Spark Plug sockets

[shawndp]

After a dry spell with tune-up's I did two today - a Lexus ES350 and a Camry 2.5 - which made me realize I seem to have misplaced the rubber inserts on all my spark plug sockets. Tomorrow is Tool-Truck-Friday and I am looking for suggestions on what to get... I mostly do imports, so I need a 5/8 and wouldn't mind having a 14mm one too as they seem to be increasingly common to me. If not the tool-truck, any other suggestions? It can not be GW or Craftsman as getting a warranty is a royal nuissance if anything goes wrong. Thanks!

 

[Billythekid1]

Magnetic all the way

 

[Fedwrench]

Too bad about not wanting Gearwrench. They have a nice magnetic plug socket set with swivel extensions.

 

[mbshop]

magnetic sp sockets for sure.

 

[mcmtech]

Magnetic for sure.

 

[ryan20021982]

You don't have an Advance auto for Gearwrench warranty? That's hard to believe I thought they were everywhere, the Gearwrench magnetic is all I use now.

 

[General Geoff]

Koken spring clips ftw

I humbly suggest not basing your decision on perceived ease of warranty, but rather functionality of the socket(s) and likelihood of ever having to use said warranty.

 

[Moparman390]

Worrying about breaking a spark plug socket? How hard do you plan to torque down those plugs?

 

[Empty Pockets]

As many have suggested, Magnitic

 

[mountain_man]

Matco makes a nice 6 piece set, no metric though

 

[T45]

Many good options already here. I agree that take off and assebly torque makes it unlikely to break items. But also, they are thinwalls, so some better steel can provide a nicer feel. Its also stiffer which means better force application when busting stuck ones free.

I think part of answering the question is also how many items you need and in what styles. That can add a lot to the cost, if you need several sizes x several variations and are buying only off the truck.

 

[shawndp]

Thanks for all the replies! Magnetic does sound like a better solution than what I am using right now.

@fedwrench - My dismissal of GW is from past experiences with Apex's less than stellar customer support. Being in Canada means there is no Advance Auto to pop into. That said, a spark plug socket doesn't lend itself to high levels of torque, so I should be fine for the most part. I take it the GW socket is a good one?

@ GeneralGeoff - those Koken sockets looks very nice - I did a bit of reading about them and the idea of the insert really appeals to me. Where did you buy those and how much were they please?

@T45 - I am looking for a 5/8 6-point socket and a 14mm 12-point for BMW and Nissan action.

 

[exmaxima1]

My wife's ES350 will need plugs soon. How hard was that job? Did you need to remove the intake manifold?

 

[shawndp]

My wife's ES350 will need plugs soon. How hard was that job? Did you need to remove the intake manifold?

Fairly easy job but the intake needs to come out... The hardest part of the job are 2 12mm bolts that hold support brackets for the plastic intake - one near the throttle and one on the passenger side near the firewall. The strut brace needs to come out anyway, so take it off before negotiating the right-rear bolt. I genuinely enjoy doing this one over the older ES330! If you have any questions about it - shoot me a PM

 

[Bagherra]

Too bad about not wanting Gearwrench. They have a nice magnetic plug socket set with swivel extensions.

This is what I used on my cars and bikes and it works like a champ!!

 

[Tonyuk]

Halfords pro with the rubber inserts here, had them for years and still work fine.

 

[HanShotFirst]

You'll lose 15 spark plug sockets before you ever break one.

 

[bimmer630]

Ive broken plugs on BMWs with the magnetic plug socket (snapon). IF youre careful and make sure to keep the socket 100% straight with the spark plug, It wont really happen, but It became enough of an issue that I started using my old matco rubber insert style plug socket again.

You can get replacement rubber inserts, too (for your old sockets)

 

[Loscaldazar]

Too bad about not wanting Gearwrench. They have a nice magnetic plug socket set with swivel extensions.

This. I think Matco also sells them under their name too, so that might be an option for the OP.

The GW/Matco ones are better than the Snap On, SK, Proto, and Craftsman Spark plug sockets (I have spark plugs from all the brands I listed). GW is my go to for this (and I'm kind of an Apex hater too), they really hit it out of the park with the magnetic spark plug socket and built in swivel extension. And it is CHEAP ($10) for the 6" 5/8" one. Could buy a few at that price and not worry about if you break it.

 

[General Geoff]

@ GeneralGeoff - those Koken sockets looks very nice - I did a bit of reading about them and the idea of the insert really appeals to me. Where did you buy those and how much were they please?

I got them from Frank's Tools: http://frankstools.com/koken-zseries-tools.html

They also have 12-point versions for newer specific 12-pt spark plugs. They're a bit over $20 each. Totally worth it in my opinion.

 

[shawndp]

This. I think Matco also sells them under their name too, so that might be an option for the OP.

The GW/Matco ones are better than the Snap On, SK, Proto, and Craftsman Spark plug sockets (I have spark plugs from all the brands I listed). GW is my go to for this (and I'm kind of an Apex hater too), they really hit it out of the park with the magnetic spark plug socket and built in swivel extension. And it is CHEAP ($10) for the 6" 5/8" one. Could buy a few at that price and not worry about if you break it.

Thanks! I am going to consult with Matco as my dealer is awesome and I don't mind paying him a premium to not have to deal with Apex.

 

[Hammer1963]

Koken spring clips ftw

I humbly suggest not basing your decision on perceived ease of warranty, but rather functionality of the socket(s) and likelihood of ever having to use said warranty.

Very well put! I like the design of these. I believe I will be ordering a few.

 

[exmaxima1]

Fairly easy job but the intake needs to come out... The hardest part of the job are 2 12mm bolts that hold support brackets for the plastic intake - one near the throttle and one on the passenger side near the firewall. The strut brace needs to come out anyway, so take it off before negotiating the right-rear bolt. I genuinely enjoy doing this one over the older ES330! If you have any questions about it - shoot me a PM

Thanks! Just did my son's Mazda CX-9 and similar scenario with rear brackets to the plastic intake. Took 3 hrs, but I didn't need any special socket for the plugs, and no busted knuckles....

 

[Gmonkee]

Heater hose cut to size and stuffed into the sockets you already have. Clean the gunk out and clean inside with thinner and it sticks like glued.

Its free and already in your shop. Mine is going on five or more years without problems.

 

[phikshin]

Ive broken plugs on BMWs with the magnetic plug socket (snapon). IF youre careful and make sure to keep the socket 100% straight with the spark plug, It wont really happen, but It became enough of an issue that I started using my old matco rubber insert style plug socket again.

You can get replacement rubber inserts, too (for your old sockets)

+1. I have the 60 dollar snap on magnetic socket. Absolute garbage. I've gone back to a cheap offshore one or gear wrench swivel ones. I've broken probably around 5 with the snap on on GM's. Usually cracks or chips the porcelain. Even had the porcelain fall into the motor and get stuck once. Haven't used it since.

If anyone wants to buy it let me know.

 

[shawndp]

I got them from Frank's Tools: http://frankstools.com/koken-zseries-tools.html

They also have 12-point versions for newer specific 12-pt spark plugs. They're a bit over $20 each. Totally worth it in my opinion.

Thanks for the info - I am going to order them as well!

 

[General Geoff]

You're welcome! I think you'll be very happy with them.

 

[visionguru]

... It can not be GW or Craftsman as getting a warranty is a royal nuissance if anything goes wrong. Thanks!

What could go wrong with a spark plug socket, except a piece of rubber? How much does it cost? (for you to worry about warranty.) Get ANYONE with magnet, problem solved.

 

[T45]

You can get replacement rubber inserts, too (for your old sockets)

Snap on sells these on their website for like $4 shipped/per. That's a heckofalot cheaper than a new SO socket which is probably $30-40 or something like that retail. So if you already have a socket that you liked in the past, you can "save it" for the cost of a cuppa starbucks.

I'd also highlight that SO does a locking wobble extension, which IMHO is genius. Def worth looking into that route rather than buying more speciality sockets with built in swivels and what not, that are also more expensive and take up more space in storage. Two of the more basic snap on sockets+extension is gonna be more affordable than say four or six of them which of the more exotic variations.

The 14mm sockets in particular sometimes need to be very thin-wall to fit. Worth looking at a decent brand in that socket size in particular just to avoid any problems. 5/8 seem to be pretty standard fare.

 

[M6erfan]

Koken spring clips ftw

I humbly suggest not basing your decision on perceived ease of warranty, but rather functionality of the socket(s) and likelihood of ever having to use said warranty.

+1 on the Ko-ken clip type SP sockets. I have them and they are excellent

 

[plinker]

I've got a mix of Matco, S-K & Snap-on, Some mine and some were my brothers. The Matco's have some nice knurling on the ends and the little rubber piece is a warranty item (found out couple weeks ago). I will say the S-K's are the nicest looking though.

 

[jgromada]

+1. I have the 60 dollar snap on magnetic socket. Absolute garbage. I've gone back to a cheap offshore one or gear wrench swivel ones. I've broken probably around 5 with the snap on on GM's. Usually cracks or chips the porcelain. Even had the porcelain fall into the motor and get stuck once. Haven't used it since.

If anyone wants to buy it let me know.

well after a build up like that who can resist?