The 3/8 inch drive

[Beenman]

I have always ignored the 3/8 inch drive tools as I don't see the point of them. Not big enough to cope with large bolts, and not small enough to fit where the 1/4 inch fits snugly. Also, 3/8 inch drive tools seem to be a US preference as I almost never see them available here, and don't seem to see much of their use in Europe either.

However, today while working on a car I found myself using a 3/8 drive from the company toolset for the first time ever. I used the 1/2 inch to loosen two M14 nuts, but found that due to space constraints the larger 1/2 inch ratchet allowed for only small degrees of turning. The bolts had threadlocker on them so using fingers to loosen was difficult. Enter the 3/8 drive. Was the perfect size to get some good degrees of movement, and had enough size to cope with stiff M14 bolts.

My home toolset does not include any 3/8 tools, and I doubt if I will spend the money at this stage. Is it a popular tool/socket size on this here Journal, and if so, where does it get used?

Thanks.

 

[u118224]

I work on cars and light trucks as a weekend warrier and I most often use 3/8 drive.

 

[CNGsaves]

Re: The 3/8 inch drive . . vs 1/4 " drive elsewhere

This is a "foreign country" phenomenon. For some reason 1/4" drive is all the rage in Europe and other countries. However, in USA 3/8" drive is king.

This has been covered in previous thread(s) on GJ.

Maybe a intercontinental swap could get started . . . OP you send 1/4" drive, and USA folks will send you 3/8" drive !!

 

[jlh92]

I normally use 1/4dr up to 10mm, 3/8dr for 10mm-17mm, and 1/2dr for anything bigger.

 

[dnschmidt]

As a person that from time to time imports TOPTUL tools into the United States I can tell you that in America 3/8" is KING and it kills me as TOPTUL has tons of 1/4" drive sets and 1/2" drives sets and completely ***** with respect to 3/8" which is what I need to sell their stuff here. In America 1/2" is basically dead and 1/4" is considered good for small engines and toys. 3/8" is overwhelmingly used in automotive.

 

[General Geoff]

I find I use 1/4" and 1/2" more often than 3/8" in automotive. 3/8" I usually only use when there's a larger/stuck bolt without enough clearance for 1/2". Doesn't come up too often with my personal fleet.

I use 1/4" up to 15mm or 9/16", if possible, and transition to 1/2" drive from 10mm or 3/8" if I need the extra torque to break something loose, and obviously for stuff bigger than 15mm or 9/16" because it's hard to find 1/4" sockets bigger than that.

In America 1/2" is basically dead

They might not feature prominently in Home Depot or Lowes, but I wouldn't say 1/2" drive is anywhere close to 'dead' in the United States.

 

[Beenman]

Re: The 3/8 inch drive . . vs 1/4 " drive elsewhere

OP you send 1/4" drive, and USA folks will send you 3/8" drive !!

Cool. I hardly ever use my 1/4 inch tools.

 

[Beenman]

I normally use, 3/8dr for 10mm-17mm,

Ok, that gives me an idea size wize. Now, what if say your 17mm bolt is a ******* to break loose? Is the 3/8 ratchet strong enough, or do you reach for the 1/2 inch tools?

 

[HairMetal]

I think 3/8 should be the the most used in automotive work in general, and i think you should have everything in 3/8 as far as sockets.You can get by with 1/4 and 1/2 only but why do it?You guys love buying new tools anyway. I know a mechanic who only started using 3/8 by the time he was 10 years in as a pro with his own shop.And not like the guy was stupid.He built his own rally cars and did quite well in the Finnish nationals.He said afterwards he should have had it all along.But I also think you need 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 even as a small engine mechanic like me.That 3/8 is there for a reason and if you wrench on automotive stuff you'll want to have it.It's just the right size for a lot of things.

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

I use 3/8 drive the most.

but 1/4 and 1/2 drive have their places.

 

[E.Marquez]

Is it a popular tool/socket size on this here Journal, and if so, where does it get used?

Thanks.

Where used??? Everyplace, I rarely pick up a 1/2 drive ratchet unless the fastener size is above 17mm. My 3/8 drive MG325 has 425ftlb breakaway tq
the CT4418 is 180 ftlb tq so I rarely even need 1/2 impact.

I had to grab the MG725 1/2 Impact only once in the last several months,,,doing ball joints and axle seals on my F350.

1/4" and 3/8" air tools, cordless tools and small, medium and long pattern ratchet is all that is needed for most motorcycle and automotive needs
1/2" for the rest.

 

[crewchief888]

I use 3/8 drive the most.

but 1/4 and 1/2 drive have their places.

i work on const eq, i use 3/8" dr most of the time.

 

[jlh92]

Ok, that gives me an idea size wize. Now, what if say your 17mm bolt is a ******* to break loose? Is the 3/8 ratchet strong enough, or do you reach for the 1/2 inch tools?

If it's a higher torque fastener or rusty/corroded I'll bump up to 1/2dr.

Honestly if I had a couple low profile and/or fine tooth 1/2dr ratchets then I'd probably hardly use 3/8dr.

 

[d.mcfarland]

I work on cars and light trucks as a weekend warrier and I most often use 3/8 drive.

Ditto. The range of sizes that 3/8 handles is most stuff that's not suspension related.

 

[erty67]

I normally use 1/4dr up to 10mm, 3/8dr for 10mm-17mm, and 1/2dr for anything bigger.

This

 

[Lassen Forge]

I had a pretty nice set of German-made 3/8" sockets we lived in Italy (really - got them at the local ferramenta), but here in the states my go-to is usually 1/2". I have larger and smaller if needed, but that usually covers the bulk of what I do. The key is having a ratchet handle that has enough teeth to make it usable, but not so many it makes it weak.

 

[Askme42]

If I had to choose just one I'd choose 3/8 for sure.

 

[FriendOfYours]

I use 3/8" from 8-19 every day, all day. 1/4" only when absolutely needed since you can snap the drive end off an expensive ratchet no problem

Go to is the 12" matco locking flex. I've put small cheaters on it many times

1/2" is reserved for impact, heavy torque wrench and breaker bar. If they made the 1/2" anvil more shallow, with a LIGHT handle, I'd use it more. But, dang things are heavy. Much harder to spin out a fastener

 

[ex-x-fire]

I remember in HS auto class guys grabbing 1/2 drive ratchets to change alternators, water pumps, t stats ect. A lot of broken or rounded bolts back then.
If you don't see a need for 3/8 ratchet, what do you change spark plugs with.
What I don't see a for is 1/2 ratchets that are shorter then 18", most likely why is my 3/8 sets go up to 1" & 24MM.

 

[stage20]

3/8 is lighter and i have an array of length ratchets from 7" to 18" so i can bust loose pretty much anything with 3/8 except for brake and suspension parts.

 

[greasemonkey44]

I do a lot of my work with 1/4; 50-60%. Oil pans, finicky covers, valve covers, sensors, trim. 40% is 3/8 drive. Spark plugs, motor mounts, alternator, compressor, most brake and suspension work. 1/2 only comes out for heavy stuff. 10% of the time it's lugs, large suspension bolts, harmonic balancers, u bolts, head bolts(with a torque wrench).
Almost all powered too; impacts and electric ratchets. By hand is a last resort.

Also why are more people not using magnetic sockets? Do they like dropping bolts, nuts etc?

 

[u118224]

Also, 3/8 impact wrenches are fairly powerful these days. I sometimes wish my 3/8 impact sockets went higher then 20mm.

 

[Kirbot]

What I don't see a for is 1/2 ratchets that are shorter then 18", most likely why is my 3/8 sets go up to 1" & 24MM.

I thought I was the only one who thought that way...
My standard length 1/2" gets used now and then (like assembling an engine hoist yesterday) but without doubt it would be the first ratchet I would give up.


99% of the time, if I can't impact it, I'll use an 18" flex ratchet.

 

[shampoop]

I normally use 1/4dr up to 10mm, 3/8dr for 10mm-17mm, and 1/2dr for anything bigger.

+1 that's pretty standard.

I think the OP might be using standard (useless) length ratchets. Other than 1/4" drive, standard length ratchets are pretty useless in automotive.

In construction, for assembling brand new hardware, standard length ratchets work great, but not nearly enough leverage for breaking loose old rusty automotive hardware.

The two 3/8" drive ratchets I use are 11" and 12" long.

My 1/2" drive ratchet is 17" long.

 

[Cope]

+1 that's pretty standard.

I think the OP might be using standard (useless) length ratchets. Other than 1/4" drive, standard length ratchets are pretty useless in automotive.

In construction, for assembling brand new hardware, standard length ratchets work great, but not nearly enough leverage for breaking loose old rusty automotive hardware.

The two 3/8" drive ratchets I use are 11" and 12" long.

My 1/2" drive ratchet is 17" long.

I've been turning wrenches since 1963, and I use a standard length 3/8" ratchet 99% of the time. In Houston you don't run across many badly rusted fasteners though.

 

[Deadsquiggles]

As an outside machinist in the shipyard, half inch is king. I only recently realized that 3/8" has a place and acquired a craftsman 3/8" flex head ratchet (on sale), and a set of shallow and deep well Standard 3/8" drive sockets to use for our vehicles. At work, most bolts are 3/8", 1/2", 5/8", and 3/4". My most used sockets are my 1/2" drive 9/16", 3/4", 15/16", and 1 1/8".

 

[Bagherra]

I do a lot of my work with 1/4; 50-60%. Oil pans, finicky covers, valve covers, sensors, trim. 40% is 3/8 drive. Spark plugs, motor mounts, alternator, compressor, most brake and suspension work. 1/2 only comes out for heavy stuff. 10% of the time it's lugs, large suspension bolts, harmonic balancers, u bolts, head bolts(with a torque wrench).
Almost all powered too; impacts and electric ratchets. By hand is a last resort.

Also why are more people not using magnetic sockets? Do they like dropping bolts, nuts etc?

I've been looking for a set of 1/4 & 3/8" magnetic sockets for some time....any ideas?

 

[stage20]

Also, 3/8 impact wrenches are fairly powerful these days. I sometimes wish my 3/8 impact sockets went higher then 20mm.

Mine go up to 22mm in matco 3/8 shallow. I don't have bigger deeps over 19. They may be cheaper under armstrong. Id bet they have larger but I don't have the need

 

[Jim C.]

For me in order of most used to least used, it goes 3/8", 1/4", 1/2".

 

[n8n]

i have to admit I agree with the OP. 3/8" is kind of the odd man out in my tool set, if 1/4" won't get it done I just go straight to 1/2". I use 3/8" when 1/2" won't fit but I don't feel comfortable using 1/4" for some reason.

 

[MrWrencher823]

huh! that's really weird! You should definitely try using it more, it's the best!

I use 3/8 drive for basically everything. I have a couple half inch and 1/4 drive ratchets. but mostly 3/8. I use only 3/8 drive sockets at work with both my ratchets and impact (unless they don't sell a socket that size in 3/8.. then I use an adapter.. like this

 

[mtnkid85]

I am just a recreational wrencher but for along time I never owned a 1/4" ratchet. Probably 90% of the time I grab the 3/8". I do use a 1/4" socket driver on occasion for hose clamps and the like though.

 

[ex-x-fire]

Hell, I have a 3/8 drive socket driver. Great for starting bolts with a long extension.

 

[RV8guy]

In aviation 1/4 inch drive is king. My 3/8 drive tools only get used once in a blue moon.

 

[Scimmia]

For automotive use, 3/8 are my most used ratchets. Only reach for 1/4" on interiors and other assorted tiny bolts. 1/2" on suspension/brakes/subframe/etc.

On larger equipment, I rarely use anything other than 1/2" or 3/4".

 

[basspro]

I work on machines. I use 3/8" drive the most and have little issues. I did break the drive off my 3/8" Snap-On ratchet with a 3/4" socket, but I put a lot of snot on it and was definitely the wrong tool for the job. As a mechanic, it is up to me to determine the best drive size for the situation. I use 1/4-3/4 drive all the time.

 

[shockwave]

3/8 should be the mostly used in automotive where 1/2 is more for suspension and tires with the exception of the crank bolt and motor mounts use 3/8 for any fastners above 12mm everything else get 1/4

 

[John in OH]

Don't you all get tunnel vision here ... there are lots of GJ'ers that work on other stuff besides autos and motorcycles! I do a lot of general non-professional wrenching on anything from small components and cars to farm machinery.

I'd guess 60% of the time I use 3/8" drive; 30% 1/2" drive; 9% 1/4" drive and the last 1% split between 3/4" and 1" drive. Lots of stuck and corroded fasteners in Ohio, but I was taught to never use a ratchet for breaking loose anything other than moderately snug fasteners ... use the breaker bars for nearly all breaking loose.

I use and enjoy all five drive sizes, but if I HAD to give one up it would be the 1/4" drive.

 

[greasemonkey44]

I've been looking for a set of 1/4 & 3/8" magnetic sockets for some time....any ideas?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000M1H960/?tag=atomicindus08-20
used those for the last 3 years; pro use and still working great

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000LZ91WM/?tag=atomicindus08-20
looks like the Chicago pneumatic sockets i own in magnetic. Pretty decent.

 

[msgtsmithret]

As an automotive mechanic its 3/8 or 1/2 most of the day. 1/4 is occasionally used for trim pieces or air filter boxes. As a pro though, more time = less money so its a SO battery powered 1/2 impact driver with wobbly sockets and lots of extensions. I also have the SO 1/4 impact driver for speed with the small stuff. I did NOT buy a 3/8 impact and haven't seen a specific need for it yet.