Low profile 1/4 drive sockets

[Caa311]

Bugs me too. A lot of Euro sets stop at 13mm in 1/4" sockets. Many Japan sets include 14mm. Might look at Tone Japan.

For example . . .

https://www.amazon.com/TONE-Socket-Wrench-Insert-MIX21620P/dp/B07SZ1NBS4/?tag=atomicindus08-20

That's a nice little set.

 

[M6erfan]

That's a nice little set.

Yeah it is. Tone is a Japanese company but that set may be made in Taiwan. If one cares.

 

[Caa311]

Yeah it is. Tone is a Japanese company but that set may be made in Taiwan. If one cares.

I have really taken a liking to to Japanese stuff. I wish I knew about this stuff when I was working on motorcycles alot. Especially the #2 cross jis screwdrivers.

 

[M6erfan]

I have really taken a liking to to Japanese stuff. I wish I knew about this stuff when I was working on motorcycles alot. Especially the #2 cross jis screwdrivers.

I wish people knew about them too. Would save me a lot of headache working with buggered up screw heads on the old Japanese motorcycle I work on

Japan has some outstanding tools and can be a screaming value for the quality. Ko-ken, Sunflag, Vessel, KTC, Asahi, TOP, Tsunoda, Anex, FPC, Merry, Eight, Keiba, and many others!

 

[Caa311]

I've been buying alot of screws from Honda to replace all the striped ones on my bikes! I worked in a dealership in the 80's and raced and nobody knew about them. I cussed Honda for years about them screws and was to ignorant to know better.

 

[bonneyman]

This is very true.

Unfortunately, we seem to be having to fight the manufacturers now, who are all competing to cram ever more unnecessary **** into ever smaller spaces.

Sometimes you really need these compact tools, sometimes they just save you having to remove 10 lbs of tagliatelle in order to remove the crappy plastic part that shouldn’t have broken anyway!

I take it you've been looking under the hood of my new to me car!

 

[Jweebothee]

O'Reilly's Auto Parts
Less than $20 bucks out the door.

I got those same ones, don’t use them very often but very handy when needed

 

[Bubba Fett]

Another vote for KoKen Z Series / Zeal. Very compact tools. Probably the lowest profile “regular” sockets.


Alternatively, you can opt for one of the “pass through” designs. I think Snap On are about the best, and available in SAE too.

I own these, and really need them only about 2 or 3 times a year, but when I do I’m glad I’ve got them!


Facom offer these too, which are more affordable. Basically the same tools are available USAG branded, which might be a frac cheaper.

I was gonna suggest a pass-through set. For DIY-level work, I think Husky has a set.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

The koken zeal super shallow sockets don’t come in SAE do they? If they do, then this thread just cost me some money

 

[oldschoolcraft]

Probably a dumb question but what’s the benefit of the vim dual drive? If you connect it to a ratcheting wrench, you do get a smaller form factor compared to a ratchet and a socket. BUT if you have a ratcheting wrench, then isn’t that even smaller form factor than with the dual drive?

 

[Wamsutta]

I recently had a situation where a low profile 1/4" drive socket would have saved me a lot of time.

I'm curious to know what that situation was. I often find that when I'm in a low clearance situation, instead of trying to go in there with the thinnest head ratchet or the shortest socket, I can go in there remotely with a long extension and a swivel socket. Sometimes all you need is going in from a different angle and swivel socket will do that.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

I own these, and really need them only about 2 or 3 times a year, but when I do I’m glad I’ve got them!

how are these superior to a ratcheting box end wrench?

 

[Chrome Vanadium Cody]

Probably a dumb question but what’s the benefit of the vim dual drive? If you connect it to a ratcheting wrench, you do get a smaller form factor compared to a ratchet and a socket. BUT if you have a ratcheting wrench, then isn’t that even smaller form factor than with the dual drive?

Just giving the option of different levels of offset basically. Sometimes a ratcheting wrench that sits flush with a fastener and its surroundings won't work but then the offset provided by a regular ratchet and socket is too big and won't fit so you need something in between.

For the money I'd recommend the Power Torque sets. I use them a lot, I don't use them on impacts but as far as using them as regular duty sockets on a ratchet they hold up well and I haven't had to baby them at all.

 

[will335i]

how are these superior to a ratcheting box end wrench?

Same use case as any socket vs wrench, the nut or bolt head will bottom out on the socket where a wrench can slide past when you are running it down or off.

 

[mjdarg]

how are these superior to a ratcheting box end wrench?

Sometimes you need just enough offset, but a normal socket is too tall. Engine accessory drives on transverse mounted engines in one application where the long Kabo style wrenches shine. There's usually very minimal space between the engine and frame rail.

 

[lund]

If you want low profile, use a reversible ratcheting box wrench with low profile socket inserts. This will beat most anything you can do with a socket ratchet. Most everyone has ratcheting wrenches and a set of socket inserts is cheap and available from many sources. Here is what I have (older Craftsman set):

They work fantastic when you need them.

 

[WWheeler]

Just going off this thread, I decided to pick up O'Reilly's 1/4" dr pass-thru ratchet and socket set while I was passing by one today. I gotta say I'm surprised by just how much lower clearance they are than my Craftsman Max Axess 1/4 dr pass-thrus.

The ratchet is pretty underwhelming though. It has a LOT more backdrag than my Craftsman does, so much so it's safe to say it has more backdrag than any other ratchet I own and probably more than any functioning ratchet I've ever held. Perhaps a soak in some lube will make a difference. The good news though is the Power Torque sockets fit my Craftsman Max Axess ratchet. I wasn't expecting that.

 

[peejay75]

Just going off this thread, I decided to pick up O'Reilly's 1/4" dr pass-thru ratchet and socket set while I was passing by one today. I gotta say I'm surprised by just how much lower clearance they are than my Craftsman Max Axess 1/4 dr pass-thrus.

The ratchet is pretty underwhelming though. It has a LOT more backdrag than my Craftsman does, so much so it's safe to say it has more backdrag than any other ratchet I own and probably more than any functioning ratchet I've ever held. Perhaps a soak in some lube will make a difference. The good news though is the Power Torque sockets fit my Craftsman Max Axess ratchet. I wasn't expecting that.

Suh...suh...six-point??????

(Thanks for the always-great pics, btw.)

 

[Chrome Vanadium Cody]

I haven’t tried the ratchet they sell to go with it, that’s good to know. For mine I just use a few different 7/16” ratcheting wrenches: reversible, flex, stubby

The ratchet is pretty underwhelming though. It has a LOT more backdrag than my Craftsman does, so much so it's safe to say it has more backdrag than any other ratchet I own and probably more than any functioning ratchet I've ever held. Perhaps a soak in some lube will make a difference. The good news though is the Power Torque sockets fit my Craftsman Max Axess ratchet. I wasn't expecting that.

 

[benne]

The koken zeal super shallow sockets don’t come in SAE do they? If they do, then this thread just cost me some money

No they only sell metric sockets unfortunately.

 

[GeoBruin]

No they only sell metric sockets unfortunately.

You have to wonder if the surge in popularity of the Zeal stuff in the US would cause them to manufacture the SAE versions. You have to think that the US consumer is only a portion of their customers, and then people who need SAE sizes are only a portion of those.

 

[Steve_P]

You have to wonder if the surge in popularity of the Zeal stuff in the US would cause them to manufacture the SAE versions. You have to think that the US consumer is only a portion of their customers, and then people who need SAE sizes are only a portion of those.

I have the Zeal in metric. I've been working on cars for almost 40 years and have never needed a low profile SAE socket- there's enough room on old cars that we used SK round head ratchets and never needed ratcheting wrenches... Now we need ratcheting wrenches, low profile 90T ratchets, low profile sockets......

 

[tamaraw]

You have to wonder if the surge in popularity of the Zeal stuff in the US would cause them to manufacture the SAE versions. You have to think that the US consumer is only a portion of their customers, and then people who need SAE sizes are only a portion of those.

They will manufacture custom stuff for a price, that's how a lot of the SAE nutgrip stuff got added to the catalog.

Bear in mind that Koken USA is just a vendor, but they say price is similar to retail for 50+ units.

 

[GeoBruin]

They will manufacture custom stuff for a price, that's how a lot of the SAE nutgrip stuff got added to the catalog.

Bear in mind that Koken USA is just a vendor, but they say price is similar to retail for 50+ units.

Okay, who's coordinating the group buy...?

 

[Etchase]

The power torque are lower profile than at least the apex pass thru 1/4 sockets and work with the Apex ratchet as well. They are the lowest profile solution. They work well.

 

[vssjim]

I recently had a situation where a low profile 1/4" drive socket would have saved me a lot of time. I took a cursory look on line and all I could find was the Gearwrench and that says it is reduced by 22%. I would have thought it could be better than that. Maybe 50%. I prefer chrome sockets because impact have a thicker wall and that was an issue too. I saw more options in 3/8 which I will get, but I also want a 1/4 drive.

Any suggestions. Is the GW the best I can do in 1/4 drive chrome with a relatively thin wall. It is ok if you want to tell me snap on. If that what is out there, but I am on a mid grade budget.

GearWrench as you listed but 22% percent of their standard which are not real tall to start with. VIM have chrome double drive ASTRO has fairly thin NANO 1/4 impact set

 

[wolf_from_wv]

Sometimes you need just enough offset, but a normal socket is too tall. Engine accessory drives on transverse mounted engines in one application where the long Kabo style wrenches shine. There's usually very minimal space between the engine and frame rail.

Recessed nuts on the top of a shock absorber in the trunk of a Ford Focus, especially if you have to put a hex or torx bit in to keep the shaft from turning.