Should I own impact Swivel Sockets?
- Thread starter Jacobson
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Browning1
Well-known member
have a set of snap-on 3/8s impact shallow sae and metric. Use them all the time
bcradio
Well-known member
They are fine for home use. I would cover the spring with something though.
You may not use them much, but they are absolutely indispensable when you need them. I pulled a transmission out of a Dodge Dakota last week, and there were a few bolts I could not have gotten to without swivel sockets. In fact, a couple of upper bell housing bolts took two extensions, a u/v joint in the middle, and an impact swivel socket on the end.
248superduty
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I would really love to get the 3/8drive metric/standard deep and shallow ones.
emeraldcoupe
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I have a set of the HF swivels without the spring. I bought them a few years ago. I've used them a handful of times and work for what I need. only used at home.
redwrench60
Well-known member
It can get dicey. Sometimes in life you gotta just hang it out there and see what happens. I've started a blue million bolts with a fingertip and some choice words.
redwrench60
Well-known member
Wobble socket + extension + universal + extension + impact = widowmaker. Sometimes you gotta do it though. Just point your nuts away from the action and hit it!
Did the spring pop out, or did the set come without the springs? If they came without the springs, what is the part number? Would be interested, Thanks
I have a set of the HF swivels without the spring. I bought them a few years ago. I've used them a handful of times and work for what I need. only used at home.
JAKE-THE-TOOL-MAN
Well-known member
I have Matco, Mac, Snap On, and Cornwell. I like the Matco and Mac the best, the Snapon don't seem worth the extra money and my deep Cornwell's are bulky compared to the other brands. A co worker of mine from a few years back had Sunex that I borrowed a lot before I purchased my own swivels and they were awesome. I would recommend the Sunnex due to the cost and quality, the only reason I have truck brand ones is because I got them at a deal I couldn't pass up.
JAKE-THE-TOOL-MAN
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emeraldcoupe
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came without springs. i'll see if there's a number on them.
Thanks, I think that's the older version which came without springs, the new one I purchased recently came with springs.
Are there any impact swivel sockets in the Harbor Freight price range without the springs?
Do you all have both 3/8 and 1/2 impact swivel sockets, or just the 1/2 set?
Are there any impact swivel sockets in the Harbor Freight price range without the springs?
Do you all have both 3/8 and 1/2 impact swivel sockets, or just the 1/2 set?
Jeez, I though the three lengths of Matco sockets were bad enough, now you're telling me I need 12 point AND other brands? LOL
I own just a 3/8 set. Funny thing is I only own a 1/2 gun anymore. But I kinda like it that way as the 3/8 swivels are a lot less bulky than the 1/2 ones making them easier to get in at components like caliper brackets n such
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WhiffySpark
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Yes and yes
Should you, idk but I do. My 3/8 get a step up adaptor all the time
Should you, idk but I do. My 3/8 get a step up adaptor all the time
I'd use a reducer (step-down) if that's the case, it always seems like a larger drive socket is set to last a tad bit longer than a smaller drive as well slightly larger edge on torque; hopefully the ratchet doesn't snap; it'd be the socket if a larger drive was used on a lesser drive socket.
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RedneckWelder
Well-known member
I'd get 3/8 first. Seems the most versatile.
Forget the HF stuff. Just go gearwrench, Sunex, or Grey Pnuematic.
Forget the HF stuff. Just go gearwrench, Sunex, or Grey Pnuematic.
Impact swivel sockets "saved" me on a repair last night. I was following very stupid instructions on how to replace a wheel hub bearing assembly and the bolts were in diabolical locations. Since I bought the Sunex Master 3/8" set I have a large array of swivels and had a 3/8" swivel 15mm that just barely squeezed in there. I was able to use it to break free a really stuck bolt just enough to snake it back out of there and use a combination wrench to turn it the rest of the way. My one warning though is when using swivels in tight corners it's really easy to get them stuck and then it can be hard to drive them with a normal ratchet back forward enough to free them as they are kinda unwieldy to turn by hand.
RedneckWelder
Well-known member
Gonna be more, but will be worth it.
Thanks for being discrete on that one 
In the meantime, should I return the 1/2 Harbor Freight Impact Swivel Socket set I recently bought?
In the meantime, should I return the 1/2 Harbor Freight Impact Swivel Socket set I recently bought?
WhiffySpark
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I don't know exactly what you're trying to say.. but I use a 3/8 swivel with a 1/2 inch steup up on a half inch gun all the time. All of us do for transmission work.
If it breaks, that's why It says snapon
It seems like 3/8 is more versatile then especially for those tight-to-reach areas.
I don't know exactly what you're trying to say.. but I use a 3/8 swivel with a 1/2 inch steup up on a half inch gun all the time. All of us do for transmission work.
If it breaks, that's why It says snapon
emeraldcoupe
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WhiffySpark
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I use 10 all the time. You get used to it
I used 3/8 8mm Thursday lol
I used 3/8 8mm Thursday lol
10mm are all over the place. Hold down brackets, engine bay (loaded), heat shields, skid shields etc.. Its not just about time is money, its efficiency. You aren't going to put down the power tools and use a ratchet for just 10mm.