What do i need to install a new alternator brace(and is a torque wrench nessesary since its not a motor part)

 

A half inch, a nine sixteenths and possibly a five eighths wrenches and/or sockets.

[sm=icon_cheers.gif]

 

Ya, 1/2 or 9/16, or both. Use a two finger pull, that's all the torque you'll need.

My "old school" rules of torque.....
3/8 to 7/16, one finger
1/2 to 9/16, two fingers
5/8, three fingers
3/4 and up, four fingers
I don't break bolts or strip threads, and never had anything fall off,
yet.

 

So true, C3, I've encounter so many people, over the years,over-tightening bolts and nuts. That's a great way to ruin lock washers also. Your 1,2, 3, and 4 finger rule is cool and a good way to go about it. I just hate to see guys with big air wrenches lock lug nuts on. I had Michelins put on my Caddy about a year or so ago. It has the original factory wire wheels (Cragar Star Wires) on it and they're in really good shape and don't need much weight to balance out. This guy put the first wheel on and took the first lug nut, started it with his fingers and put the air wrench on it and ran it down tight and let it bounce for about 5 or 6 secondsafter. I went FLYING out into the shop and stopped him. I thought I would have a heart attack. LOL, but it wasn't funny at the time. Ieven had the lady at the counter put on the paper work to torque the lug nuts at 80 (ft.)lbs., I guess the guy never read the paper. Thank God I was there tostop this guy as he'd have done each one like that. Wow!
Actually, a torque wrench is a great idea for anyone who's not experienced, and even for those of us who are.

 

I hear ya on the lug nuts. [:@]
I stoppedone guyand told him, "Now,...... I want you to take one off with my star wrench.....". He got my point, the hard way.
They don't use a "jack hammer" on mine anymore.
They are very curtious to me at that tire shop, I buy all my tires from them, and they want me to come back.

 

What's the consensus on the "quill wrenches" that most tire shops use now?

 

Sorry, that's a new one on me...I don't recognize the term, "quill wrench". Please explain....

 

[sm=WTFsgign.gif]To be honest I havent heard of a "quill wrench" either but as always I am intrested to learn

 

The ones I've seen are rod (looks like an extension w/ a socket attached) about ten inches long and have a 1/2" drive on one end and a socket on the other. They are color coded for different torque values. I believe they way they work is that once the max torque is reached, the rod twists and absorbs the hit from the impact wrench and transmits zero torque. I might have the wrong name for them cuz I couldn't find them with Google.

 

Sounds intresting I would love to see one or better yet use one please let me know if you find out the right name for it