Breaker bars

[LOW1]

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a sliding head breaker bar compared to a flex head type? What's your preferred type?

 

[Mr Ratchet]

A breaker bar and sliding Tee bar are two different tools. Breaker bars are better for breaking fasteners loose as the head won't try to rotate on you. A sliding Tee gives more position options and with a extension on it spins fasteners quicker.

 

[unslow1]

I have both and as Mr Ratchet explained they really aren't for the same thing. Here is a previous thread.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-28865.html

 

[bobcatdan]

A sliding T will bend the bar and a breaker bar will break the head when overloaded. Only real difference I find between the two I have found.

 

[Fedwrench]

This might be a Europe does things differently than in the USA.

I have seen several European sourced tools kits containing long sliding tee handles which are referred to as breaker bars. These sliding tee handles were well over 12 inches in length so, in that application when you slid the drive part to one end, you'd have the mechanical advantage to break a fastener loose, then slide the square drive part to the handle center and spin the loosened fastener off.

Teng & Sonic tools also sell adapters that slide on to a similar drive size adapter to convert any length extension into a tee handle or possibly a breaker bar. Although i'm not sure how strong their extensions are for that use

To me. i prefer the stoutest or thickest 18 inch 1/2 drive breaker bar you can get. The 24 inch and over models flex a bit too much for me regardless of whose name is stamped on it.

 

[619DioFan]

I have a 1/2 drive sliding tee handle that I got for free. I don't think I have ever used it. breaker bars on the other hand- I have them in 1/4 inch drive up to 1 inch drive and all are used.

 

[mr.lemons]

It is my understanding that t-bars can be used to even out the torque applied to delicate parts like glow plugs and sensors that may snap when torqued from one side with a breaker bar or ratchet.

 

[dutchgray]

I have both, several sliding T bars as you always find them, don't use them for breaking loose but do use them for backup quite often and used to use them for coach bolts two handed but cordless drills are so good now its only really big ones that the drill doesn't have the torque for.

 

[finn]

It is my understanding that t-bars can be used to even out the torque applied to delicate parts like glow plugs and sensors that may snap when torqued from one side with a breaker bar or ratchet.

Yup! What we refer to as a breaker bar applies a moment to the fastener head.

The sliding T bar , when used in the neutral position, avoids that issue.

The old SK 3/8” set I got from my grandfather has a slid handle.

I think i’ve Used it once in the forty years I have had it, and that was because I couldn’t find the normal breaker or ratchet.

 

[pelletman]

I don't trust cheap breaker bars too much. Love the Snap On breaker bars though. They can take lots of torque

 

[oldwino]

I don't trust cheap breaker bars too much. Love the Snap On breaker bars though. They can take lots of torque

I agree. If a tool is going to see a lot of stress, get a good one (breaker bar, large Wrenches,etc). If the tool fails, guess who gets hurt?

 

[Tonyuk]

The sliding handles allow you to spin the fastener out depending on size, the standard bars are better imo.

 

[f121]

Yup! What we refer to as a breaker bar applies a moment to the fastener head.

The sliding T bar , when used in the neutral position, avoids that issue.

Thankyou! I've always wondered what the point was of the T bar.

Several of my sets have T bars, flex head breaker bars and ratchets. I've almost never used the Tbars or flex head breaker bars (what's the point of a breaker bar the same length as the ratchet?!).

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

Slide bars dont flip out from under you, while you dance around on the end of the cheater bar.

Of course, there are also fixed head L type breakers.

 

[Bob-B]

The most common use for my sliding T bar is using it with 8 point sockets to drive taps too big for my largest tap wrench, usually pipe taps.

 

[bobcatdan]

My go to 3/4" drive tool that is going to get the pipe is a blackhawk sliding tee I welded the head soild on. From what I have seen is the design of the drive is stronger than a breaker bar. To my surprise I haven't bent it badly yet, although I'm not sure it could be used as a straight edge anymore either.