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Sunex 1/4" Swivel Impact Sockets = Awesome

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Damian

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Joined
Dec 26, 2010
Messages
428
Location
Auburn, Georgia
Since being turned on to Sunex I've been an extremely happy customer with these guys. I've spent quite a bit of $$ on their stuff the past year and been very satisfied with everything.

My recent purchase was a set of 1/4" drive swivel impact sockets. After getting sick of breaking my Craftsman 1/4" swivels and not wanting to give Snap on or Matco $250 for these things I took the plunge and tried Sunex. I mainly needed these for R&R'ing transmissions and reaching bolts in tight spots. Especially Automatics with the big bellhousing tucked tight under the car. I needed some small sockets that could still handle some TQ without breaking. These have worked beautifully so far. I've R&R'd about 10 transmissions using them and so far and I'm wondering how I ever lived without them before.

I'm sure I probably sound like a Sunex cheerleader, but regardless of where these guys have their tools made the products are quality and definitely industrial grade stuff.

Enjoy:
1814_large.jpg


You can buy them here for $91 + shipping:
http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/p-6650-sunex-international-1814.aspx
 
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nato

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Dec 23, 2009
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Northeast Ohio
I've got the full metric magnetic set of what you have and I also like them. My set came paired w/ Sunex's 1/4" mini air ratchet and it was a little over $100 for the combo a couple years ago off of my SK dealer.
You can't beat them for the price!
 
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D

Damian

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Dec 26, 2010
Messages
428
Location
Auburn, Georgia
tonydanzah said:
are you using them on a 1/4 impact?
Click to expand...

Nope, for the most part I use my 3/8" IR 2115Ti impact and a 1/4" -> 3/8" adapter. With impact extensions of course. In real tight spaces I'll have to use a ratchet. But regardless of what I use the sockets have been hit with enough force to tighten down a trans with no issues. These things have made my life a LOT easier lately, especially on the GM cars where the top bolts are STUFFED up into the tunnel. No more fighting with 3/8" swivels to squeeze them up into place. These slide in nice and easy.
 
M

mrholeshot

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Jun 22, 2010
Messages
8,043
Sunnex has been around a long time. It was one of those things that most people discounted as **** because of COO. I know some that have been kicking it for 20+ years. They make good stuff, no doubt about it
 
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D

Damian

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Dec 26, 2010
Messages
428
Location
Auburn, Georgia
mrholeshot said:
Sunnex has been around a long time. It was one of those things that most people discounted as **** because of COO. I know some that have been kicking it for 20+ years. They make good stuff, no doubt about it
Click to expand...

I did the same thing. I used to be ignorant and think that anything made outside the U.S. was automatically garbage and not worth my time. However my friend/partner and fellow mechanic of 30 years turned me on to Sunex. He's one of the smartest mechanics I know, so if he says something is worth buying I'll try it.

I also spoke to a Sunex rep a while back. They do have their stuff built overseas (as do a lot of other companies), but it's the specs and standards they require of their manufacturers that make the difference. They do not use cheap porous metals or low grade steel. It's all high quality stuff.
 
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83diesel

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Joined
Feb 9, 2008
Messages
206
Several guys in our shop have almost all Sunex sockets and the rest of us have a lot of grey pneumatic sockets. My next internet purchase I am going to get the Sunex 1/4" drive master set to go with my 1/4" impact and air ratchet. Fasteners are getting harder to get at each year and repair times keep going down, so every shortcut helps.

I have a couple 1" Sunex sockets I use daily to remove semi wheels and had them for 7 years with no wear or have not broken one yet.
 
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D

Damian

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Messages
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Auburn, Georgia
83diesel said:
Fasteners are getting harder to get at each year and repair times keep going down, so every shortcut helps.
Click to expand...

You got that friggin right. We use Mitchell online for our labor guide, and some of the labor times they give are 1-2 hrs shorter than what the old Mitchell books say for the same exact job. I guess they figure mechanics should make less money for the same amount of work. :headscrat
 
A

amolaver

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Mar 10, 2009
Messages
835
i wonder if they're made in the same factory, but if you want SAE swivels as well, and short/deep metric/sae 1/4" impact sockets...

http://www.tooltopia.com/kd-tools-84903.aspx

just got mine a few days ago and haven't used them significantly yet, but i priced it out and i think this set works out cheaper if you need all the flavors (short/deep/swivel of both SAE/metric).

i have been playing with them some using a 1/4-3/8 adapter and my 3/8 nitrocat - no issues with them and i've had great luck with the the KD/gearwrench impact sockets. that said, i've got some good sized sunex impact sockets (28 through 36 i think) that i've used quite a bit and they've also held up well. i'm guessing if you can use the sockets, both brands will do you right.

swivel impacts are the best invention ever :)

ahm
 
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Damian

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428
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Auburn, Georgia
/\ - I have a bunch of KD stuff and they're a good product but that kit is a little bit of an overkill for most people. There's not really a use for THAT many 1/4" impact sockets that I can think of in my profession. Most of what I use 1/4" for is hard to reach places, under-dash work, or an occasional transmission R&R and/or build. Can't really think of any tiny fasteners that are gonna require enough TQ to use a a deep impact 1/4 socket. lol
 
S

spencejm

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Joined
Apr 18, 2007
Messages
64
Location
Columbia, MO
Is the general feeling of this group that the Sunex are higher quality than the Gray Pneumatic? I've heard a lot of good things about the GP and they are quite a bit cheaper.

Joe
 
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amolaver

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Mar 10, 2009
Messages
835
don't disagree, but its nice that you can. and...i don't need to buy the chrome versions - just buy that set, and you're good on 1/4" sockets. i don't buy chrome sockets anymore... just use the impact sockets with my ratchets. especially in 1/4 there is essentially no penalty (size/weight). i have noticed some of the 1/2 impact sockets are markedly thicker walled than chrome and i can imagine there are some scenarios where that would matter. that said, i haven't bumped into any.

as with just about all nuts and bolts, i've found it much easier to round off really rusted up fasteners with a ratchet/breaker bar than the impact. as an example, some of the stuff i work on has 8 or 10mm nuts holding a bracket for the brake line to a strut and they get rusted to ****, so using the impact i think is easier. its also faster :) i also generally prefer to use deep sockets - i guess i find it easier to tell when i have the socket really square on the fastener; longer distance from the pivot point exaggerates any misalignment.

ahm
 
M

mrbreezeet1

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Dec 6, 2010
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Moundsville, WV, 15 miles South Of Wheeling WV
Damian said:
Since being turned on to Sunex I've been an extremely happy customer with these guys. I've spent quite a bit of $$ on their stuff the past year and been very satisfied with everything.

My recent purchase was a set of 1/4" drive swivel impact sockets. After getting sick of breaking my Craftsman 1/4" swivels and not wanting to give Snap on or Matco $250 for these things I took the plunge and tried Sunex. I mainly needed these for R&R'ing transmissions and reaching bolts in tight spots. Especially Automatics with the big bellhousing tucked tight under the car. I needed some small sockets that could still handle some TQ without breaking. These have worked beautifully so far. I've R&R'd about 10 transmissions using them and so far and I'm wondering how I ever lived without them before.

I'm sure I probably sound like a Sunex cheerleader, but regardless of where these guys have their tools made the products are quality and definitely industrial grade stuff.

Enjoy:

You can buy them here for $91 + shipping:
http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/p-6650-sunex-international-1814.aspx
Click to expand...

Sweet, I was just going to ask what they were going for. heck, I paid almost $100.00 for my gearwrench chrome 1/4 set of swivels.
I have used 2 sets the Sunex 3/8 drive impact swivels for a # of years, and never had a problem. Only broke 1 one time, and that's because I used it on a 1/2" impact wrench.
Tony
 
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shampoop

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Joined
Jul 12, 2009
Messages
1,947
Location
SW Washington
I have a lot of sunex sockets now. I love all of them. Very high quality, very cheap prices, and great variety/selection. I was initially looking for a set of impact sockets to fill my hansen style socket trays. I wanted sets that would cover every single size on those trays. I'm pretty sure that sunex was the only brand that even covered all of those sizes, not only that though, they all came in the same set and were very cheap. After buying one set and trying them out i was very impressed with the quality. I'm a sunex customer for life.

I'm now regret buying my snapon swivel impact sockets and wish i would have saved my money and bought sunex. Even with my 50% student discount at the time i still probably would have saved a lot of money.
 
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rayzor32

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Jul 26, 2010
Messages
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Buffalo, NY
Damian said:
Nope, for the most part I use my 3/8" IR 2115Ti impact and a 1/4" -> 3/8" adapter. With impact extensions of course. In real tight spaces I'll have to use a ratchet. But regardless of what I use the sockets have been hit with enough force to tighten down a trans with no issues. These things have made my life a LOT easier lately, especially on the GM cars where the top bolts are STUFFED up into the tunnel. No more fighting with 3/8" swivels to squeeze them up into place. These slide in nice and easy.
Click to expand...

do you put the adapter on the gun and use 1/4" extensions or use 3/8" extensions and put the adapter on the end?
 
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woody 73

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Apr 14, 2009
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11,547
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The Great State Up North
I have the Grey Pneumatic and they are very nice; the shop where I go carries sunex,and as someone said they have been around for many years. The only reason that I do not have them is because the shop salesman convinced me to buy the Grey sockets.
 
Y

yogitech

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Apr 13, 2009
Messages
791
Location
Orlando, FL
I have been using Sunex impacts for the past 5 yrs daily at the shop and have had zero issues. I have deep, shallow, swivels in 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2". Would highly recommend to anyone.
 
H

Hammer1963

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Jan 2, 2011
Messages
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Location
Kentucky
I have been using the Grey Pneumatics version of these sockets and a buddy of mine has the Sunex branded items and they appear to be the same product. generally speaking, Taiwinese made tools are far superior to their Chinese counterparts. We use them with 1/4" and 3/8" impacts with NO problems. I love them
 
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Infidel

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Sep 24, 2010
Messages
92
Damian said:
Sunex 1/4" Swivel Socket - Impact 1/4 --> 3/8 adapter - 3/8 extension - Gun

In that order. ;)
Click to expand...

In case I missed it....Do you use them with impact on full air? I know that gun is very powerful. I'm liking this idea.
 
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Damian

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Messages
428
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Auburn, Georgia
Infidel said:
In case I missed it....Do you use them with impact on full air? I know that gun is very powerful. I'm liking this idea.
Click to expand...

We run 150psi through our lines, but I turn the gun down to setting "1" when using the 1/4 stuff. These sockets are strong, but expecting them (or the adapter) to handle a blow of 300-400ft lbs of TQ is a little silly.

And yes you are correct. My IR 2115ti is an absolute monster with good air pressure.
 
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Wesley B

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Grey and sunex are so close in price that it really comes down to what color case you like better...lol I like the blue one.
 
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Sterff

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Wesley B said:
Grey and sunex are so close in price that it really comes down to what color case you like better...lol I like the blue one.
Click to expand...

I agree. If Im buying a set of impacts I usually check these two and see which one looks better :bounce:
 
F

Fedwrench

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JDizzle said:
are they grey pneumatics the same?
Click to expand...

I have joked for years that they come out of the same factory in Taiwan because they seem to skip the same sizes in some of their sets but, are stenciled with different names and and thrown into different colored boxes. However, Sunex impact sockets have the size stamped into the steel along with the tiny gold stencil. Grey only has the small gold size stencil.
 
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Sterff

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Wesley B said:
People who have both sunex and grey---which brand has easier to read size markings?
Click to expand...

I would say they are about the same. Sunex has the size stamped too so that may be a benefit. I prefer the GP sockets.
 
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Fedwrench

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