Largest wrenches needed in Automotive/Light Trucks?

[JDon99]

My current wrenches go to 36mm in metric and 2" in SAE. Is there any need for anything larger in Automotive and Light trucks? A buddy has some stuff that goes to 2 1/2" and I was considering picking it up if there is a use for them. Thanks fellas.

 

[Empty Pockets]

If you have never had any use for them, you probably don't need them.

 

[gdocktor3]

I have about the same sizes as the OP, but for the larger sizes I just bought 18" and 24" adjustable wrenches and 16" and 20" Channellocks. Save a lot of space and double as other tools. Persuaders, clamps, weapon, etc...

 

[JonDick13926]

I doubt you'll need anything larger than what you have. I wouldn't buy anything bigger unless you come across a need for it.

 

[str8axle55]

I`d say you have it covered. It does depend on what you`re working on though. I know for the brand of cars I generally work on, that would be more than enough.

 

[Fedwrench]

I think you have more than enough. I've gotten by the last 15 years only having wrenches up to 1 1/4 and 32mm but, it depends on what you work on

 

[ken w.]

I consider light trucks up to 3/4 ton. The largest nut on most is 1 5/16" on pitman arms. I have wrenches up to 2". I rarely use anything larger than 1 1/2". It's nice to have them but I don't think it necessary . Just my opinion.

 

[geartow]

1 1/2 on trailer ball nut is the largest i use on light duty

 

[ssdave]

I'm with the previous posters: I have up to 2", but only use up to 1 5/8". Have only used the ones bigger than that a few times, and not on automotive stuff.

 

[JJThrasher]

I stop at 1.5" and 36mm. I have a mess of some 3/4" drive stuff. Works for me on Ram 5500. and Ford F550s.

 

[928'er]

Depends what you're working on. The largest fastener I've encountered on my cars is the 32 mm rear axle nut.

 

[General Geoff]

I've used a 36mm wrench to loosen a mechanical fan clutch, and 36mm for spindle/axle nuts.

 

[pi_guy]

I use a 2.5 inch socket to loosen wheel nuts on a F2 car. But the bulk of the time it is less than 1 3/8 size. I have a number of crowsfeet in large sizes good for machinery hydraulic lines.
But in the last two weeks requests for large 1 inch drive sockets to use as press adapters has come up. In the 3 and 4 inch size. Some of my larger 1/2 sockets have spent more time on the press than turning nuts.

 

[Dust]

The largest I've ever needed was a 1-3/8", though I cannot remember what it was for and I have never needed it since. I didn't have one at the time, so I used a pair of channel locks, but that doesn't mean I'm not considering buying a wrench.

Biggest stuff I work on is 1 ton trucks, and very rarely mechanically. Usually just electrical or air conditioning.

 

[04chase]

36 mm is very common for oil filters .

2" I have used on airman compressors for the hydraulic oil fill .

i never see hardly anything over 2" on medium duty

 

[lbhsbz]

My current wrenches go to 36mm in metric and 2" in SAE. Is there any need for anything larger in Automotive and Light trucks? A buddy has some stuff that goes to 2 1/2" and I was considering picking it up if there is a use for them. Thanks fellas.

Why ask us? I've been a pro tech for 20 years...largest fixed wrench I own is a 27mm. Anything bigger gets a crescent wrench if a socket won't fit. Don't buy **** just because there's some obscure fastener in something you'll never touch that it might fit.

On second thought..,you should buy a plasma cutter and a mill....you can rough out the shape on the plasma and finish them up on the mill...you can make any size you want.

 

[winlinmac]

Yikes, I've never seen wrenches (sockets--yes) greater than 24mm being used on European cars, I guess that's why they're so cumbersome to work with

 

[pozidriv]

^are European cars held together with wrenches and sockets?

So you need bolts and nuts to undo those? That does sound cumbersome!

 

[winlinmac]

There's very limited space when working on these cars. One needs to literally remove the front bumper, put the car in so-called service position, which itself takes 2-hours of labor to do

^are European cars held together with wrenches and sockets?

So you need bolts and nuts to undo those? That does sound cumbersome!

 

[Ign]

Why ask us? I've been a pro tech for 20 years...largest fixed wrench I own is a 27mm. Anything bigger gets a crescent wrench if a socket won't fit. Don't buy **** just because there's some obscure fastener in something you'll never touch that it might fit.

On second thought..,you should buy a plasma cutter and a mill....you can tough out the shape on the plasma and finish them up on the mill...you can make any size you want.

Absolutely BTDT

 

[Finky198]

36mm is the most common big size I use
1 1/4" as well but we go up to about 2" but we skip a few sizes

anything bigger then that we take out a big adjustable or the pipe wrenches...

 

[jfcasey]

I did 4.5 years as a Toyota tech and never needed a wrench past 30mm and a socket past 36mm.

Sent from my SM-T710 using Tapatalk

 

[DFB]

Yup have up to 38mm for metric drive sockets but 36mm is the largest that's seen use and I have no metric wrench over 32mm. And with SAE looks like 1 1/2 has been the limit with a wrench (trailer ball nut I'll bet) though it seems I've used an 1 3/4 inch 3/4 drive socket but for the life of me but I can't remember on what.

I do have a couple of big adjustables one at least with a 2 1/4" opening but jaw clearance would be issue in some applications

 

[camd64]

To my best recollection the largest wrenches I have used on light duty trucks is 1-5/16 for gm pitman arms and 36mm for a few applications. Most common metric is up to about 22 or 24mm and on older stuff in SAE typically I don't see much past 7/8.

 

[jdlong]

I got cheap 3/4" jumbo metric and SAE sets and rarely use them. Axle nuts, rear differential pinions, pittman arms is all I've really used them for. Most of the sockets have never been used. The sets were so cheap, they've already paid for themselves and it's nice knowing they're there in case I ever need them.

 

[wolf_from_wv]

Seems like my fan clutch was 34 or 36...

 

[M6erfan]

My general wrench sets go from 6mm to 21mm and get me by 99% of the time. I have larger wrenches to 32mm, but don't use them very often.

Hobbiest working on cars, light trucks, motorcycles...

 

[MDK22]

36mm and 1.5" for wrenches and a 15" Adjustable (A good brand). That will be all you need for cars and light trucks. Most diesels do not use stuff bigger then that where you would use an actual wrench. Except fan drives and a few other odd things.

 

[bmwpowere36m3]

32 mm combo and anything larger gets a socket. Exception is fan clutches, but we have specialty wrenches for that (34-36 mm). 30 years wrenching on mostly MB, never found a need. If it oddball larger size is needed for SAE, then an adjustable wrench takes care of it (crescent, WP or Cobra).

Even the 32 mm hardly gets used... probably have it because it came in the SO set. 24/27 mm usage is more frequent (certain suspension/alignment components). However nothing like 8-19 mm (heavy).

 

[niferous]

I've got a lot of extra large 1" drive stuff that I'm looking to sell right now in the classifieds. The reason being is I seldom ever see anything super large and I work on all kinds of equipment. For metric the largest I have had to have is 36mm. I think I've used up to 1-11/16" in SAE sizes. There may be some stuff I had to use my big boy sockets and wrenches on but it's not often enough that I can even remember. As others have said, I'd look at buying it only once it's needed. Also keeping around a large adjustable wrench isn't a bad idea.

 

[Ign]

I just needed to remove a nut from 1.5" threads which took a 2 3/16". Probably the first time I had to break into my HF 1" drive stuff.

This was old and rusted w fairly long threads so impact was the only way to fly; an all-sixteenths or pipe wrench was impossible, had to have impacting force.

BUT this was not automotive, it was a fitting for drilling wells. For auto I agree with all the recos above.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

For those of you who max out at around 30mm for wrenches and do anything bigger with sockets, I wonder if you're running 3/4" or maybe even 1" drive sockets?

I do have 1/2" impact sockets out to 38mm (1 1/2") because they came in a set but that's triple the drive size and the rule of thumb is not to go past double the drive size.

I wonder if it would be prudent to get a 3/4" long cheater bar and then 3/4" drive sockets from around 27mm to 38mm (1 1/2") and you can use that to break it, and then once it's broken switch down to a 1/2" drive on a 1/2" ratchet or 1/2" impact wrench.

I've also seen striking wrenches that look interesting as a tool but never held or used one. I wonder if that might make more sense to have some striking wrenches in the 38mm realm to break stuff free.

 

[dchawk81]

If you don't go to at least 6-1/8" you're just a part timer.

6 1/8" Williams 1 1/2" Drive Impact Socket 6 Pt - 8-6196

**Product Name:** 6 1/8" Williams 1 1/2" Drive Impact Socket 6 Pt - 8-6196 **Brand:** Williams **Store Name:** Pro Torque Tools **Product Description:** The Williams 8-6196 6 1/8" Impact Socket is a high-performance 1 1/2" drive tool, specifically designed for professional use. With its...

www.protorquetools.com

 

[Ton ton]

I use 30mm and 32 mm fairly regularly.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

My current wrenches go to 36mm in metric and 2" in SAE. Is there any need for anything larger in Automotive and Light trucks? A buddy has some stuff that goes to 2 1/2" and I was considering picking it up if there is a use for them. Thanks fellas.

Wrenches? No you're not going to find much above maybe 30mm that one can use an actual wrench on in automotive.

~32mm is where the the largest actual "needs regular tools" hardware stops. Oil filter caps, axle nuts, fan clutches, pinion nuts - these are specialty items which are typically accessed with specially tools. Sure the transfer case nut is 44mm, but you ain't using a wrench or a socket, you need a special thin wall/low profile tool. You want 3/8 drive sized oil filter cap sockets so you can torque them with a semblance of sanity. Fan clutches in my world get the Lisle pneumatic removal tool. These are all special cases IMO and not how we should define where traditional tooling needs to reach.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

If you don't go to at least 6-1/8" you're just a part timer.

6 1/8" Williams 1 1/2" Drive Impact Socket 6 Pt - 8-6196

**Product Name:** 6 1/8" Williams 1 1/2" Drive Impact Socket 6 Pt - 8-6196 **Brand:** Williams **Store Name:** Pro Torque Tools **Product Description:** The Williams 8-6196 6 1/8" Impact Socket is a high-performance 1 1/2" drive tool, specifically designed for professional use. With its...

www.protorquetools.com

I had to do the math. That's 155mm! Wowza!

 

[tyyost]

I’d say no, unless you plan on getting into heavy machinery. There is likely a reason why your buddy is letting them go, he’s not using them either. My metric stuff stops in the high 20’s and I’ve got up to 1 3/8“ in SAE. A couple big adjustable wrenches round it out.

I do have 3/4 sockets up to 2”, and some random metric in bigger sizes up to 38mm. Not much over 32mm I’d think I could turn a wrench on anyway up here in the rust belt.

 

[speed bump]

For light vehicle repairs you can probably stop at 1-5/16 and 32 or 34mm. If you find yourself needing a bigger wrench the farm supply store has something close enough.

I work at a mine and wrenches over 1-1/2 don't get a lot of exercise.

 

[Dakotadadv8]

Not a professional only have wrenches up to 22mm. Adjustable wrenches or sockets takes care of the rest. Klein adjustable wrenches from Lowes are not bad.

 

[cannuck]

I also keep combos up to 2" and only once in a blue moon need to go over 36mm (except for the odd axle nut but those use formed sheet metal sockets). I have one 4 link suspension system that needs 600 lb/ft so have 3/4 breaker bar and torque wrench, but hardly used every day. THOSE I use 6 point impacts, not 12 pt chrome for.