do you really need 1/2 and 1/4 rachets?

[diesel research]

A VERY interesting original question. Yes, you probably can get by with just 3/8" drive sets. But, I cannot imagine using a 3/8 drive to remove a cylinder head bolt or nut. And many other operations. Yes, you can slide a pipe or whateber over the ratchet or breaker bar, but the ratcheting gears are only so strong. When it finally gives up and you skin a knuckle, or worse, don't blame the tool.

As a teenager all I had to work with was a benchtop 3/8" set from kmart. I tried my mightiest to remove the frozen/rusted cylinder head bolts off of a junk slant six to rebuild.

Slipped a 6 ft cheater over that cheap 3/8" ratchet and hung all my weight off of it. Hanging in the air. Heard a SNAP! and fell flat on my @$$....

Proceeded to break off the bolt head. Neither the 5/8" socket (???) or the ratchet sustained any damage. It went on to snap all the other heads off and live on for many more years until it was lost or stolen or otherwise misplaced. Never did skip a beat.

 

[bad_religion_au]

I would assume that only people who don't wrench for a living would ask this question.

wow, sensitive much... it was tongue in cheek.

always find breaker bars better than a ratchet for removal, and torque wrench for fitting myself...

but this is a DIYer on a budget asking here. if his car comes with a lugnut wrench, then buying a whole 1/2 drive set for wheelnuts isn't cost effective... there is a difference between "want" and "need".

 

[littletoes]

wow, sensitive much... it was tongue in cheek.

always find breaker bars better than a ratchet for removal, and torque wrench for fitting myself...

but this is a DIYer on a budget asking here. if his car comes with a lugnut wrench, then buying a whole 1/2 drive set for wheelnuts isn't cost effective... there is a difference between "want" and "need".

Ain't we all DIY'er's on a budget???

If you need a "cheater", go to the next size bigger.....or a different method.