 400 ft lbs of torque a lot?

It is horsepower that moves your car or your motorcycle.

Having 400 pounds of torque down low means you have more horsepower down low

. Having 400 pounds of torque up high means you have even more horsepower then you had down low.

Is 500 Nm torque good?

It’s worth noting that engines producing much more than 400 Nm (295 lb/ft) of torque, whether petrol or diesel, are usually at their best teamed with an automatic gearbox.

Beyond 500 Nm (369 lb/ft), most engines come with an automatic gearbox anyway since they’re better able to cope with an engine that strong

.

Is high torque at low rpm good?



Higher torque at lower r.p.m. means you have a lot more horsepower at lower r.p.m., which makes it easier to tow things from a standstill

. That’s usually how trucks are geared,” Murray said. “High torque at higher r.p.m. means more power while you’re already underway, which usually results in higher top speed.

How much torque does a Tesla have?

Pricing Torque

487 lb·ft @ 0 rpm

(660 N·m)
Engine Electric Power 259 hp @ 6,100 rpm (193 kW) Torque 243 lb·ft @ 0 rpm (329 N·m)

What is the fastest torque car?

  • #1. (21-) Koenigsegg Gemera. …
  • #2. (21-) Rimac Nevera. …
  • #3. Aspark Owl. With a total torque output of 1475 lb·ft, the Aspark Owl takes joint third place. …
  • #3. (16-) Koenigsegg Regera. …
  • #5. SSC Tuatara. …
  • #6. (22-) …
  • #6. Bugatti Divo. …
  • #6. Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport.

What engines have the most torque?

  • Ford F-Series Super Duty, 6.7-liter V-8 Power Stroke: 925 @ 1,800 rpm.
  • Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra 2500/3500, 6.6-liter V-8 Duramax: 910 @1,600 rpm.
  • Ram 3500 inline-six-cylinder Cummins B motor: 900 @ 1,700 rpm.
  • Nissan Titan XD, 5.0-liter V-8 Cummins: 555 @ 1,600 rpm.
Charlene Dyck
Author
Charlene Dyck
Charlene is a software developer and technology expert with a degree in computer science. She has worked for major tech companies and has a keen understanding of how computers and electronics work. Sarah is also an advocate for digital privacy and security.