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school me on swivel sockets

vandezand

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Jun 17, 2012
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187
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Cedar Rapids, Iowa
I can think of two times in the past week where a swivel socket would come in handy. Ive never used them before.

Do they allow you to continually ratchet at 90 degrees or so? or do you have to straighten the joint out?

Looking at picking up a set was thinking sk or something cheap. I'm a diy not a pro.

Any info and recommendations would be greatly appreciated
 
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Ricky112

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Sep 30, 2014
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the 1/2'' snap on ones run about $800 in my neck of the woods, absolutely ridiculous. but.. the quality is there, compared to my dads sunnex ones anyways. it just seems to have a smoother swivel quality

but the mechanic i work next to uses, and i'm following his advice until i can come up with some serious coin is to use the snap on 1/2'' and 3/8'' swivel adapter. can put any socket on it and since its an impact adapter it can handle whatever gun you put on it. our truck had both on promo for $60

cheers from canada!
 

Lhead

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Sep 14, 2014
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I've never had a situation come up in 40 odd years of DIY work where a swivel socket would have been enough of an improvement over a U joint or wobble extension to justify investing in a set.

And no, you can't use the swivel socket or a u joint for that matter at 90 degrees. Probably 45 degrees is around the maximum.
 
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sk farmer

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i have a couple sets. having sad that........i would head to harbor freight and pick up some of the impact variety. dual purpose(actually work better than the chromes) a decent price and pretty well respected.
 

dj_110

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Sep 9, 2014
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New Holstein, WI
I have a couple of the SK swivel sockets. They are nice but expensive to have if you're just a DIY'er. I bought mine to change the motor mounts on a Firebird and Camaro for 4 cyl. to V8 swap and a v6 to V8 swap. You have to get a socket in the frame and there is no way a regular socket and u-joint fit. The swivel socket was the ticket to getting in the tight spot. I haven't used them for much else though.

The Gear wrench ones that raven posted look nice and cheap enough for a whole set of them.
 

bcradio

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New Mexico
I use mine all the time. They may not be necessary most of the time, but they sure make life easier. But yes, they are necessary sometimes. If you have not ran into a time when you absolutely needed one, then consider yourself lucky.

I have Craftsman and they are fine for me.
 

jacked_72

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Jul 22, 2012
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The HF impact swivel sockets (pn 67911) saved my **** pulling the engine on my Isuzu Rodeo. They worked fine for me. Haven't really needed them again since then, so the $25 price helps with the fact they're not used often.
 

franzdom

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Sep 7, 2009
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NC
I can think of two times in the past week where a swivel socket would come in handy. Ive never used them before.

Do they allow you to continually ratchet at 90 degrees or so? or do you have to straighten the joint out?

Looking at picking up a set was thinking sk or something cheap. I'm a diy not a pro.

Any info and recommendations would be greatly appreciated

You can only use them up to around 60 degrees max. If you need 90 degrees you may need a different solution. Chrome and impact both have their places, the chrome ones are a lot smaller.
 

signcrafter

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May 9, 2012
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The gearwrench ones from advance auto are great for the price. Add a couple of things to your online order and use a code for 20 bucks off 50.
 

theoldwizard1

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Feb 22, 2011
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SE MI
I've never had a situation come up in 40 odd years of DIY work where a swivel socket would have been enough of an improvement over a U joint or wobble extension to justify investing in a set.
"Back in the day" I bought a 1/2" and a 9/16" swivel socket figuring they would save my **** some day. (For you youngsters, prior to the 70s, you could take most American cars 90% apart with a 1/2" and a 9/16" wrench/socket)

I STILL HAVE NEVER USED THEM !

And no, you can't use the swivel socket or a u joint for that matter at 90 degrees. Probably 45 degrees is around the maximum.

U-joint sockets will bind at about 45°. Swivel joint socket won't go past about 30°. In theory, you can stack them up for more angle.
 

cheechi

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Feb 29, 2012
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Triad, NC
Keep in mind my swivels are 6 pt, you may have a little more options if you have 12pt ones. You can't really use them at 90. But you can get close, if you line up the U joint part of it the right way it has a little give in either direction. Sometimes its just not doable depending on how the bolt is in, that's where the 6pt/12pt comes in. Usually this is just to break loose a bolt that you can't get to easily with anything else. Once its loose, you can use whatever angle you can, extensions, etc.

There are a few places I can think of where I couldn't get an air rat or impact in there, or you don't have enough swing to use a wrench, so I broke it loose with the swivel and then you can use whatever you want. Most of the use my impact swivels have got is at the junk yard with my M12 tools. all manner of collision damage as you can imagine.

Sometimes, you can do the same with a U joint and not need swivel sockets. Sometimes a wobble extension is better, or just as good. Sometimes you come across something where only one of these is any good.

There's not really any right or wrong answer for any of the above. For a DIY guy, if you don't have the luxury of a lift you are stuck doing some things from below and others from above and still others through the wheel well. Pros tend to have more options for this and yet more tools anyway, so there's definitely a place for them.
 

ajchien

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Los Angeles, stuck on the 60 freeway.
idk. my experience differs a bit. first, i like my wobble extensions a lot.

but if i need more angle, ive gone to swivel sockets rather than a U-joint. i havent had much luck with U-joints because if Ive needed a swivel, the combination U-joint+socket was always too tall to fit in the space I was in.

And no, it dosent twist at 90 degrees.

EDIT: I agree with the above. Swivel (chrome) is one socket I prefer in 12-pt. getting the swivel on the bolt is easier.
 
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GTA Matt

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Zebulon, NC
There are days when I use my swivel sockets more then my regular sockets. Transmission bellhousing bolts immediately come to mind, but have you seen under the hood of a modern car :dunno:
 

durallymax

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Mar 11, 2011
Messages
918
I'm not a wobble extension fan. Don't own any and never really liked them but will buy some someday just because.

Swivel impact sockets are the application I use them in most because they allow you to not necessarily be perfectly lined up on the fastener since you can't always be with bulky impact tools. You do loose a lot of torque if that matters. Impact swivels have a lot less movement than non impact ones. The impact ones also tend to not flop around like a limp noodle which makes lined them up on a fastener easier.

As for Chrome, I hate having to stack a socket onto a swivel because it makes the entire set up too long sometimes, it also flops around like a limo noodle a lot worse than a true chrome swivel socket. I'd say 60* may be the max or so but you can go a bit past that. I've blown my share of them up by pushing too hard though.


They're another tool to have. There's a lot of things you run into where they are handy to have and speed things up. You can get buy without ever owning them though and they are not a replacement for the sockets you already have. I like them a lot but for DIY on a budget I would just get some chrome 1/4"and 3/8" drive. 1/2" impact but not chrome. 3/8" impact if you want. I bought a bunch of Carlyle for mine actually. My 1/4" are craftsman except for my 15mm which is snap on. My metric impact 1/2" ones are snap on. The rest is Carlyle.
 

brass89

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Sep 15, 2014
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240
For any swivel whether it's a socket or just plain swivel adapter they may loosen up through use. If you have a hard time with the limp noodle effect, a lot of guys just wrap a little electrical tape around the joint to stiffen it while still allowing for flex. Not quite as necessary using hand ratchets, but especially if using an air tool on the other end consider locking adapters so the socket stays on the end of whatever extensions/swivels you're using. Goose them a little and it's easy to fling the socket off when on any kind of wobble/flex.
 

GTA Matt

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Zebulon, NC
Today's tech tip brought to you by the letter O. O-ring works wonders at keeping sockets from getting floppy, better then electrical tape.

zuryzu6a.jpg
 

sk farmer

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nd
Today's tech tip brought to you by the letter O. O-ring works wonders at keeping sockets from getting floppy, better then electrical tape.

zuryzu6a.jpg

Sometimes wading through all of the bad advice is painful and then you stumble on gem. Thanks for the tip.
 

BirdMobile

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Aug 16, 2014
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Today's tech tip brought to you by the letter O. O-ring works wonders at keeping sockets from getting floppy, better then electrical tape.

zuryzu6a.jpg

Dude...
That's the best post I've seen here since I signed up.
You made my day! :)
 
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ravenzfusion

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Feb 5, 2014
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GTA Matt:
which swivels are better? craftsman or gearwrench ? they both look a bit different. swivel is shorter on the gearwrench
 

rob0781

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Feb 13, 2011
Messages
337
Location
Canada
the 1/2'' snap on ones run about $800 in my neck of the woods, absolutely ridiculous. but.. the quality is there, compared to my dads sunnex ones anyways. it just seems to have a smoother swivel quality

but the mechanic i work next to uses, and i'm following his advice until i can come up with some serious coin is to use the snap on 1/2'' and 3/8'' swivel adapter. can put any socket on it and since its an impact adapter it can handle whatever gun you put on it. our truck had both on promo for $60

cheers from canada!

I used to think that but a actual swivel socket is shorter then a uni with a socket. Makes a difference in tight spots.
 

2oolhound

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Dec 18, 2010
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BC Canada
I wouldn't be without them. They allow you to use long extensions to get way back where you can swing the ratchet. Starters, bell housings, u-joints and on and on.
 

GTA Matt

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Zebulon, NC
GTA Matt:
which swivels are better? craftsman or gearwrench ? they both look a bit different. swivel is shorter on the gearwrench

All my chrome swivels are gearwrench. I've never actually seen a craftsman swivel so I couldn't tell you. I am very happy with these gearwrench ones however.
 

kylefitz

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Jun 29, 2006
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Location
Kansas City, mo
I have a 3/8 drive set in metric and sae. With that being said I cant think of a situation where a flex joint wouldn't have accomplished the same thing.
 

KinzeMech

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Jul 15, 2012
Messages
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Today's tech tip brought to you by the letter O. O-ring works wonders at keeping sockets from getting floppy, better then electrical tape.

zuryzu6a.jpg

thread winner, right there. No point in further discussion.

Great idea!
 

shockwave

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Oct 23, 2012
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Marietta,ga
Another tip that help with the chrome universals (with pin) grab a tapered punch and smack center mushrooms pin works great on the weak pins on the gear wrench sockets
 

Wakefield

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Aug 26, 2010
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Arlington VA (but would like to get out to country
i have a couple sets. having sad that........i would head to harbor freight and pick up some of the impact variety. dual purpose(actually work better than the chromes) a decent price and pretty well respected.
I tend to exclude HF and China (less so Taiwan) but Impact Swivels are preferred over Chrome Universal sockets even if only for use on hand tools?
 

nicksnothereman

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Oct 19, 2013
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3,608
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In the Mojave
I can think of two times in the past week where a swivel socket would come in handy. Ive never used them before.

Do they allow you to continually ratchet at 90 degrees or so? or do you have to straighten the joint out?

Looking at picking up a set was thinking sk or something cheap. I'm a diy not a pro.

Any info and recommendations would be greatly appreciated

No. Never!:bounce::lol:

The pro stuff might survive that on low torque fasteners though. They might say abuse if you snap that pin though.
 

ravenzfusion

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Feb 5, 2014
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214
I tend to exclude HF and China (less so Taiwan) but Impact Swivels are preferred over Chrome Universal sockets even if only for use on hand tools?

it seems to me much of the impact stuff has thicker walls, so if clearance is an issues its good to have the CR-V stuff. I myself have the CR-V Gearwrench swivel sets. Seem top notch. I'm a DIY er so I don't use too much impact stuff. I only have a deep impact set for removing lugnuts.
 

signcrafter

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May 9, 2012
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12,352
Thanks guys. There's a lot of useful information here. Looks like I'll be picking up some gearwrench flexes next time I go to aap

Don't go to AAP to buy them. Order online and then use a discount code, just google "advance auto codes" and you will find a bunch of them. There is one out there for 20 off a 50 dollar order, think its trt25 but not positive without checking. Add a couple other things to your sockets to reach 50 bucks and order online and pick up in store 30 minutes later. Save money and get extra stuff.:beer:
 

KinzeMech

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Jul 15, 2012
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1,164
Who needs a swivel to achieve a 90 degree direction change? The last time I checked, if you snap a ratchet handle into a socket extention, that's 90 degrees right there.

Swivels are for a direction change of more or less than 90.
 

92integra

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Jul 11, 2013
Messages
857
+1 on gear wrench. I love my 1/4" set altho the 10mm leave something to be desired it's more like a semi deep than a shallow
 
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