How Do Torque Sticks Work?

Buying a workshop or car maintenance tool is a worthy investment. It is even worthier if you know how to use the tool. So, how do torque sticks work?

That’s what we are going to find out here, in detail.

Torque sticks are designed to be used with air impact wrenches to tighten wheel lugs and other fasteners, to the correct torque value.

Torque sticks come in sets, with preset final torque values, so it is not adjustable. The thicker torque sticks are for tightening bigger fasteners and vice versa. When the fastener gets to the final torque, the stick flexes and it will not tighten any further.

Despite their simplistic design, these tools do a great job of helping you meet the torque demands of different fasteners in your DIY jobs.

Going back to how they are used with air impact wrenches, these wrenches are not torque tools.

So the wrench provides the power while the torque limiting stick ensures you do not over or under-tighten your fasteners.

Here is a detailed process of how these little gadgets work:

a) Torque limiting extension

When you are torquing wheel lugs, you will need to use a torque limiting extension bar. In some instances, you will also find the stick being referred to as the torque limiting stick.

When you get your set of torque sticks, you will see that they come with different colors. These colors are codes for the sizes, mostly with a color for each size. Even a novice mechanic can get the right one for their wheel lugs.

Used as an extension, you are advised to start with a stick whose torque is lower than what the manufacturer recommends for the fastener in question by 20%.

These torque limiting bars are going to help you tighten the fasteners with an impact wrench, to a certain torque without exceeding it.

After tightening the fastener to such a point where the stick flexes, you want to do a final torque check with a torque wrench. This is going to help you measure the torque applied. If the lug nut has been tightened to the right torque, the torque wrench will click.

If you will finally have to use the torque wrench, what then is the use of having the torque sticks? Well, used with an impact wrench, it makes the work of tightening heavy torque fasteners easily.

Using a torque wrench for 150 ft-lbs for too long can have its toll on your arms and back. These torque limiting extension bars make it easier to work with heavy-torque fasteners.

b) How do torque limiting extensions work

Torque extension bars will help you work with speed, precision, ease and accuracy at your garage. They are mostly used for tightening wheel lugs.

Where using a regular torque wrench alone for the entire process would be too hard on your arms and shoulders, using the torque extension sticks is easy and fun. Every auto garage should have this.

When you get your set of torque sticks, some pieces come in the design of torque limiting extensions, so you will have to use your own sockets.

First, if the lug nuts that you are tightening are rated for 80 ft-pounds of torque, you should not choose a torque stick preset for that amount of torque. Rather, choose the next number on the low, in this case, a 75 ft-pound or even a 70.

Secondly, Choose the appropriate deep socket. Insert the torque end of the torque stick into the deep socket.

Start by tightening the wheel lugs by hand until they hold on to the thread. Take the impact gun, attach to the air hose and attach the torque limit extension you prepared prior.

Run it until it stops. Do not keep going. Remove the deep socket from the torque stick.

Now, take a regular click torque wrench (or any other calibrated wrench) and set the torque to the value recommended by the manufacturer of the lug nut you are using. In this case, set it to 80 ft-pounds.

Attach the deep socket to the click torque wrench and proceed to tighten the lugs with it until you hear a click.

You are done!

c) Impact torque sticks

If you have an auto garage and you are wondering whether you can use an impact wrench to install rims, yes you can.

But under one condition … only when you use it with torque sticks! Never with the deep socket alone!

Any of your torque sticks can work with the impact wrench. However, there is something important to note.

Your impact wrench is not calibrated to match the torque value of your wheel lugs. Using it alone with a deep socket is not going to tighten the fasteners to the required torque.

This is why you need to use a torque stick with the impact wrench. Even then, do not pick the stick with the torque value of the fasteners/lugs.

Rather, pick one with a lower torque value. Attach it to the impact wrench, attach the deep socket and tighten the lugs.

When it reaches its set torque value, the stick is going to flex, so you can know and stop running the impact wrench.

After that, set the right torque value (of the lug nut) on the torque wrench that you are using. We have mentioned the click torque wrench a couple of times here, but it could be any wrench, even electric ones.

Use it to finish off torquing the wheel lugs. Then, you will have applied the right, final torque.

d) How does a torque stick work?

Basically, a torque stick is for tightening fasteners. However, it cannot work alone. It will only work with an impact wrench.

Torque sticks come in a set to help you do your job better. The reason why they come in a set is to give you a selection of sticks for different fastener sizes and torque needs.

For instance, in the same set, you can find torque sticks with torque value of 50 ft-lbs, 70 ft-lbs, 85 ft-lbs and so on.

To start using the torque stick of your choice, first, you have to get a deep socket that will act as your extension. It attaches to the stick while the other end goes to the lug.

In some cases, you can use the torque extension bar alone to fasten a lug if it is designed to be used that way.

Once you attach the deep socket, you can then attach the torque stick to the impact wrench. If you are tightening many lugs, using an impact wrench has serious vibrations that you will feel in your arms. However, it will be better than using a click wrench to tighten the lugs the entire way.

Never use a torque stick whose preset torque value matches that of the lugs or nuts you are tightening. Always choose a stick that is a notch lower so that you can finish off the tightening job with an electric or click wrench.

Something vital to note: Torque sticks are not very accurate. Always finish any job with a calibrated torque wrench.

e) Are torque sticks accurate

Yes they are, but only to a certain degree.

The reason for saying this is that they come with preset torque, so they are not adjustable.

However, since these are torque sticks and not torque wrenches, they often have to be used with other powered devices to apply torque.

Therefore, their accuracy is often affected by how well or badly the tools they are used with are calibrated.

The main reason for using these sticks is to save time, for speedy tightening of wheel lugs, not for torque.

How to ensure accuracy when using a torque stick

If you have a click wrench, or you have to tighten lugs or other fasteners that are in tight spaces, a torque stick makes the job easier.

Do not rely on the extension sticks alone to reach your desired torque. Experts recommend you use this extension stick to about 70% of the fastener torque (as recommended by the manufacturer). After that, switch to a more accurate method to finish off the job.

Make sure you use a calibrated torque wrench to complete the job. Unless you do that, you will not torque the lugs accurately.

If lugs are under-torqued, they can come loose when you are driving at high speed. This can make the wheels come off and cause a deadly accident.

If you over-torque the lugs, you could damage them and the threads, costing you much more money to replace them.

How Do Torque Sticks Work FAQ

It can be hard for a beginner to decipher how torque sticks work. In this section, we answer a few important questions about how these simple tools work.

1. Can you use torque sticks with an impact gun?

Because of their simplistic nature, these tools are not designed to be used alone. They have to be used with other tools and the impact gun is the best of them all.

Start by tightening the fasteners slightly by hand up to the point where the threads hold, then use the impact gun to tighten them to about 70 percent of the recommended torque value. You can then finish the job with a manual click wrench.

Using these sticks with an impact wrench has a higher accuracy rate than using them with electric wrenches. The electric ones are simply too fast.

2. Can torque sticks be used in both directions?

Torque sticks can work in both directions, but there are some limitations. In high torque settings, the sticks can work in reverse with your impact gun only to a certain torque limit.

Many users report that theirs failed to work with impact guns if the torque limit exceeds 1000 ft-lbs. Before you buy your set of torque sticks, ask the manufacturer whether they can work in reverse direction.

By reverse direction, we mean that you can use it to tighten fasteners in the anticlockwise direction.

Even when working in the anticlockwise direction, remember to use a manual or electric calibrated torque wrench to tighten your fasteners to the final torque since sticks are not accurate in either direction.

3. Do torque sticks wear out?

If you misuse torque sticks, they are going to wear out. This means trying to use the sticks with an impact gun to loosen the fasteners. Like other torque wrenches, the sticks are only meant to be used to tighten fasteners.

Dropping them on the floor can chip them, and in return cause them to rust. Also, bending them too much by using them for other purposes than they are intended for can damage them.

With good care, these extension torque limiters can stay in good shape for many years. Store them in the case they came in since it locks out moisture.

How to calibrate torque sticks

Torque sticks come with factory preset torque values and they flex when the set torque is reached. Due to their design, it can be hard to calibrate them.

Since you will be using them with an impact wrench, it is better to calibrate the impact wrench to try to match the torque value of the sticks.

Because of the way you are supposed to use torque sticks, you should ask the manufacturer about the calibration instructions for your impact wrench.

Usually, set a higher torque value on your impact wrench than that of the stick that you intend to use.

The stick will absorb some of the torque as it twists to start tightening the fasteners. The rest of the torque will be used to tighten the lugs.

These sticks do not do a very accurate job of applying torque. Therefore, always finish the job manually with a click or other type of calibrated wrench.

Best torque stick set

Torque extension bars come in their hundreds. Here, you shall see the best ones, thick enough, so they have a higher accuracy rate. They will also never chip away with frequent usage.

1. Capri Tools 30083

Can give you torque ratings of 65ft-lbs to 140 ft-lbs

The set comes with 5 torque sticks of different torque values

Made of steel with chrome-molybdenum alloy

Usable with manual or powered impact wrenches

2. Neiko 02540A

4 pieces of color coded torque sticks with torque values of up to 110 ft-lbs

The set comes with 4 deep impact sockets

Deep impact sockets have thin wall design so they can access limited spaces

High quality case made of molded plastic

3. Astro 78810

It comes with 10 pieces of torque limiting extensions

Torque values start at 65 ft-lbs to 150 ft-lbs to meet many needs

No calibration needed and maintenance-free

½-inch drive and 8-piece length for every torque limiting extension

4. ARES 70367

Has 5 pieces of ½ -Inch drive and 8-inch length

Manganese Phosphate for rust-resistant coating

Torque values start at 65 ft-lbs to 140 ft-lbs

Sold with the Ares Performance Assurance Limited Lifetime Warranty

5. ABN

10 pieces of ½-inch drive and 8 inches long

Torque values start at 65 ft-lbs to 150 ft-lbs

Spring-loaded ball detent for secure locking when in use

Built durably with steel with chromium-molybdenum alloy

Color coding for easier identification

How do torque sticks work? Final thoughts

Torque sticks work with an impact wrench/gun. When choosing a good set of these torque extension limit bars, get one that comes with a spring loading ball detent. It prevents slipping of the extension from the impact gun.

As you buy the best set in the market, the most important thing to remember is that these extension bars are not reliably accurate.

Torque your fasteners to about 70 percent of their manufacturer recommended torque value. After that, use a calibrated torque wrench to finish the job.