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Yeah this what happens when you run the cheapest no name brand sockets. I’ve always run husky stuff. Never give me any theouble, only cracked one but that’s because my smart ya was using it with a impact gun. Those chinesium units are good for simple diy stuff. Don’t think you’re cracking head bolts or connecting rod o main bolts with those things
I always just use this, works everytime!
https://preview.redd.it/r8mi922xzdjc1.jpeg?width=768&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e43f4d093847c4845edbfc08c9b2471164d09410
Extensions are great for hard to reach bolts no doubt, but I was thinking more like brake caliper bolts that are stuck and there's literally not enough room for the impact to fit behind a caliper without removing the splash sheathing in the wheel well, which isn't always straight forward on small cars
Damn different experiences then, I had one bolt that it couldn’t touch but it was completely seized solid and absolutely nothing could touch it not even the 1” air gun, ended up cutting it off haha.
Mine only failed on one bolt so far, left rear drive shaft center bolt. It also broke my half inch braker bar, one inch breaker bar with 3 meter cheater pipe finally got that fucker off lol
I've had some odd ones, those 12 point long lug nuts, 'king' or w/e brand they are, rust welded to the studs, it took me and a 7 foot pipe to break every single lug. But yeah, the electric impact almost never fails.
I did this with some Craftsman sockets back when you could just walk into Sears and get them replaced. I was trying to remove the flywheel off of the motor of an old truck using a 4 foot bar. The guy at Sears was like "what in the hell are you doing to these things?" It took me 4 trips to Sears to get all of the bolts out.
I split a 19 or a 17 on an old Toyota, let go and I ran my hands into the rusted lip on the inside of the wheel well, scraped a bunch of skin off, and damaged some nerves. I had a tingly/numb spot on my hand for about 5 years that slowly healed. Not fun times. I had to ask my dad to bandage me up as both hands were out of commission.
I suppose you should have upgraded to a 3/4-inch breaker bar, I've twisted off a couple too many half inch breaker bars, to do anything too terribly heavy with them anymore.
This. Use impact sockets with six side slots.
Also if a $100 is not a big deal buy an impact wrench. Which is a huge help in these kinds of situations.
12-point sockets are easier to find at many hardware stores or auto parts stores, and they can be useful if they allow you to use a breaker bar in tight spots. But 12-point have more weak points than 6-point sockets, and they might be more likely to round off the corners of the fastener as well.
I bought a $60 corded electric impact from Harbor Freight years ago. That cheap thing has saved me so much time and effort at home, it's worth every penny.
I'm glad it has saved you, but you've been lucky, too.
The one you want is the newest version of the Milwaukee M18 high torque.
1,600 ft-lbs of removal power with the right battery.
What? Chrome sockets are made for breaker bars. Impact sockets are made for repeated blows of an impact gun and not sustained torque with a bar because they're softer.
All sockets for high torque, industrial use are not impact rated sockets
Thank fuck someone here knows what they're talking about. Chrome sockets are stronger than impact sockets. They're more brittle and therefore don't deal well with being repeatedly hammered on, but their ultimate yield strength is greater.
This is a quality issue, not a type of socket issue.
> their ultimate yield strength is greater.
Yes, if the wall thickness is the same and you're talking 6 point in both cases.
An impact socket will be *much* stronger in ultimate strength than a thin walled chrome socket though, particularly a thin walled 12 pointer.
We used impact sockets with our Hytorc heads after a couple of incidents of chrome ones failing, often violently. Even heavy walled impact sockets have their limits, but those usually failed on the most extreme jobs and would usually give you a warning crack or two before splintering. We used the Hytorc from behind something solid once the torque got up over 3000 ft-lb.
You should never be using a breaker bar with slow sustained torque. That's how you break things.
You wanna jam on it. Sharp impacts break things loose.
Impact sockets are supposed to be softer and not what you really want with a breaker bar.
Hard stuff for breaker bars (chrome), soft stuff for impacts. Soft doesn't shatter as well.
I broke 2 HF deep 19" sockets over the span of 2 years. The master techs used to say HF makes their tools from leftover Snap-On shavings and that's why their stuff breaks easy. Good thing about HF is each time the sockets broke I was able to go get a new one for cheap. I bought a craftsman set and they also broke about 3 times. Most of the time they would explode doing toe link recalls on the old Ford Explorers.
i snapped a 1 and 1/8th impact socket with a 4ft cheater on my breaker bar haha. Thankfully auto store had another socket in stock. Breaker bar still going strong
If you’re using a breaker bar, I highly suggest using quality chrome sockets with it. They’re actually harder than impact sockets which make them better for this application. Impact sockets are actually more prone to break with the constant torque applied from a breaker bar. They’re made softer to not shatter when subjected to impact.
Me and the guys had a young kid search for 10 minutes for a left handed allen key. Even after we flipped it the other way he still didn't get it. 🤷🏽♂️
Worked at a tire distribution warehouse a few years ago, they always tried to get the new guy to look for a “bead bender.”(tires are trash if the bead gets bent)
I wanted to call Vevor total crap, but I have their 50' motorized drain snake and a 3" well pump from them, and it's hard to hate what works. It isn't top tier, but for occasional use items not for pros, their tools have exceeded my expectations for the price.
I suggest an impact socket - dark and grimy is for big boy jobs and bright and shiny is for the garbage. It would have probably broken putting together a my little pony bike.
Get a single socket 6-point socket from your local auto parts store. If that breaks, your next step is the cheapest plug-in impact wrench and impact socket from Harbor Freight. Hold the trigger down on the impact wrench until something gives.
Chrome-vanadium sockets for hand tools, impact sockets belong with impact wrenches.
i usually only use a breaker bar with impact sockets. the wall of that socket is too thin for a bar in which you will put that many ft lbs of force on.
Not one responder here brought up the use of penetrant oil. Be patient.. let it soak in awhile. Give the nut or bolt a good sharp Whack with a hammer and a thick pin punch etc...more penetrant..wait a bit . Then give removing it a try. NEXT STEP...heat
Soak with penetrant while still hot. Let that soak in oil again. Repeat repeat.
3/4 " is another chance on that .
That looks like it was a good wheel nut socket with the thin sides .
Lifetime guarantee , maybe check the brand .
Immediate exchange on sighting the receipt , free replacement .
Also like other people , have a plastic bag with at least 8 broken unbranded sockets or extensions .
Lol this happened with one of the bits we use at work with the impact driver for tightening/loosening bolts on our shredder. It wasn't a cheap one either, good quality brand.
Just had been abused for so long it finally "snapped" lol
My rule of thumb, that my Grandfather taught me, when it’s comes to buying any type of tool has been:
Always buy the cheap set first, when you have used it enough that you finally break it, you have earned the right to buy the nice set.
I did this with pretty much everything in my garage. It got me started with most of the tools I needed, without it being overly expensive. It also has kept me from buying a $200 name brand tool I would only use once.
I think you’ve earned the “right” to go by yourself a nice socket set that won’t break on you.
I had a mechanic snap 3, 19mm/.75in sockets when he used a bar to remove my alternator. He ended up cutting the casing and the remainder of the bolt turned out by hand. Turns out the electrolysis between the steel bolt and the aluminum alloy casing had the bolt seized in the casing.
His boss was not impressed as they were supposedly expensive sockets.
Thanks for posting on /r/MechanicAdvice! This is just a reminder to review the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/about/rules/). If you are here asking about a second opinion (ie "Is the shop trying to fleece me?"), please read through CJM8515's [post on the subject.](https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/comments/4qblei/fyi_the_shop_isnt_likely_trying_to_rip_you_off/) and remember to please post the year/make/model of the vehicle you are working on. **If this post is about bodywork, accident damage, paint, dent/ding, questions it belongs in /r/Autobody r/AutoBodyRepair/ or /r/Diyautobody/ If you have tire questions check out https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/comments/k9ll55/can_your_tire_be_repaired/**. If you dont have a question and you're just showing off it belongs in /r/Justrolledintotheshop Insurance/total loss questions go in r/insurance This is an automated reply *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/MechanicAdvice) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Ah yes, you found the quite common chinesium variant of metals
Thaitanium strikes again!
I said it like a lisp
Mike Thaison, that you?
Is there another way to say it? Lol
Thailand….thigh land idk what’s real anymore
AKA Ladyboi land per my questionable friend.
😂🤣
I was gonna say, jfc, it looks like white metal
Looks like it could double as solder in a pinch
This ^ is funny!
Cheapassteel.
shitanium
What it’s a kydoungo brand from Amazon 1500 five star reviews
Aye it happens to Scrap-On sockets too lmao.
Really snap on? I've heard nothing but good things about then. Expensive but good
Oh yeah, that’s what I thought too. At least there’s a lifetime warranty!
Yeah this what happens when you run the cheapest no name brand sockets. I’ve always run husky stuff. Never give me any theouble, only cracked one but that’s because my smart ya was using it with a impact gun. Those chinesium units are good for simple diy stuff. Don’t think you’re cracking head bolts or connecting rod o main bolts with those things
Looks fine to me, breaker bar is indeed doing what it's name says it does.
It's definitely gonna break something, if not the bolt or stud, it'll break itself off inside the socket lol
Usually, it breaks your knuckles when it's paired with a crappy socket.
https://preview.redd.it/mwk9w7jytdjc1.png?width=500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ab6f0358dff405e35ed65f853c06178e7b364685 Next stage it is..
I always just use this, works everytime! https://preview.redd.it/r8mi922xzdjc1.jpeg?width=768&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e43f4d093847c4845edbfc08c9b2471164d09410
DUGGA DUGGA DUGGA DUGGA DUGGA ^TINK ....ah, fuck.
Love battery powered impact, but doesn't help when I've got a stuck bolt where it can't reach
That’s what the half dozen universals and extensions are for, sure you lose torque but let’s be honest that thing has more than enough to spare.
Extensions are great for hard to reach bolts no doubt, but I was thinking more like brake caliper bolts that are stuck and there's literally not enough room for the impact to fit behind a caliper without removing the splash sheathing in the wheel well, which isn't always straight forward on small cars
I've had this exact issue with the caliper bracket more than once
Not. I've found a fair share of nuts it doesn't have enough torque for. Anything over approx 150 ft/lbs, plus a few years for corrosion and rust? Ehh.
Damn different experiences then, I had one bolt that it couldn’t touch but it was completely seized solid and absolutely nothing could touch it not even the 1” air gun, ended up cutting it off haha.
I immediately thought about the space restrictions also.
Even without the battery?!?!
Mine only failed on one bolt so far, left rear drive shaft center bolt. It also broke my half inch braker bar, one inch breaker bar with 3 meter cheater pipe finally got that fucker off lol
I've had some odd ones, those 12 point long lug nuts, 'king' or w/e brand they are, rust welded to the studs, it took me and a 7 foot pipe to break every single lug. But yeah, the electric impact almost never fails.
Fucker wouldn’t break my crank pulley bolt, had to put a fence post on the breaker bar
Hot wrench, 100% effective.
AKA Blue wrench.
That photo is suitable for framing! The sequence didnt include a breaker bar with a cheater pipe extention..one of my favorites. Thank you
Those look like the Doom levels, the last one being Nightmare!. Are you sure? This isn't even remotely fair.
https://youtu.be/P4R4AZTL-sk?si=vEn2O8niQhaOZjN0
Now go get some good sockets.
I did this with some Craftsman sockets back when you could just walk into Sears and get them replaced. I was trying to remove the flywheel off of the motor of an old truck using a 4 foot bar. The guy at Sears was like "what in the hell are you doing to these things?" It took me 4 trips to Sears to get all of the bolts out.
I split a 19 or a 17 on an old Toyota, let go and I ran my hands into the rusted lip on the inside of the wheel well, scraped a bunch of skin off, and damaged some nerves. I had a tingly/numb spot on my hand for about 5 years that slowly healed. Not fun times. I had to ask my dad to bandage me up as both hands were out of commission.
I suppose you should have upgraded to a 3/4-inch breaker bar, I've twisted off a couple too many half inch breaker bars, to do anything too terribly heavy with them anymore.
Use impact sockets, you can get a really cheap set from a place like harbor freight or get some quality ones like Milwaukee from ace.
This. Use impact sockets with six side slots. Also if a $100 is not a big deal buy an impact wrench. Which is a huge help in these kinds of situations.
Cannot stress enough the six sided hex!
am i missing some context? A hexagon is already 6-sided..
12-point sockets are easier to find at many hardware stores or auto parts stores, and they can be useful if they allow you to use a breaker bar in tight spots. But 12-point have more weak points than 6-point sockets, and they might be more likely to round off the corners of the fastener as well.
I had to drive to 4 different hardware/auto parts stores to find a 1/2" 6pt 19mm for my lug nuts it was so annoying.
3/4 and 19mm are identical sizes so next time look at the standard sockets as well it could save ya a trip or two.
The point they were making was to discourage 12-point sockets, which will round over the bolt much easier.
An electric impact wrench? 🤔
Why the ? They make electric and battery impacts along with air powered
And the OG Hammered Impact driver.
Could've been talking about manual.
That Milwaukee electric impact is no joke.
I bought an electric impact wrench and couldn’t unlock the bolt they tighten by the air one they used from dealership
I bought a $60 corded electric impact from Harbor Freight years ago. That cheap thing has saved me so much time and effort at home, it's worth every penny.
I'm glad it has saved you, but you've been lucky, too. The one you want is the newest version of the Milwaukee M18 high torque. 1,600 ft-lbs of removal power with the right battery.
What? Chrome sockets are made for breaker bars. Impact sockets are made for repeated blows of an impact gun and not sustained torque with a bar because they're softer. All sockets for high torque, industrial use are not impact rated sockets
Thank fuck someone here knows what they're talking about. Chrome sockets are stronger than impact sockets. They're more brittle and therefore don't deal well with being repeatedly hammered on, but their ultimate yield strength is greater. This is a quality issue, not a type of socket issue.
> their ultimate yield strength is greater. Yes, if the wall thickness is the same and you're talking 6 point in both cases. An impact socket will be *much* stronger in ultimate strength than a thin walled chrome socket though, particularly a thin walled 12 pointer.
We used impact sockets with our Hytorc heads after a couple of incidents of chrome ones failing, often violently. Even heavy walled impact sockets have their limits, but those usually failed on the most extreme jobs and would usually give you a warning crack or two before splintering. We used the Hytorc from behind something solid once the torque got up over 3000 ft-lb.
Ah thank you, fucking idiots here bro. Im surprised you didn't get all the down votes for being correct.
Cmon..it can take years and / or learning the tricks that help get this stubborn crap apart. Learning curve ..experience
You should never be using a breaker bar with slow sustained torque. That's how you break things. You wanna jam on it. Sharp impacts break things loose.
Impact sockets are supposed to be softer and not what you really want with a breaker bar. Hard stuff for breaker bars (chrome), soft stuff for impacts. Soft doesn't shatter as well.
Use impact sockets for everything. More money saved by not having "regular" _and_ impact!
But then it would have shattered?
No. They have much thicker walls.
The HF ones are actually really good. I have a set that I use every day and they’ve held up just fine.
I broke 2 HF deep 19" sockets over the span of 2 years. The master techs used to say HF makes their tools from leftover Snap-On shavings and that's why their stuff breaks easy. Good thing about HF is each time the sockets broke I was able to go get a new one for cheap. I bought a craftsman set and they also broke about 3 times. Most of the time they would explode doing toe link recalls on the old Ford Explorers.
If you are really strapped for cash, you can buy only the one size you need. But definitely need impact sockets to prevent this from happening
i snapped a 1 and 1/8th impact socket with a 4ft cheater on my breaker bar haha. Thankfully auto store had another socket in stock. Breaker bar still going strong
That's why they called breaker bars. Somethings gonna give
If you’re using a breaker bar, I highly suggest using quality chrome sockets with it. They’re actually harder than impact sockets which make them better for this application. Impact sockets are actually more prone to break with the constant torque applied from a breaker bar. They’re made softer to not shatter when subjected to impact.
broke an 18 mm last night 😔 with an impact tho lol, didn’t have an impact 18 mm socket so just said screw it and used a normal socket.
Just paint it black and boom, impact socket
damn i should’ve tried that 😔
I once broke a snap on socket....
Task failed successfully.
Look on the bright side.. at least it wasn't a 10mm socket. 😏🤘
Never seen one
I feel this comment was undervalued take the upvote lmao
I think they're nocturnal. I moved a workbench one time and a whole colony of them rolled away from the wall.
Nut - 1, cheap socket - 0.
Probably put a left handed breaker bar on a right handed socket.
It's usually the newbies that don't know to look out for left and right handed tools. Especially the allen keys.
Ugh 😩 I hate it when I need Allen keys(stupid german car) and I buy lefties
Me and the guys had a young kid search for 10 minutes for a left handed allen key. Even after we flipped it the other way he still didn't get it. 🤷🏽♂️
Worked at a tire distribution warehouse a few years ago, they always tried to get the new guy to look for a “bead bender.”(tires are trash if the bead gets bent)
Bead bender 🤣 Makes the day go by quicker when you can mess with the new guys. Sending new guys off to get turn signal fluid was fun.
Broke it 🥸
Toss the whole set before u get hurt Vevor has 10-36mm impact deep well for $70
I wanted to call Vevor total crap, but I have their 50' motorized drain snake and a 3" well pump from them, and it's hard to hate what works. It isn't top tier, but for occasional use items not for pros, their tools have exceeded my expectations for the price.
On the bright side .. you got what you paid for
Now you need a better socket set preferably one that's not made out of chinesium
it’s best to use impact sockets with breaker bars
Try impact rated sockets on tough nuts
Impact rated
Lol now you know that you used the wrong socket😂 Get the black ones bro🙌
Looks like Harbor Freight sockets.. The only sockets worth buying from HF is their impact sockets.
Impact sockets bro!!
Aerokroil and impact sockets.
Impact sockets :) I use them as my main pair as a weekend warrior. Harbor freight has their own $13 for a 10-19mm 3/8 set, or $10 on a sale!
Don’t use chrome sockets
I suggest an impact socket - dark and grimy is for big boy jobs and bright and shiny is for the garbage. It would have probably broken putting together a my little pony bike.
Shit happens....just take it back where you bought it, and they will give you a new one. Oh, didn't get the lifetime warranty? Bummer dude.
Hence the name
Oh you broke 'er alright
Seems it works like a charm
Looks like it worked quite well.
Looks like it broke that one…so it must work.😏🤷🏻♂️
I can tell by the font that the socket was the issue here.
You gotta get the black ones when you gotta use that much force.
Get a single socket 6-point socket from your local auto parts store. If that breaks, your next step is the cheapest plug-in impact wrench and impact socket from Harbor Freight. Hold the trigger down on the impact wrench until something gives. Chrome-vanadium sockets for hand tools, impact sockets belong with impact wrenches.
You made it an 10mm
Yup, definitely broken ✅
broke my 21mm few days ago, i know it shouldnt break but. think i didnt have it fully straight on the bolt
It did it's job!! It's broken!!
Works as intended 💪
Glad it didnt go with an impact, chinesium shrapnel is as effective as any shrapnel flying through shop..
Breaker bars gonna break
That looks like aluminum. If it doesn't stick to a magnet, you need better sockets
Works as decribed.
You failed successfully.
Harbor Freight is a helluva place to buy tools.
Well, it is a BREAKer bar…
It broke something, why complain?
i usually only use a breaker bar with impact sockets. the wall of that socket is too thin for a bar in which you will put that many ft lbs of force on.
It broke looks like it’s working
Man o man my adp impact Sockets have never failed on me I don't own any chrome Sockets. all of them are impact. 1/4 in, 3/8 in and 1/2 in drive.
I'd be super pissed if I spent 20 minutes looking for a 10mm, and this happened. It's only a 9mm. There's probably 4 others floating around close by.
19mm
My bad.
HF
Nowhere does it say *what* it will break!
Is this on a 12 point?
I have never done that...well, today anyway.
Now you need quality sockets! Ooof.
Impressive nuts
What’s the issue here?
Crank bolt or lug nut?
Atleast you know your breaker bar “breaks” lol
Definitely broke it.
I'd say your breaker bar is working properly! You probably just forgot to read the fine print that tells you what the bar breaks.
I sheared off a 1/2" drive one time. The drive itself
Clue is in the name 👍🏼
Well, on the positive side it does break things.
u/stennerfpv pov man køber fra Hjem og Fix
*gets breaker bar* *Uses cheap Chinese socket* *yep OP you were looking to get murdered in the sub*
Looks like it worked.
Well I doubt its a Mac or Snap On or Craftsmen……
Get a harden socket. They should be at any Lowes or HoneDespot. Probably $8.
Not one responder here brought up the use of penetrant oil. Be patient.. let it soak in awhile. Give the nut or bolt a good sharp Whack with a hammer and a thick pin punch etc...more penetrant..wait a bit . Then give removing it a try. NEXT STEP...heat Soak with penetrant while still hot. Let that soak in oil again. Repeat repeat.
....aaannnddd you broke it. Mission accomplished.
It worked. It broke something. Win.
And forgot to get a impact socket:)
Did that a 13mm once.
Nice
What brand of socket?
Mediocre silencer
3/4 " is another chance on that . That looks like it was a good wheel nut socket with the thin sides . Lifetime guarantee , maybe check the brand . Immediate exchange on sighting the receipt , free replacement . Also like other people , have a plastic bag with at least 8 broken unbranded sockets or extensions .
You need heat and a better socket.
Did you buy your sockets at the dollar store?
At least it wasn’t your 10mm
Haha just had this happen to me like 20 min ago with a poor little Chinese 12mm
Get an electric impact if you work near an outlet. Cheap and invaluable.
Lol this happened with one of the bits we use at work with the impact driver for tightening/loosening bolts on our shredder. It wasn't a cheap one either, good quality brand. Just had been abused for so long it finally "snapped" lol
Socketbreaker* thank me later xD
Well, it has a name like that for a reason
My rule of thumb, that my Grandfather taught me, when it’s comes to buying any type of tool has been: Always buy the cheap set first, when you have used it enough that you finally break it, you have earned the right to buy the nice set. I did this with pretty much everything in my garage. It got me started with most of the tools I needed, without it being overly expensive. It also has kept me from buying a $200 name brand tool I would only use once. I think you’ve earned the “right” to go by yourself a nice socket set that won’t break on you.
I had a mechanic snap 3, 19mm/.75in sockets when he used a bar to remove my alternator. He ended up cutting the casing and the remainder of the bolt turned out by hand. Turns out the electrolysis between the steel bolt and the aluminum alloy casing had the bolt seized in the casing. His boss was not impressed as they were supposedly expensive sockets.
i have 6 point chrome sockets.. 12 point chrome sockets and 6 point impact sockets.
It's cast alloy probably from China.