Do you still use a breaker bar ?

[VinceG]

I ask because I see people talk about how great the Harbor Freight one is. I haven't used one in years. I have a 1/2 craftsman I used when I started as a diesel tech and a Great neck brand I got buying Toolbox and tools from a Tech that quit. But for years I use a impact or a long ratchet. Yes occasionally the ratchet breaks but Warranty replaces it. The ratchets come in sizes longer than most breaker bars so they are meant for the torque. Just wanted to hear your opinion.
Measured from center of Drive to end of handle
Craftsman V 1/2" drive 143/8" long
Great neck 1/2" drive 17 3/4"
Snap-On FhLL80 3/8 drive 18"
Snap-On SHLX 80 1/2" drive 25" long

 

[B_Bimmer]

I still do, probably because I have so many there is always one near.

 

[gatlibs]

I do. I had to stop watching an instructive video on this morning. It was th second one in a row stating that it is good to have a long piece of pipe to put on a ratchet if you don't have a breaker bar. At least put the pipe on a static wrench.

 

[KBigg]

I use them on control arm bolts and things that dont have clearance for my impact. Also good to slide a pipe over if your impact wont loosen something. For the $15 i paid for my hf one im very happy with it. I dont own a big 1/2" ratchet like yours though, Id love one but they're pricey.

 

[vavet]

I like breaker bars. Having the lever closer to the end of the socket creates less off-angle torque and it's less likely to slip off.
A lot of tool choices come down to space constraints. You might not be able to use an impact wrench at times.

 

[Shehzada]

Wow......I have those same two ones in the middle.

Sent from my mobile device

 

[BarryWells]

All the time. Head bolts and lug nuts mostly. Nitwits putting lugs on with 300 lbs of torque with an air monster.

 

[jgromada]

use mine on occasion have multiple 1/2 in one and even a 3/8

 

[gerryw]

All the time. Head bolts and lug nuts mostly. Nitwits putting lugs on with 300 lbs of torque with an air monster.

Exactly.

Gerry

 

[jsmeece]

Yes, have USA Craftsman in 1/4 6" long and 3/8 10" long, three Harbor Freight in 1/2 18" and (2) 25" (one chrome handle other plastic handle), Tekton in 3/8 11" long, and Armstrong in 1/2 12" long.

 

[RKA]

Absolutely. The last instance was an axle bolt. Used a 4ft pvc pipe over the 2 ft breaker to move it. I have the same 1/2" 24" long ratchet you have, but no easy way to warranty it. I'll gladly the ratchet use it to move lug nuts, brake caliper carriers and other things where the extra leverage is handy. It's my favorite ratchet because I would struggle with a 12" long ratchet before I got it and now things are so much easier. But if I know there is a good chance I'll break it, I'll use the $30 breaker bar and make sure my fingers aren't going to get munched if it breaks. Even if I worked with my tools for a living and had a tool truck stopping by once a week to warranty the stuff I break, I would do the same.

 

[CoogarXR]

I live in rusty-*** Ohio, so yes. Impacts, breakers, PB laster, you name it.

 

[Zewnten]

All day on big crowfoot wrenches

 

[Two Door]

I think the more appropriate question is "Do you still use a ratchet, given that you have breaker bars and air/cordless tools"?

 

[Shootinok]

All the time. Head bolts and lug nuts mostly. Nitwits putting lugs on with 300 lbs of torque with an air monster.

yep - This ^^^

 

[Snapped-off]

I keep a HF bar and socket under the backseat of my truck for lug nuts. Never had to use it. Don't use them for anything else personally.

 

[Professional Tool User]

Yes. I've broken my cheap 24" flex head ratchet by putting a pipe on it. I've seen the Snap on equivalent break without a pipe. That's less likely to happen with a breaker bar. As for the HF Pittsburgh Pro breaker bar, I've broken that one as well because of excessive vibration while trying to gun off a seized nut. If you really beat on it, it will break.

 

[16again]

Every time I pull a wheel off a vehicle. Not a pro but, do my fair share of wrenching. Wouldn't think of using a ratchet.

 

[anndel]

Yes I still use breaker bars. I had the Harbor Freight Pittsburgh Pro 1/2" drive, 25" breaker bar with the soft grip handle. I believe it was $19.99 but I got it on sale when I was in Georgia 2 years ago. It broke on the first use trying to unbolt a steering gear box/pitman arm bolt torqued to 135 ft-lbs. I've since replaced it with a Snap On 1/2" bar.

 

[dalehsc]

As has been said,either the gorilla put the lug nuts on,or rusted. Not often , but occasionally. The guys in the shop look at me when I get out my 3/8 breaker bar...….when removing a broken bolt,I want to feel the bolt as it moves back & forth. A ratchet takes too long between switches for a good feel.

 

[zendriver]

Breaking a hard fastener loose with a ratchet, makes zero sense in my book.


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Eric29]

I use them all the time and carry a Harbor Freight breaker bar in my trunk for changing flats. But I would never use anything from Harbor Freight that required me to put my body weight heavily into it because I would be afraid that it would snap. So I use a Snap On bar for real work.

That's just me but I grew up with cheap tools breaking and slamming my knuckles into metal. It's not fun and I'll never forget it.

 

[sparky 1971]

I think they do have their place. I have a bunch of different lengths of 3/8, 1/2, and 3/4. The only bar I have used is the SK 30" long 1/2" drive. My truck had a flat and I discovered that the local tire shop had hammered the lugs on too tight for my M18 high torque impact to take off. It took that bar and my 300 lbs to get some of them loose. I don't know if a ratchet would have survived that ordeal. I would have used my 40" 3/4 drive but didn't have the right socket or an adapter. Since they had recently put tires on my wife's Jeep I decided to check it. Same thing. No more tires from them.

 

[RKA]

As has been said,either the gorilla put the lug nuts on,or rusted. Not often , but occasionally. The guys in the shop look at me when I get out my 3/8 breaker bar...….when removing a broken bolt,I want to feel the bolt as it moves back & forth. A ratchet takes too long between switches for a good feel.

That's a good point! For rusted bolts I'll do that back and forth thing with a small breaker bar until I feel a little give.

 

[Tallpilot]

Sometimes. Usually I just use a ratchet. I have breaker bars up to 3/4” drive 40”.

All day on big crowfoot wrenches

+1 on both counts

 

[bczygan]

Harbor Freight all the way!

Sometimes it's just quicker to break a bolt with a breaker bar and take it off by hand.

Bill

 

[Dakkyz]

Yes, both 3/8 and 1/2 long handled ratchets really aren't that strong.

 

[Rabid Badger]

I put my HF breaker bar in my wife's trunk with a 19mm socket when I got my long handle 1/2 ratchet.

It didn't take me long to buy another, though. I use the ratchet when there's less space. I use the breaker bar in places where I can straighten it out and spin it once the fastener is loose.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

I use my 1/2" and 3/8" breaker bars quite a bit. I also use a 1/4" more than I thought I would. I don't particularly like long handled ratchets.

 

[L.Cheapo]

I own a lot of tools. Not a single breaker bar. I've broken 1/2" breaker bars, I've never broken a Snap on 1/2" long handle ratchet. And I own a 1/2" impact.

If the need ever arises for a breaker bar, I'll buy one. Doubtful, though.

 

[Billy Jack]

I grew up as the son of a dealership mechanic. Considering all the guys who constantly came to him for advice, both at home and in the shop, I took his words as bible. His opinion was "buy the best tools you can afford, treat 'em with respect and they'll last a lifetime". He never owned a 1/2" ratchet longer than 12 inches, but had a Snap-On 1/2" ratcheting adapter that he'd attach to his breaker bar once the nut broke loose. I still have the adapter, as he's long gone. The date code is 1955 IIRC and I still use it to this day.
I do have and use a Snap On 18" ratchet, but for the tough stuff, it's always a Snap On breaker bar, 18" or 24". I just couldn't bear to slide a pipe over a ratchet. My truck has an 18" BP breaker aboard and my car has a Pittsburgh Pro 24 incher in the trunk.

Bill

 

[Mr Ratchet]

I use BB's all the time. I seldom break fasteners loose without them unless i'm using my impact or a wrench. The get used along with wrenches to back up the impact if I need something from spinning. I have them in two lengths for all four of my drive sizes. My longest BB's are all longer than my long ratchets. My short BB's are all also longer than all my short ratchets.

 

[SteveCh]

Just this morning replaced the front tires on my Kubota tractor. Used my SK 1/2" breaker, think it's 30" and last person who touched the wheels was the dealer before delivering the tractor to me. That meant even with the long breaker bar I had to use a four ft. pipe as a cheater to get several of the lugs loosened.

 

[Mr. Tool]

Well of course I do, whenever it is called for to use one!

 

[Tennessee Cattleman]

A 1/2" drive 18" long Snap-on breaker bar is one of my most used tools.

 

[cvairwerks]

Use one every time we change a main gear tire.... 4.5" wheel nut.

 

[AS556]

I love breaker bars

 

[rsanter]

Yes I do

You can use them to reach under or into something to grab a nut when you will be hitting the other side with an air impact.

When working on suspension control arms

With a flare crowsfoot to get at hard to access locations

 

[esvee]

Absolutely, every time. I'll usually attempt to break with a ratchet just to get a feel for it, but if there's more resistance than a ratchet should handle I go straight for a breaker.

Using a breaker bar, to, y'know, break loose fasteners, likely means my ratchet pawls are going to last a heck of a lot longer than folks putting pipes on ratches.

The only time I'll put pipes on a ratchet is doing leaf spring bolts on jeeps, because my impact can't move them and it's hard enough already. Half inch ratchet, 21MM socket, pretend you're rowing a crew boat down a river.

 

[ptgarcia]

I use mine on the axle nuts and countershaft nut on my motorcycle.