[T3] cheaper Torque Miester tool review

[Big Al <Big.Al@HVWC.net>]

<x-flowed>Hi All,

I got to finally try out my cheaper"Torque Tool" (knock-off of the 
Torque Miester")
http://store.cip1.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=ACC-C10-7036&Category_Code=23-02

I have a rear suspension sans-tranny from a 74 thing that has the 
complete brake system on the rear wheels.  It was a Galveston, TX 
car, supposedly used as a beach patrol car, so you can imagine how 
rusty this "thing" was.  now add about 5 years of sitting outside, 
unprotected with no cover.

The wheels no longer turn, even the torsion bar housing was pitted 
with rust.  and now, with no chassis in front of the housing...  how 
do you remove the drums?

So, I got the tool for $50 from CIP1.com and went after it.  My kit 
did not come with the washers or clips pictured in the link above, 
but they aren't required for the tool to work from my experience this 
weekend.

Goal: remove the drums to see if they can be resurfaced and used on 
my new project.
(parts costs: $60+ per each drum as opposed to $30 each for Bug) and 
get all the brake components.


First, I got an extra can of PB Blaster
http://www.pbblaster.com/store/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=1&CFID=3354329&CFTOKEN=2905801
great stuff!


Then I had to get a pair of longer bolts that match the size and 
pitch of the 5-lug lug-bolts (good thing about parting out multiple 
VW's is that I found a stash of shoulder bolts that fit the bill 
exactly) because the stock lug bolts will not reach far enough to 
install the gear plate.  Unfortunately I have no idea what car or 
what part the bolts came off...  but they have 19mm heads and were 
about 2inches long including shoulder. Maybe one of the other 
long-timers can remember what they came from...

Anyway, I shot PB Blaster all over the axle nut, inside the rusty lug 
holes (to loosen the most likely rusted shoes) and shot the backs of 
the brake cylinders and all the brake line junctions. Then gave the 
axle and the drums a couple of shock-blows with a 5 pound sledge to 
get the PB Blaster some working room.

Then attached the 1/4 circle gear plate to the drum at the lug holes, 
removed the axle nut cotter pin, attached the large end of the Torque 
Tool arm and selected the gear with the wider surface (this one is 
also used for the 12V flywheel when you want to remove the gland nut) 
and inserted it into the small end.

I then used my ~6 inch long, 3/8" drive ratchet with an 11mm socket 
to turn the gear and off the axlenut came!

It then took about 30 min of hammering on the drum to get it to come 
off the axle, but the Torque Tool did it's job quickly, just as 
promised.  I think it took longer to find the longer bolts than it 
did to remove the axlenut.

_______________________________

My thoughts on the torque tool:
I really felt nervous about using the 6", 3/8" drive wrench with an 
11mm socket initially.  Not so much the loss of the tool (it's a 
Craftsman, it's got a lifetime warrantee), but the initial push on it 
made me wince and look away from fear that the socket might explode. 
I wish that I still had my 12" long 3/8" drive wrench as that would 
make less of an effort for me on the initial push.  My wish would 
have been that the gear shaft would be  14mm or better so that a 
thicker 1/2 inch ratchet wrench could be used, but it's more of a 
comfort level than was actually needed for the job.

But the Torque Tool worked well for me on this task.

PS: the torque arm even has the multiplier formula embossed so that 
you can have the specs when you torque a nut ON to your drum or 
flywheel.

So, in my opinion, it's worth the $50 for this  home-use or hobby-use tool.

Maybe the REAL "Torque Miester" tool does more for the extra money? 
I don't know, I haven't had the opportunity to inspect one.


Big Al
Houston


--


Insert gratuitous plugs here.

Houston Volkswagen Club
http://www.hvwc.net

Type 3 Parts Book Online
http://www.autographica.com/t3pbo

Current project: 1956 Oval
http://www.autographica.com/1067689/

Type 3 Cabriolet Project
1962 Notchback Restoration
http://www.autographica.com/VW/



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