Impact vs Regular Socket

[pcgold]

I have one nut to take off. Shop manual says I need an impact gun to remove it. I tried without an impact gun and realize the manual is right.

I have a impact gun but don't have a 1 1/8 impact socket. I won't ever be taking this nut off again - one time off, then one time on again - so probably will never use the impact socket ever again.

Can I just use a regular socket (btw, I just went to three tool supply stores and none had a 1 1/8 impact socket, so I bought a regular one that I don't care if it gets wrecked - don't want to use any of my good sockets).

 

[osborn.ozzy]

You can, but it might shatter it.

 

[mikew13]

Well you can get impact sockets in 6 point for certain sizes in deep or short when the big players don't offer 6 point in like deep or short metric or standard.

 

[fury9]

Only problem I've had is the regular sockets are harder to get on the impact, in fact sometimes a real PITA short of banging them on

 

[BJ42LX]

Can I just use a regular socket (btw, I just went to three tool supply stores and none had a 1 1/8 impact socket, so I bought a regular one that I don't care if it gets wrecked - don't want to use any of my good sockets).

Harbor Freight. About $3.50 for a real impact that is actually decent quality.

 

[GSteg]

You'll be fine with a regular impact, unless you're working with a gun that has enough torque to rotate earth. Chrome impacts shattering is often over-exaggerated. Yes it can happen, but large sockets have enough meat in them to handle more abuse. If you cannot find any impact sockets, just wrap the socket in multiple layers of duct tape so in an event that it does 'shatter', the tape won't send the pieces flying into your neighbor's yard.

 

[jtfc]

Do it you wont be the first nor will you be the last. I along with many of coworkers have used a chrome socket on an impact. I wont lie though the first time I did that I was holding the gun one handed like a ***** with my head turned away fully expecting the socket and gun to catastrophically blow the shop up...the socket finally cracked some time later but it was actually pretty anticlimactic.

 

[Justin1776]

You will be fine. 1 1/8" is a beefy socket it will stand up to an impact.

 

[Wakefield]

Eye protection required!

 

[Altec]

I've put a lot of chrome, on a lot of impacts! It isn't a hand grenade like a lot of people will tell you. Advice? Don't hold the socket... Peeling chrome is worse then a razor blade!

If you are worried, wrap some electrical tape around the socket.

Something to remember about impact sockets. A lot of cheaper sets are CR-V. No different then most chrome sockets. Just a heavier wall. A good impact socket is Chro-Moly.

 

[woody 73]

I realize the op does not have the time ,but in the future look in CL for used sockets, just this weekend I bought a box of junk with 48 sockets and low and behold it came with a few old Monster Walden sockets in heavey duty 1/2 size 6pt. size and one of the them was a 1 1/8" socket.

Maybe HF has one in open stock or you could give Granger or MSC a call they would have one in stock.

 

[pcgold]

We don't have HF up here, but we do have Princess Auto - checked there this morning - nada.

Thanx for the advice. I will wrap the chrome with tape and see what happens.

 

[woody 73]

I am not sure if MSC ships up North but give them a call at: 1-800-645-7270

It looks like a blackhawk standard 6pt. socket in 1 1/8 will cost $11.26 #00152181
They have one made in Mexico for around $9.00 dollars and some change but in a standard size. They also carry a deepwell but I don't know which one you want.

Hope that helps you out.

 

[pipsters]

Use a chrome and be done with it.

 

[Tunger]

I too have used many a chrome socket on many an impact, never had one "explode" although I have cracked a few 3/8' drive sockets that way. Just don't hold the socket while you use it, peeling chome will slice you wide open and a cracked socket will shred your hand.

 

[woody 73]

I tend to agree that a 1 1/8 six pt. chrome socket is so thick that the op could use it and not worry; He did say it would be a one time deal.

 

[coldfusion21]

Ya, I'll cop to doing it several times, no exploding sockets so far. For a one time thing I wouldn't hesitate. Safety glasses are a must, anytime you use a power tool IMO

 

[crewchief888]

been doing it for many years, and havent had a chrome socket "explode".

i've broken more sockets by hand, in conjunction with long cheaters of course

 

[billybudge]

I spent many years working on HGVs lorry trucks,and you do need to go careful with the bigger stuff,
With using stamdard sockets on impacts, depending on the torque and speed, can be dangerous,
I have shattered/ and cracked a few over the years,Try and go old school, use a breaker bar with an ext, line it up and smack the bar with a 5lb, that nearly always works everytime.
Impacts are good for speed,
I would use a standard socket with an impact as a one of, some survive , some crack, and most do shatter,
They are made differently for a reason,

 

[purplezr2]

I did it for 2 or so year with craftsman sockets. I would run a 6 point 15mm on a 3/8 to 1/2 adapter on my IR2135Ti gun, broke a few sockets no exploding sockets though.

 

[metaleltr]

Ever change a hitch ball? The ones with a 3/4 shank have a 1-1/8" nut and they will require an impact.

 

[jjpp]

Just do it already, wear safety glasses and don't hold the socket.

 

[Hawk321]

Wear saftety glasses...but as an adivice...I had an accident with a chrome socket...was a 16mm Hazet 1/2 socket...exploded and hit my face...since that I have a smalll scare....

Means...use IMPACT sockets at all time...had an other opinion before...but that accident changed it all. Also I recommend not to waste your money with buying bigger chrome sockets which are normally not can be turned by a ratched...like 30mm...makes no sense 'cause those sizes are made for impact...

How about a cheap Impact set??? Cman, Genius etc???

 

[jjpp]

I've been a tech for 20 years and the only sockets that I have seen explode are impact sockets including snap-on mac etc., the chrome sockets tend to crack or brake in large chunks. I am not saying using a chrome socket is the best option but it should be fine, unless is is an older made in china etc. socket.

Just last week I shattered the end of my MAC 1/2" breaker bar while crushing a crush sleeve in a rear axle. At the time I was using a 12 point 1 1/16" chrome craftsman socket because I couldn't get the right angle with my 6 point impact socket. The socket faired much better that the MAC breaker bar did.

 

[greasemonkey44]

lol ur fine using an impact on a chrome socket
just watch the chrome doesnt peel and shred your hand, and make sure you wear safety glasses

 

[pcgold]

OP poster here.

The problem with this is not only the impact socket needed. It's that the 1 1/8 nut is at the end of the mainshaft on a 1974 MGB Overdrive Transmission that is on the bench, not on the car.

So, I can't just reef on it because any turning of the nut, turns the drive flange which turns the whole mainshaft.

So, I had to grind off the bolts that attach the drive flange to the flange on the drive shaft - the DPO left those on when he separated the ****** from the drive shaft.

Then, I had to get some angle iron, drill some holes in it that line up with where the drive flange to driveshaft bolts go and use that angle iron as leverage to stop the drive flange from spinning.

So, not only was I worried about the Chrome socket disintegrating, I was also worried about this angle iron spinning around and taking various parts of my body with it.

Well, I wrapped that chrome socket in a ton of electrical tape, put my foot on the angle iron to keep it from moving, put on the gloves and eye protection and hoped for the best.

Pretty, anticlimactic really. Nut came off after about 5 seconds.

Thank goodness.