snap on flank drive sockets

[bayoutoolguy]

bought my first set of snap on sockets, 3/8 drive, 8-19mm shallow. It will probably be my last purchase of snap on sockets for a while, the price i paid is just killing me ($172) anyway, any of yall that use them have you found the flank drive to grip nuts and bolts better and are they better at gripping rounded off bolts? Im thinking of ordering some SK sockets from tooltopia, still good quality and cheaper, or is there better socket sets of a different brand offered by tooltopia that im missing?

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...674833&supersede=&store=snapon-store&tool=all

 

[osborn.ozzy]

pretty much any decent socket made in the last 20 - 30 years is flank drive....

 

[bobcatdan]

From my understanding, SO invented the drive on the flat design and called it flank drive in the '50's. I'm pretty sure it was patented, but that expired years go and now basically all sockets are "flank drive". I own plenty of sockets and I do not know of a time SO sockets out performed any other brand I own.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

I have crafty, gearwrench, kobolt, bacho, and snappy sockets.

I find really no difference between them all as far as gripping sockets, breakage and all of them can round a bolt head. I have found the crafty spline sockets doing an ok job sometimes of grabbing a rounded fastner where conventional sockets just make it worse. Sometimes no mater what I use or do I still end up welding a nut to the bolt head to get those stubborn, rusted, rounded bolts out.

Got a set of wrights on the way...I'll have to see about those

 

[ianguilly]

Some sockets can have a better fit I've notice than others.

 

[tjmonsen5]

This is what sold me on Snap-on sockets. I figured they were exactly the same as any other socket until just a few weeks ago. Here is the quick story.
I was changing shocks and springs on my car, and the swaybar bolt was a 13mm. I was using my craftsman 13mm 6 pt, and totally rounded the corners off. The corners were nice and shiny and round now. I said to myself, "im screwed!" I figured i would need to cut the bolt off now. Instead, I grabbed my Snap-on 13mm 6 point socket (visually looks basically identical to the craftsman) and it took the bolt RIGHT OFF. After the bolt was off, i looked inside the socket. The bolt left some rust dust almost right in the center of the flats of the socket. I was amazed. The Snap-on sockets dont even care what the corner of a bolt looks like.
That is why I will be buying more Snap-on tools. When you need them to perform, they do!

 

[jtfc]

bought my first set of snap on sockets, 3/8 drive, 8-19mm shallow. It will probably be my last purchase of snap on sockets for a while, the price i paid is just killing me ($172) anyway, any of yall that use them have you found the flank drive to grip nuts and bolts better and are they better at gripping rounded off bolts? Im thinking of ordering some SK sockets from tooltopia, still good quality and cheaper, or is there better socket sets of a different brand offered by tooltopia that im missing?

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...674833&supersede=&store=snapon-store&tool=all

mac has a line of sockets that has these little ridges in the center of the "flank" if you will allegedly they are able to take off damn near fully rounded bolts. it looks like snap on flank drive plus but in a socket.i think they are made in taiwan but they seem legit. a coworker has a metric set and he loves them but besides his positive reviews and the mac propaganda about them i know nothing. check those out.

 

[Syndicate]

^^^^^ Is referring to MAC TOOLS EDGE sockets. I have them in both deep and shallow in SAE and MM. They are my favorites.

 

[Big Johnson]

bought my first set of snap on sockets, 3/8 drive, 8-19mm shallow. It will probably be my last purchase of snap on sockets for a while, the price i paid is just killing me ($172) anyway, any of yall that use them have you found the flank drive to grip nuts and bolts better and are they better at gripping rounded off bolts? Im thinking of ordering some SK sockets from tooltopia, still good quality and cheaper, or is there better socket sets of a different brand offered by tooltopia that im missing?

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...674833&supersede=&store=snapon-store&tool=all

Sometimes drinking coolaid can give you diabetes. If the price is "killing you," you should not be buying them. They are one of the most recognized brands, but all the sockets I have seen made nowadays, including Pittsburgh(HF), have the "Flank-drive" design. Unless you are a full time wrencher, you really should check out some other brands that are more reasonably priced.

 

[billymade]

Another item that can be bought USED and save a tone of dough (all mine are used); USA pro quality, cheap prices... the best of both worlds! Remember, a new tool, used ONCE is USED!

 

[OEXL16B]

If you use 12 point sockets on 6 point fasteners, then flank-drive is a necessity. I've got one bolt on my car that has no corners left on the bolt head at all; they're completely gone. The bolt head was a 21mm, now a 13/16'' flank-drive 12 point fits it like glue.

 

[Rico.]

If you use 12 point sockets on 6 point fasteners, then flank-drive is a necessity. I've got one bolt on my car that has no corners left on the bolt head at all; they're completely gone. The bolt head was a 21mm, now a 13/16'' flank-drive 12 point fits it like glue.

I know this might sound like a total wacky left field idea, but have you
ever given a thought to maybe.... I don't know.... fitting a new bolt...

Just throwin' it out there....

 

[OEXL16B]

I know this might sound like a total wacky left field idea, but have you
ever given a thought to maybe.... I don't know.... fitting a new bolt...

Just throwin' it out there....

It's one of those proprietary bolts that cost big money at the dealership parts department. I'll get around to replacing it eventually though.