1/4 and 3/8 tools sockets

The size (in fractions of an inch) of the square hole in the socket that the ratchet, T bar or extension fits in to.

1/4 inch is a bit weedy for most car stuff (although still handy to have), 1/2 inch is best as a first socket set for general car use..

3/8 inch sockets are more useful for motorcycles.

3/4 inch is also used; this is mainly only suitable for commercial vehicles or the odd very tight hub nut!

Chris

Chris Whelan ( snipped-for-privacy@prejudicentlworld.com) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

Hmmm. I've always found 1/2 a bit bulky for most stuff on cars, and 3/8 bob-on. 1/4's useful for small stuff.

The odd very BIG hub nut... I've only ever needed 3/4 for the 44mm hub nut on 2cv rear drums - 250lb/ft, too...

I'd not agree. I've got 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2" sets, and I tend to use the 3/8 the most. Of course a 1/2" set can often do things a 3/8 can't - like wheel nuts etc, but if I were starting out I'd first get a good 3/8 set and only the bare bits of a 1/2" set like torque wrench and sockets as needed.

Interesting. I've been playing around with cars and motorcycles since 1962, and I've never owned or used a 3/8" socket in all that time!

Totally as an aside, the 1/2" set I was given by my parents as a 21st birthday present in 1967 is still largely original; only the smaller sockets have worn out and have been replaced.

I would still advise someone new to car maintenance to start with a 1/2" set, if only from the POV that they are likely to buy a cheapish set and the 1/2" one will be stronger.

Chris

Ah - difficult to judge on its usefulness, then? ;-)

I bought a tool set mail order from Motor Sport in the '60s. Top tray a

1/2" socket set - mainly AF but basic BSF and metric sizes too. Cantilever trays contained open end and rings spanners. A few screwdrivers and hammers etc in the bottom of the box. Most of it unbranded and not particularly good looking but top quality construction. Cost 5 quid a month for 5 months.

I suppose it depends on what you're doing. Things like Jubilee clips need a size rather smaller than most 1/2 sets provide - as do many other things around a car. Plus the fact that on smaller sizes there's far more chance of overtightening things with a 1/2 set which can be a real problem with a newbie.

The set I grab first is a yonks old Kamaza which is 1/4 and 3/8 drive - all the BA, AF and metric up to about 3/4"/22mm across flats sizes with screwdriver etc drives as well as ratchets. It's small and easily carried.

Chris Whelan ( snipped-for-privacy@prejudicentlworld.com) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

Which kinda puts your comments on the usefulness into perspective, doesn't it...?

They're FAR more likely to strip threads than break a half-decent 3/8" socket.

When I started I bought a 1/2" set, and found that there were often smaller bolts that I just couldn't reach easily with it.

I often work on my cars in a friend's professional workshop - the vast majority of his sockets are 3/8", with 1/4" for smaller stuff and 1/2" for big stuff - 17mm and above, predominently.

That's one way of looking at it. OTOH, I've done everything from basic maintenance to a shell up build of a Mini Cooper S, and only ever needed

1/2" and 1/4" sockets.

They are far more likely to break the sort of 3/8" socket set that beginners usually buy...

That's what the 1/4" set is for.

In a professional workshop you would expect a much greater range of tools generally than someone doing an oil change outside their house surely?

I stick by my original statement. For someone just starting out in car maintenance, doing things like oil changes, brake pad replacement and similar, a 1/2" socket set is the optimum base for a wider range later on.

Chris

Chris Whelan ( snipped-for-privacy@prejudicentlworld.com) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

You mean you've got by with 1/2 and 1/4, because you didn't have 3/8...

You can easily get 1/2 and 1/4 sets made of cheese, too.

I wouldn't want to be undoing anything as large as 14mm, for example, with 1/4 drive. 1/4 is great up to about 10mm. 1/2 is fine above about

17-20mm.

Indeed. Which is why 3/8 is the best all-round size, IMHO.

And I stick by my disagreement...

And I stripped my project to nearly a bare shell (and am slowly rebuilding it now) with 1/2" and 1/4" too. Not even a complete set either, just random sockets pulled out of various boxes at car boots and suchlike. In fact, my trusty very solid (and easy to open up to grease, rebuild, adjust) ratchet was a 50p car boot find.

Though sometimes 1/4 feels a bit weak and 1/2 a bit big for some jobs, so I am keeping an eye out for a reasonable 3/8 set for medium jobs and to take less space in the boot.

Yup - 3/8 is a good compromise size.

For doing brakes on my BMW my 3/8" is essential. It has the allen key set. ;-) It also makes it easier to get at the calliper fixings if changing the discs.