Wobble vs standard extensions

[OldsRocket]

Is there any reason to not have wobble extensions only? Are they much weaker than standard extensions? If weakness isn't a factor I don't see the need standard extensions.

 

[blacK20]

Have both wobbles and normal extensions. Almost always reach for the standard ones unless I'm in a situation where a wobble will benefit. Wobbles are annoying to me.

 

[Skin]

regular extensions and a universal if greater angle is required.

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

Wobbles are annoying to me.

Same here.

 

[wintermute]

I have standard, wobbles and a universal in my kit. They all have their uses…I've even combined all three at once to change a spark plug

 

[TozziWelding]

They both have there place.

 

[RBailey]

Have both but I only tend to use the wobbles, pushed home they don't wobble either.
When I have to swap to a wobble if the straight doesn't work I always kick my self for not grabbing the wobble first !

 

[balane]

The wobble extensions I have still look brand new. For some reason I avoid them like the plague and only use them when I absolutely have to. I honestly couldn't tell you why I dislike them though, I guess they have the feel of a worn out tool to me. Not that it matters but mine are Snap On.

 

[Danglerb]

Normal extensions make a line contact on each edge, wobble more of a single point that slides a bit as its turned, no way its as strong before damage, but maybe about the same before it twists off or something. Same for a ball type hex driver, great when you don't have the angle for a straight, but not as strong and less force should be used.

OTOH I figure a wobble is plenty strong for most smaller fasteners and tend to grab one before a more wiggly universal. I generally only use a straight extension when I "need" no wiggle.

 

[Jack Olsen]

I think both have their place. I know that I very reliably grab the particular one that I don't need.

 

[Drew_flux]

i have wobbles in 3/8 only. i have never seen a reason for 1/2" or above. some times they drive me nuts when cracking a bolt, but i would still buy them again.

 

[Wakefield]

Convertible extension that acts like a wobble if you don't push it all the way home but acts like a regular one if you push it in as far as it will go?
Are good extensions like Snap on S*K Wright (or even lowly Craftsman!! seem OK) stronger than really cheap no name ones?

 

[franzdom]

Wobble ones wear a lot faster than square ones, and although wobble plus sounds like a good idea, I tried them and don't care for them, prefer one or the other for a given job. Most people could get by with a set of standard ones and a short wobble one.

 

[Fedwrench]

I would say you may not need as wide of an assortment of wobble extensions as your regular extensions but, they are definitely worth having depending on what you work on. However, as others have pointed out, a regular extension has more contact area with the square drive of the socket and may work better in higher torque applications. The combo extensions straight/wobble are a great compromise but, at times when you want straight, you get wobble and vice versa.

 

[BQuicksilver]

The wobble extensions I have still look brand new. For some reason I avoid them like the plague and only use them when I absolutely have to. I honestly couldn't tell you why I dislike them though, I guess they have the feel of a worn out tool to me.

Same here, they just make your tools feel junky.

Straight ext > wobble > universal if they all worked in the same situation.

Plus if you're rigging up some long contraption to get at a bell housing they are tough to land on the bolts.

 

[MoToys]

I've lost a socket or two with the wobbles.

 

[canuckian]

I have SO wobble plus in 3/8 and regular ones in 1/2 and 1/4. Also have a few regular 3/8 for good measure. I personally like the wobble plus ones and use them all the time. the only wobbles I have are a few 1/2 ones that came with an impact socket kit. they work fine for what they are.

 

[countryroad82]

I wind up grabbing my wobble extensions first unless I really have to put some torque on a fastener. I hate universals, I rarely use them for the simple fact they always twist and kink the wrong way.

 

[soob]

Sometimes I like to stack extensions, and wobbles **** for that. But I prefer them most of the time.

 

[Squankum]

I have a Wright wobble in 3/8", have had it 10+ yrs, love it when I need it. Beats U joint any day.

Used Sears CMan ext for 20+ yrs, no complaints... until I recently got a set of 3/8 locking extensions from HF. Pittsburgh Pro, made in Taiwan, now I hate regular extensions. Locking is awesome!

Sears locking extensions get bad reviews for being flimsy and cheap. Kobalt's looked no better. Yes, HF is spanking them on this one.

 

[diesel research]

Wobbles do have their place.

Have some 12mm 13mm 1/2" driveshaft bolts that are torqued down to about 125ft lbs (spec but are usually much tighter than that)

Using a straight extension leaves the extension tight against the driveshaft tube, no room for impact. No way in hell a chunky universal/swivel would fit in there. Even the drive end of the socket has scars from rubbing.

Bought a cheap cr-mo 1/2" impact wobble from HF to try before spending money on better ones. It ends up working much better than I expected behind the IR2135ti max. I expected the reduced drive end to explode. It hasn't.

 

[AL`]

Wobbles do have their place.

Have some 12mm 13mm 1/2" driveshaft bolts that are torqued down to about 125ft lbs (spec but are usually much tighter than that)

Using a straight extension leaves the extension tight against the driveshaft tube, no room for impact. No way in hell a chunky universal/swivel would fit in there. Even the drive end of the socket has scars from rubbing.

Your post brought a question to my mind. I have a 6.0 Powerstroke, and was watching some really good vids on youtube by srmastertech. Anyways, in this video I link, he's using a wobble extension to put back on the intake and mentions that the torque is modified because of using the wobble extension. I guess that means he is increasing the torque to compensate for a difference in applied torque? Anyone care to comment on that? How would one know what torque to use with a wobble vs straight extension?

I copied the link with just a little lead time. He makes his statement on the torque around 12:35 or so in the video. Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=lM3dWI76cZk#t=745s

As a side note, this srmastertech is incredibly efficient to watch, and I don't think it's only due to video magic. You can tell he's worked on a few powerstrokes in his day. In comparison, as a DIY'er, I'm much slower and more deliberate when working on projects, especially first time attempted ones. Not a real surprise there, but I admire his efficiency.

 

[4Tigers]

Not wild about wobblies but when i use them I add a wrap of electrical tape to keep the floppiness to a minimum Helps when using long extensions

 

[Danglerb]

Regarding torque, I think its the angle, not just that its a wobble. Anytime the angle isn't straight the torque on the fastener is reduced, but I could have it all wrong too.

 

[Olafur]

Regarding torque, I think its the angle, not just that its a wobble. Anytime the angle isn't straight the torque on the fastener is reduced, but I could have it all wrong too.

You are right. Friction also comes into play, but the angle is the main concern.
Straight wobble does not affect torque, (imaginary) wobble at 90° would not transmit any torque to the fastener. What happens in between is complicated.

 

[ibedayank]

wobbles and a short socket will fit where no other tool will at times
mine are craftsman allows me to pull Pclamp mounted handlebars off bikes without taking the whole front end apart....few hours of time saved

 

[osborn.ozzy]

I have both, I use the wobbles more often than not. Push them all the way in the socket (cman sockets and wobbles) and it doesnt wobble. And I get sick of taping up my universals....

 

[AL`]

Regarding torque, I think its the angle, not just that its a wobble. Anytime the angle isn't straight the torque on the fastener is reduced, but I could have it all wrong too.

That's what I was thinking. Maybe I need to draw a free body diagram and crunch the physics LOL. Since the Ford Techs would have had a lot of time working on those intake elbows, there may have been a tech bulletin issued to them from engineering. I didn't have a wobble on mine when I put mine back on one time. I didn't use a torque wrench then either. It was really only a pain on one bolt though, and I torqued it based on feel. Since it was aluminum, I didn't torque it too tight -- just snug. I still remember that hard lesson from a Datsun 280z inline 6 many moons ago. A wobble would have been very nice though on that one bolt. I need to get one.

 

[DrkMtnDew]

i lived along time without wobblers, then one day at the pawnshop i picked up two SO's. they have been the best $1 i've spent in a long time. so i would say having both is best.

 

[BlindViper]

I hate regular wobble extensions, that said I have 2 so set 1/4, 3/8 wobble plus sets and they are my only extension sets and I love them.

 

[franzdom]

As for the torque question I believe the use of wobble or universal has no affect.

 

[Seanbev24]

I really hate wobble plus extensions. It seems like every time the damn socket clicks down onto the non-wobble part while I'm using it.

I prefer straight extensions, but also use wobbles quite a bit.

 

[PDub88]

The wobble extensions I have still look brand new. For some reason I avoid them like the plague and only use them when I absolutely have to. I honestly couldn't tell you why I dislike them though, I guess they have the feel of a worn out tool to me. Not that it matters but mine are Snap On.

If you happen to want to sell them, let me know!

 

[WWheeler]

I pretty much only use wobble-plus type extensions any more. Occasionally I do prefer to use a locking extension for crows foot or long reaches but my standard extensions just don't see much use any more. The ability to go from wobble to straight and back was definitely awkward at first but once I got a good feel for them I've never looked back. Too many fasteners out there these days are engineered into places that you have to use a wobble to get on them, or else a swivel and I despise swivels except as a very last resort.

Grabbing a standard extension only to find out after crawling underneath a vehicle that I needed a wobble instead to get on it instead is what had me burying all my standard extensions in the back of the drawer years ago. Life's too short for that. A wobble plus can get on everything that standard can and MUCH more.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

Wobbles are compact and great with a small impact, or up in a trans tunnel.

Also the only case where I prefer my Performance Tool examples to my Snap On.

Definitely need straight extensions as well.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I tried the all in one wobble plus design from snap on and koken. I've reverted back to separate sets and I am happier for it.

 

[bwringer]

As always, the only correct GJ answer for "which tool?" is "all the above".

Which is perfectly true in this case. Sometimes you need wobbles, but they're weaker, and sometimes a wobble won't keep things in alignment. For example, you need to get a bolt into a hole, but sort of lever things sideways to get the bolt started so the part will line up. Can't do that with a wobble.

I'll toss a third variant into this: sometimes you need locking extensions. For example, spark plugs down inside a deep, dark hole. Locking extensions can be a little weaker, and sometimes access is so tight there's no room for the locking mechanism, so now you need three kinds of extensions...

And a fourth, flexible extensions... probably more I'm forgetting.

 

[ecotec]

As always, the only correct GJ answer for "which tool?" is "all the above".

Which is perfectly true in this case. Sometimes you need wobbles, but they're weaker, and sometimes a wobble won't keep things in alignment. For example, you need to get a bolt into a hole, but sort of lever things sideways to get the bolt started so the part will line up. Can't do that with a wobble.

I'll toss a third variant into this: sometimes you need locking extensions. For example, spark plugs down inside a deep, dark hole. Locking extensions can be a little weaker, and sometimes access is so tight there's no room for the locking mechanism, so now you need three kinds of extensions...

And a fourth, flexible extensions... probably more I'm forgetting.

I have never owned a flexible socket extension or flexible socket driver. Are they really worth it? Have you used them successfully?

I may have put these on my garage/estate sale list and start looking for some…

 

[MMTTR]

Is there any reason to not have wobble extensions only? Are they much weaker than standard extensions? If weakness isn't a factor I don't see the need standard extensions.

Wobbles definitely have their place, but too much torque will cause them to break. I've broken plenty using just a ratchet. Also I've never had any luck with the darn socket retainers, sockets just fall off them. I have learned that a good universal joint socket adapter will do much better than a wobble extension.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

I bought a flex extension for one bolt a couple weeks ago. It did the job, saved an hour or two of pulling other stuff apart, and is a little bent now. $8 well spent.