Go with the better one and get an adapter so you can change the drives as necessary.

 

I too say go with the 1/2" drive; the 3/8" is a bit small for wheels.

As far as price is concerned, I have to say the older I get the more truth I see in the saying "you get what you pay for". A low cost wrench may or may not be calibrated correct and may or may not last, regardless if you use it twice of twenty times per year.

Keep in mind, the Honda design required the lugs to be torqued the same amount in order to help make sure the rotors do not warp.

Also, for the new torque wrench used - NEVER use your torque wrench to loosen the lug nuts, a torque wrench should only be used for tightening, and to be accurate as soon as you hear/feel the click stop tightening, don't keep going for some extra random amount because this will cause all the lugs to be torqued to different amounts, in other words, go slow with that wrench...

 

I just use the little bar that came with the car I torque to James weight hahaha.

Actually I have the cheapy $25 it seems to work, I don't use it on tires as I don't have the right socket and I'm too lazy to go get it. I used it on my Diff though.

 

James, evenly torqued wheel nuts are very, very important. Me thinks this tool MUST be on your Christmas list.

 

Too bad I didn't read this earlier

The $69 one at Canadian Tire is in inch pounds!! That's why it's only got a 3/8 end.

You need the $99 one. That's the one I've got and it's prefect.

 

Every few weeks or so, these go on sale. I got the 1/2" $99 wrench for about $69.

 

Here's my take on this:
Get the 1/2" drive and get a short extension (about 5" will do) for doing lugnuts. You don't need a long socket. Besides, most rachet sets already have an extension AND a 19mm socket. Just use those.
If all you are doing is checking torque for lugnuts and NOTHING ELSE, you don't need an expensive torque wrench. You can put these lugnuts on with anything between 80 and 90 lb/ft (even close to 100). A cheap one may not give you EXACTLY 80 lb/ft, but it WILL give you a consistent lb/ft for each lugnut.
An expensive clicker type is all fine and good if you plan to use it for other stuff in the future, but just remember, they need to be calibrated periodically if you are going to use it for those other purposes. For just lugnuts, a simple beam type with the little pointer will be just fine. You're not building an engine here. If the needle goes off a bit, you can just bend it back to zero. You don't need to be that precise for wheel nuts.

 

THANK YOU EVERYONE, I am going to CRappy tire now!!!!! 1/2 Foot/LB THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

best of luck s2kinfinite.....
xviper is right if all you are going to use it for is lug nuts then the canadian tire one is all you need...
And ya i got the pdf thanks so much for it and i will consider using the back window kit as soon as my rear end is rebuilt. i toasted it at the track...

 

just for a note...this tool is critical to getting your wheels back on...I had my wheels overtorqued on my lude..and it popped off the hub..nearly killing me.