b-mack
Active member
Looking at getting a 1/2 chrome socket set. How often do you guys use 1/2 inch chrome? Impact Yes but chrome? Think it's worth it? I work at a Ford dealership.
1/2 inch Chrome Sockets
- Thread starter b-mack
- Start date
toolaholic
Well-known member
I use chrome 1/2 drive all the time. Suspension work on my dakota r/t. Removing dogbones on a 3.1 chevy lumina. 17mm 12 point on a proto 18 inch breaker to remove caliper from toyota yaris. And so on. Chrome are thinner and lighter than impact sockets.
I have chrome and impact sockets, for clearance sometimes you need the chrome. Just not in 1/2. I have not run into a spot with my 1/2 stuff that impact did not fit and chrome did. I have some with 3/8, and 1/4 its common. 1/2 not once. Only time they get used is iff the big box is closer than the tool cart. They all look brand new.
I don't have any chrome 1/2" sockets at all... Never needed them in 3 years. If you got room for a 1/2 ratchet you got room for an impact socket. I'll probably pick up a set of 12-point chrome shallows since I don't have any 12-points yet and that should cover me on the off chance I need a thin wall socket.
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toolaholic
Well-known member
If you don't have much room to swing a breaker bar. 12 pt chrome offers more movement than 6 pt impact. 12 point 30 degree vs 6 point 60 degree movement.
I use them quite a bit for clearance issues in wells. Specifically removing flywheel nuts on outboards and small motors. Places where the thicker wall of the impact won't fit. Not sure how much they would be used on a car if you have an impact handy. 
Have you ran into issues where you have needed them?
Have you ran into issues where you have needed them?I posted this in another thread...
If you have a 6 point socket on a breaker bar and you can't get a good angle
because of the 60 degree change, just remove the socket from the breaker
bar and turn it one quarter of a turn (90 degrees) and put it back on the
breaker bar.
When you place it back on the fastener it will look like it's only moved
30 degrees... just like a 12 point socket.
Bigblue&Goldie
Well-known member
I use 1/2" almost exclusively when doing any chassis, suspension, or brake work on my Ford trucks. I prefer to use as big of a drive size as I can fit in order to prevent breaking tools. I'm not a professional, but I do a lot of 4x4 work on mostly Fords and built Jeeps. I have never reached for 1/2" drive when working on cars.
toolaholic
Well-known member
Thanks for posting that. I'm gonna try that. Much appreciated.I posted this in another thread...
If you have a 6 point socket on a breaker bar and you can't get a good angle
because of the 60 degree change, just remove the socket from the breaker
bar and turn it one quarter of a turn (90 degrees) and put it back on the
breaker bar.
When you place it back on the fastener it will look like it's only moved
30 degrees... just like a 12 point socket.
I think you may have missed a few words out of your post.
I think he is differentiating between trucks and smaller cars
I think he is differentiating between trucks and smaller cars
Hell I hardly use 1/2 drive on semi trucks... If you need a 1/2" you really need a 3/4
Wookiethumper
Active member
Only 1/2 chromes I had for many years were shallows and I hardly use them. I bought SAE talls last fall and have used only the 1 1/8 for exhaust sensors, and my impact socket can do that. I won't buy metric tall chromes for that reason. 3/8 chromes get used the most. I work for a trucking fleet, auto dealerships would be a wider variety of applications, I suppose. Just my 2 cents.
Bigblue&Goldie
Well-known member
Hell I hardly use 1/2 drive on semi trucks... If you need a 1/2" you really need a 3/4
Really? I would think you would be using primarily 1/2 and 3/4. What kind of work do you do?
I feel like I could blow out or damage a 3/8" ratchet pretty easy working on a 1 ton truck. I stripped a 3/8 Proto and Crapsman working on rust free AZ trucks.
Brakes, suspension, electronics, cooling system stuff, etc... The only thing my 1/2 drive stuff gets used for is 5/8" frame bolts, front suspension bolts, and drain plugs. Other than that if the 3/8" won't move it I just skip 1/2 and go to 3/4 drive
Bigblue&Goldie
Well-known member
Different strokes for different folks! I even have a 3/4 drive set; mainly because I randomly run into large bolts and need larger socket sizes that are cheaper to buy in a set.
Hell I hardly use 1/2 drive on semi trucks... If you need a 1/2" you really need a 3/4
Want to say that to my 6' 1/2" breaker bar?
3/4" stuff would be nice but the cost is just not feasible for how little I would use it.nicksnothereman
Well-known member
If you work on trucks a lot? Yeah it's probably worth it. But...you can use impact on a ratchet without getting a visit from an angry tool god so you don't really need it unless you feel the need to work with 12 point stuff.
Prior to this year, I did all work with either 1/4" or 3/8" drive sockets. I haven't had many problems using just these drives and normal combo wrenches. Last year I bought several Northern Tool 1/2" metric sockets that were on clearance and wish I bought some standard sizes too.
I have since decided to move these to a truck box and bought some Craftsman USA made metrics to have a nearly complete set. Hopefully I get all of them from Sears without them falling out of the box. I also purchased some standards to fill in the partial set I already have. I bought 22 sockets for less than $35, all of it on clearance.
I do have 1/2" deep and shallow metric impacts, but will just leave those for impact use.
I have since decided to move these to a truck box and bought some Craftsman USA made metrics to have a nearly complete set. Hopefully I get all of them from Sears without them falling out of the box. I also purchased some standards to fill in the partial set I already have. I bought 22 sockets for less than $35, all of it on clearance.
I do have 1/2" deep and shallow metric impacts, but will just leave those for impact use.
I feel much more comfortable leaning on 1/2 ratchets and sockets. I work on dodge hd's for fun and most of the suspension stuff requires 1/2 IMO. I have some beat down 1/2 drive chrome that I brutalized with my impact... Lesson learned now I can't replace them with usa anymore from the store. But 1/2 gets used a lot in my garage.
ibedayank
Well-known member
for me normally if it's larger then 9/16 or 14mm out comes the 1/2 inch stuff or needs to me tourqed down
General Geoff
Well-known member
Half inch chrome is indispensible for suspension and brake work. Lots of tight spots an impact won't fit.
jvitez
Well-known member
Yup, suspension work needs 1/2" drive. Impact sockets can be too thick to fit, whereas a chrome socket will slip right in. If you work at a dealership you need a full selection of 3/8" drive, plus 1/2" impact and 1/2" chrome. You may not use it a lot depending on what come into the shop, but time is money, and if you buy good quality it can last you many years, or even your career.