Dare44

Ok well i figuredd that ok the dif drop that is easy and i can do that tonight, at 8:30pm. So i go out got the skid plate off, got one side off, went to the next side and i use my ratchet and high lift bar and bam, gear breaks in ratchet. so i go and get my other one, that one the square that goes into the socket snaps off. Im to the third one that is a cheapy my mom has, guess wat that one snaps the square off to . so i call up my buddy down the street go get his and guess what that one is broke to. so out of ratchets, no wrenches that fit and a half rounded dif bolt im not haveing a great night so im heading out tomorrow to get the biggest best ratchet i can find any suggestions on wat to get. o and i have to drive my moms acura tomorrow which i hate doing but i have to get to school. ok im done with my rant.

Elton

mmm time for a 1/2'' craftsmen ratchet

psraff

2x Elton.... If you ever break a Craftsman you get a new one. Get the 1/2 inch and use 6 sided sockets if you can, not the 12.

Dare44

i will be heading out to get one, i broke the socket broke trying to get it off 2 days ago and i went and got a stout one, cost me 5 bucks but it was the best one i found at reibies

kmcaprice14

18" Craftsman breaker bar.... best purchase I have made in a good while

osker fenix

thats what i got!!

But i used an impact for my diff drop those work good too.

Ive had gears in the ratchet break, but never the square part thats weird

sloppy85toy

lol. sorry, but at lease it wasnt me.

Jdizzydub

Man what bad luck! I'd have to roll with the craftsman also, definately use a breaker bar, and maybe some PB blaster on that sucker! That totally sucks when you are in a middle of a project and have to leave unfinished cus of the unexpected.

muddpigg

iTrader: (1)

Craftsman, too. Only swapped out one rachet and soon to do another.

rearviewmirror

Ratchets aren't for breaking free difficult/seized bolts, next time try a breaker bar.

blarchitect

[QUOTE=Jdizzydub;50795128]maybe some PB blaster on that sucker! QUOTE]

Yes a liberal dose!

96redtoy

very true

crolison

I am going with both crowds, craftsman 1/2 and a crap load of pb blaster.

BajaRunner

Yep, I have a full set of Craftsman tools. You get free replacements too.

I also like Mac tools, my mechanic friend has a set, and they are very beefy.

However, the scenario you are illustrating, you shouldn't be using a ratchet!!! You should be using a strict breaker bar...Once its broken loose, then you use the ratchet.

mjwalfredo

What do ya'll mean by breaker bar instead of a ratchet?

I usually take the handle of my floor jack and slide it on to the end of a ratchet (Craftsman btw) and use that if I need extra force. I have always considered that a breaker bar and it has never failed me.

Greg_Canada

I have never broken a half-decent ratchet, what are you using a 1/4 with a 1/2" adaptor on it?

infiltrator

A breaker bar is a really long handle rachet that you can really put some muscle into. With the longer bar, you can get many bolts off you couldn't with just a small little handle.

Exhibit A:

Compressed

Your picture is right but description is wrong.

It's not a ratchet, rather just a socket attached to long bar, often a swivel head as you pictured. The ratcheting part is what breaks and what the breaker bar dispenses with.

hross14

HAHA that was good--yeah--either that or you have forearms twice the size of Popeye's.

I to have always broken stuck bolts with ratchets--and when needed added a little pipe to the mix.

My Craftsman (really old), Snap On, and couple ones have never failed me. Now those cheappy tool sets you by because you are on the side of the road i have broken a many..

mjwalfredo

Thanks. I guess I'll just keep using my ratchet until it breaks and then maybe I'll get a breaker bar at that time. Until then I'll just keep using my trusty Crafstman ratchet!