I want a longer pry bar ...

[ajchien]

Long story short - after getting my ball joint back in place, I want a longer pry bar. My longest is a craftsman 36”. I’m looking at mayhew’s 48” and 58” bars.

Does anyone have these or can give me opinions on which length they’ve found more useful?

Any other brands for a 48”+ bar that you guys would suggest I’ll also look into.

 

[ChrisLS8]

Are you using it to seperate the joints? If so there are far better tools for that

 

[ajchien]

Are you using it to seperate the joints? If so there are far better tools for that

I needed to pull the control arm down to get the ball joint/knuckle back in the lower control arm. I was using my jack to push up on the knuckle for a while, and my axle kept popping out. Yes, I’m a diy weekender working in a garage on the floor with no lift.

 

[nicks78camaro]

I have the longest Mayhew bar. Its very nice.

 

[Professional Tool User]

The only other option I know of are Snap on. Mac might have the longest sizes as the shaft is probably from the same source as Mayhew given the ll and kk markings. I've got the shorter Mayhew dominator sizes and I love them.

 

[Zewnten]

Co-worker has the Mayhew rebranded as Cornwell, seems to be holding up fine. I have a Snap-on in a similar length. But I think I like the bit of curve the Mayhew has more than my Snap-on's angle

 

[RedneckWelder]

I have the 58” Mayhew. Don’t strike the striking cap. Otherwise it’s pretty good. I wish I had gotten the Snap On instead for the better handle.

 

[woody6904]

You just missed the 58 on sale for $66 on Amazon earlier today.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=259694&page=799

 

[Ign]

Sure, just get a slate bar for $20-30

 

[RKA]

Mayhew would be my first stop, snap on second. But sometimes the longer ones just aren’t helpful for me. But I’m on the ground working under a car not a truck. Just not enough clearance to work a 4ft bar.

You probably already did this, but the opposite tire is off the ground right? If there is a swaybar it will twist and load parts of the side you’re struggling with if one end is in the air and the other is on the ground.

 

[Ign]

Here's a 60" for $40 shipped from Toolup, in years past many of us have got these thru Sears or Zoro for under $30 delivered

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Union-Tools-1174300-60-Slate-Bar/303014090991

 

[Ign]

After that the GW 82248 is my favorite, you get the best of both worlds with indexable and telescoping (adjustable length). Downsides: heavy and users report if you get after it at full length it'll bend

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0015015H6/?tag=atomicindus08-20

edit: this deal is long dead but there's a bit of tech discussion on the 82248:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=323675

 

[bert1913]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000R5BLW4/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[RacerX]

I use a 5' piece of 1 inch galvanized pipe.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

 

[Fedwrench]

Just don't get hung up on length and forget about the bar stock thickness. I'd look at dominator in 42-48 lengths with the thickest shaft.

 

[kctyphoon]

I had a hell of a time when i replaced every ball joint and bushing in the entire front end of my old f350... my twin beam front suspension was encouraged with a chain hoist and a sling.. it was like having an extra hand to pull things back where they needed to be.

 

[rsanter]

Sure, just get a slate bar for $20-30

This
Go to the hardware store and go,to where they have the shovels and such.
They have long pick and breaker bars there

 

[619DioFan]

I have the 48'' mayhew bar. it is excellent. if I need more leverage I also have a 60'' slate bar the is designated for mechanical type work.

 

[gatlibs]

I've been pleased with my Lang branded ones. I have one Mayhew in a screw driver tip. They seem to be the same quality and design, possibly same manufacture. Nevermind, they only go to 3'.

 

[lilredex]

My go to bar, whenever anything heavy needs moving. A pry bar "borrowed" from the CNR about a hundred years ago and passed down to me. My grandfather worked at CNR.

It is the tool to pry down control arms.

 

[Mr_B]

any long bar or thick wall pipe will do.
Main trick is a short length of chain to put round arm and join with a bolt or u shackle to create easy secure way put load on the bar .
I buy a long prybar be sure it not to bendy or you run out of room as bar flexing and hitting ground before arm moved enough .
with right working practice of vehicle axle lifting and suspension dismantling you shouldn't need go silly prying them .

 

[ku17]

On a tangential note, how does everyone store pry bars longer than 36”? The super long ones just don’t seem to fit anywhere in a garage

 

[cowboy73]

On a tangential note, how does everyone store pry bars longer than 36”? The super long ones just don’t seem to fit anywhere in a garage

If you have space under the workbench or if you don't move your tool chest around, you could lay it on the floor and slide it under. Paint it a bright color so it can be seen and of course remember where you put it.

 

[kb1982]

If you need a big prybar, the big Mayhew Dominators are nice. I use the same bars (company provided) at work, so i had no doubts about about what brand to go with. Even the mold setup crew cant break them, that says alot.

Sent from my LML713DL using Tapatalk

 

[Elvisidal]

This
Go to the hardware store and go,to where they have the shovels and such.
They have long pick and breaker bars there

My advice too but the drawback here is the size of the prying end is often too large

On a tangential note, how does everyone store pry bars longer than 36”? The super long ones just don’t seem to fit anywhere in a garage

Eyebolt on a wall stud

 

[iWrench]

I needed to pull the control arm down to get the ball joint/knuckle back in the lower control arm. I was using my jack to push up on the knuckle for a while, and my axle kept popping out. Yes, I’m a diy weekender working in a garage on the floor with no lift.

A tool I found works wonders on pulling control arms down with a prybar is OTC tool #6007. It's like $20 on Amazon. Very simple tool but provides a solid way to pry on virtually any lower control arm.

 

[Two Speed]

On a tangential note, how does everyone store pry bars longer than 36”? The super long ones just don’t seem to fit anywhere in a garage

Leaning in a corner of the garage.

Alex.