[K-Dog7469]

I am content with my digital with a flex head.

 

[K-Dog7469]

Good video.

Is a torque wrench absolutely needed? Nope.

hahaha.
Yeah okay. Maybe on your own car, but cold day in hell I send customers stuff out without torquing.

 

[K-Dog7469]

Considering we're talking about a private citizen and not a business, that doesn't have much to do with the context of our quotes.

Well actually it does.
You don't have to be a professional to do things correctly.

Did you know you can over tighten a fastener?
Did you know over-tightening a seatbelt bolt by only a few foot-pounds can fatigue a bolt causing it to shear off in an accident?
Did you know over-tightening an axle nut can deform the bearing causing premature wear and failure?
Did you know over-tightening a lug nut can stretch a stud making a lug more difficult to remove again and near impossible to reinstall?

Professional or not, there is a right way to do things and a wrong way to do things. Being a professional I know the difference.
Do as you wish.

 

[K-Dog7469]

Also, while you can usually get away with a short extension between a socket and torque wrench, longer is not better. Anything that increases the distance between the torque head and the socket is increasing the length of the lever, mathematically speaking, and will render, or throw, the applied torque off. While this may not be critical on some things, it can be a disaster on others, such as working on aluminum engines, or in smaller conditions, such as inch-pounds, etc. Or larger ones, such as the lugs on the steering axle of a big truck.

So, when you're at the tire shop, and you see the guy torque down your lugs with a deep well socket and a six-inch extension, Those bolts will not be torqued properly, which is not only improper but can be dangerous. You can prove this yourself. Use that same setup, then remove the extension and re-check.

Sometimes they use "torque sticks". They are about six inches long and look like extensions. They are color-coded and max out at a certain torque rating. I don't completely understand how they work nor do I trust them, but I see them used frequently in tire shops.