How to prevent over-tightening a bolt with a socket wrench? I recently bought a socket wrench to fix a loose and awkwardly positioned bolt on my mountain bike. The bolt secures the bike's crank arm to the frame of the bike. How do I ensure I don't over-tighten the bolt and break it?
Generally, the size and grade of the bolt will indicate its strength and the max torque that should be applied. You can use a torque wrench (they make them rated for inch-pounds and foot-pounds) to set the amount of torque you want to apply to the bolt.
If your bike has a service manual, it may specify the torque settings there. Otherwise, the bolt may have markings on the head indicating the size and grade of the bolt.