For Wrenches With a Torque Gauge

• 1). Check the manufacturer's recommendations to find out how much torque must be applied to the bolt. This information is available in almost every repair manual. If more than one bolt is to be tightened, now is also the time to check the order the manufacturer wants you to tighten them in.
  
  
• 2). Attach the proper-sized socket onto the wrench and begin to tighten the bolt. When starting, tighten the bolt fairly quickly. Until the bolt gets tight, you don't even need to use a torque wrench. Once the bolt head has touched the surface of the object it is attached to, slow down.
  
  
• 3). Apply pressure slowly and evenly to further tighten the bolt. As you do, pay attention to the reading on the gauge. When the reading on the gauge matches the torque that the manufacturers specified, stop tightening the bolt.
  
  

For Wrenches You Pre-Set

• 1). Check the manufacturer's recommendations to find out how much torque must be applied to the bolt. This information is available in almost every repair manual. If more than one bolt needs tightening, check the order the manufacturer wants you to tighten them in.
  
  
• 2). Set the torque wrench to the required torque. On almost all torque wrenches, this is done by twisting the handle and lining up the desired torque on the handle with a mark on the shaft.
  
  
• 3). Attach the proper-sized socket onto the wrench and begin to tighten the bolt. When first starting, you can tighten the bolt fairly quickly. Until the bolt gets tight, you don't even need to use a torque wrench. Once the bolt head has touched the surface of the object it is attached to, slow down.
  
  
• 4). Apply pressure slowly and evenly to further tighten the bolt. As you do, pay attention to the reading on the gauge. The wrench will make a clicking sound when the proper torque has been reached. At this point, stop turning the wrench to avoid overtightening the bolt.