What's the consensus on recommended torque wrenches to cover basic maintenance - fluids, brakes, wheels, etc?

Sources:
Which Torque Wrench Range is Right For Your Ride MountzPro At The Track
https://www.s2ki.com/forums/showpost.php?p=21645399&postcount=17
https://www.s2ki.com/forums/s2000-un.../#post23624101
http://www.bluetoad.com/publication/?i=470827#{"issue_id":470827,"page":24}

Using CDI torque wrenches as an example, there are two configurations:
(3/8) 5-75 + (1/2) 20-150
(3/8) 5-75 + (1/2) 30-250

Opinions between these two options?

Recommendation for the lb-in wrench for the smaller torque jobs?

 

get one 3/8th's wrench that goes from 2-22 ft lbs (something like 20-250 inch lbs) for all of the smaller bolts on the car, and spark plugs etc. Then get one that covers 20-150 ft lbs for the larger bolts like suspension, lug nuts, etc. that will cover you nicely. Two wrench minimum and you shouldn't strip a bolt ever again.

 

^^i agree.

i have 2 CDI Wrenches which can pretty much do anything i need.

3/8" Drive 5-75 ft*lbs

and 1/2" Drive 30-250 ft*lbs

Reason i chose 250 ft*lb wrench is because billman's axle nut suggestion is to retorque the nut to 180 ft*lbs (estimated factory torque) + 60 degrees so i figured It would be good to have the higher range. Better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

 

I wanted this exact combination/both of these exact ones too. But, I'm broke, lol... so I just got the 10-100 CDI wrench.

Seems to fit every need thus far (except the axle nuts of course, like you mentioned... or a crank pulley bolt, which I'll probably never touch). Majority of Honda bolts are less than <100lbft spec. If I need any crazy high torque specs, I can always just rent at Autozone.

 

torque wrenches with large spans tend to be less accurate at lower settings, hence my recommendation for 2 wrenches if at all possible. Also, 3/8ths drives are more accurate for lower settings, and 1/2 inch rives more accurate at higher settings. I understand the cost argument though and if you can only afford one wrench, but it really feels like crap when you strip a bolt , it is the worst feeling in the world I say. lol. When I first starting wrenching on my cars I used a single 0-150 ft lb 1/2" drive torque wrench on smaller bolts, even though it was properly set I was stripping bolts and it really pissed me off. Since that time I always made sure to have a minimum of 2 differently sized wrenches.