Pass Through Socket sets are they worth having?

[jdmstr]

i was in sears the other day and these damn things are everywhere. Im all for having alot of tools but ive yet to find myself wishing i had pass through sockets. i assume that i would get the same results with my gearwrench ratcheting wrenches. Has anybody found a reason to buy them?

 

[vhol5]

I have a set...
Never had the need for 'em, unfortunately.

 

[ssbtech]

I bought a set at Sears. It was $25 on sale. Used it for the top nut on my front struts, and the low profile nature of the set made it easier to get to the upper mount nuts on my rear struts without having to rip out the side panels in the trunk.

 

[warmpancakes]

exhaust manifold studs, deep sockets want to wander

 

[devoncoolman]

The ratcheting wrench pretty much does the same thing. The pass thru socket design solved a problem that a ratcheting wrench already solved.

 

[ssbtech]

The ratcheting wrench pretty much does the same thing. The pass thru socket design solved a problem that a ratcheting wrench already solved.

In some instances such as my rear struts the ratcheting wrench would have worked just as well (perhaps even better due to a lower profile), but for my front struts they would have been as usefull as **** on a bull.

 

[Givl Reggin]

I bought the largest set they sell in store (online they have larger sets) I think it was $80 or $90 - my philosophy is that it's better to have it and not need it then to need it and not have it. It's cheap enough and doesn't take up much room in a tool drawer if you take it out of the plastic case.

 

[jdmstr]

The ratcheting wrench pretty much does the same thing. The pass thru socket design solved a problem that a ratcheting wrench already solved.

My thoughts exactly, the only thing i can think of is you may be able to get slighly more leverage with the pass thorugh socket but again that could be easily handled by long panel ratcheting wrenches.

 

[beatcad]

I remember seeing TV ads for these things about 15 years ago.
on the ad they showed them putting together a kids swingset/jungle gym.
they were probably good for only that back than.
a dumb tool for maybe a sucker or harry homeowner(like the gator grip socket)
any real wrenchturner or GJ member wouldn't buy one.
maybe if it was a Christmas present it would get tried out but it would still go bye-bye by july

 

[devoncoolman]

In some instances such as my rear struts the ratcheting wrench would have worked just as well (perhaps even better due to a lower profile), but for my front struts they would have been as usefull as **** on a bull.

Which is true. But ive been a tech for many years and blowing the top nut off a strut aint to hard with an impact. So yes if you want to remove the nut by hand yes the will help. But honestly they already make special sockets and tools to do that same task by hand.

 

[ssbtech]

Removing the nut from an old strut with an impact is fine, but putting them together while holding the shaft from spinning with a hex key is another matter. Sure they make specific strut nut sockets but those are expensive. I could probably have held a deep socket with a pair of vice grips and passed a hex key down the middle, but heck... the pass-through set was on sale

It also seems that there's a cost savings to be had with the pass through set as you're buying one ratchet and several sockets, instead of several ratchets.

 

[jdmstr]

I remember seeing TV ads for these things about 15 years ago.
on the ad they showed them putting together a kids swingset/jungle gym.
they were probably good for only that back than.
a dumb tool for maybe a sucker or harry homeowner(like the gator grip socket)
any real wrenchturner or GJ member wouldn't buy one.
maybe if it was a Christmas present it would get tried out but it would still go bye-bye by july

Always thought they were for suckers!

 

[FriendOfYours]

Use mine nearly everyday. The long gearwrench passthrough flexhead ratchet is excellent. Only push button locking flex I've seen and its about 12"

 

[Fastbird]

I have the big Craftsman set without the bit pieces. Love it. Don't use it a whole lot, but have taken it to places as a carry around set, and in the shop it's a life saver when you need it (shock upper nuts, sway bar links, things like that).

 

[cregulator]

Its very useful on adjusting my ironheads clutch. and i always seem to be working on ironheads i use it all the time

 

[Jamming]

Here's the way I look at it. I bought a set a while back when a store was clearing them out. I added them to the socket drawer in my toolbox. Haven't used them but I HAVE them just in case.
I'm a professional Aircraft mechanic that works on a lot of different aircraft AND a motorcycle mechanic on the side. Can't have too many tools, I have drawers full of tools in 5 roll a rounds, do I use them all? No, but that one time I need something and have it beats not having it every time.

Besides, who here will admit to having too many tools...if you do, check your man card on the way out...

 

[Mazdaspeed]

Struts and endlinks are the only place I've used them...the bit of offset and extra leverage are the real benefits.

 

[JeepsAreBuilt]

I have them.. one thing about them, is that a set acts like a shallow and deep socket set.. as the extension is also pass though. So.. its like a more complete socket set with less sockets. I like my sets.. as I take them with me in the Jeep on a trip or something, and not take up much space.

 

[Oldsmobile]

I vote YES.

Got the Gearwrench 3/8" drive equivalent at Sears many years ago, and i've used it many times. I found it useful to take doors off GMs; those SOBs have very little clearance. You body shop guys probably know how to do it more efficiently, but I'm not a pro.

They're also good for threaded rod. A ratcheting box wrench works there too, but they have a tendency to slide off the nut a little more than the socket/ratchet combo.

When I saw the 1/4" equivalent at a flea market last summer, I bought it without hesitation. They make a nice set to toss in the tool bag and take with you to a job where you're not sure what exactly you're going to need.

I'm not getting rid of mine. I like my ratcheting wrenches too, and you know what? I've got room for both in my shop.

 

[BearCuda]

Haven't bought a set, but there was one time I was changing spark plugs where I really could have used them with the limited space and bad angle that I had on a few plugs

 

[Honda guy]

I have a real nice Gearwrench pass-thru set that I took on trade, that I NEVER use. Same as almost everybody else, I always use ratcheting wrenches.

 

[cosmik binturong]

a thread by retDAC devoted to all those pass-through sockets: *click!*