Switched from a socket set to a gearwrench ratcheting wrench set for engine work and not looking back

I spent 3 years using socket sets for everything on my 2002 Ford Focus engine bay. Finally broke down and bought a $40 set of ratcheting wrenches from AutoZone last month. The difference in tight spots and reach around the intake manifold is huge. No more cussing trying to fit a socket extension into a 2 inch gap. Has anyone else made this change and found it cut their repair time in half?

2 comments

2 Comments

johnfoster1d ago

You mentioned "no more cussing trying to fit a socket extension into a 2 inch gap" and that really hit home. My buddy Tom had the exact same problem working on his old Chevy truck's alternator. He was jammed up against the frame and couldn't get any socket setup in there without dropping stuff. He finally borrowed my cheap ratcheting wrenches and fixed it in like 20 minutes. He said it was the first time he didn't bleed on something under the hood. He went out and bought his own set that same week. Stuff like that makes you wonder why you waited so long.

mason2831d ago

Man I've been there more times than I can count. On my old Ford F-150 I had to change the starter and there was no way a socket was getting in there. I ended up using a 15mm combination wrench and a piece of wire to hold the bolt while I turned it. Took forever but it worked. The trick is to get those skinny profile ratcheting wrenches, not the bulky ones. Gearwrench makes a set that's about half the thickness of my old Craftsman ones and they fit into tight spots like that alternator gap. You can also grind down the side of a cheap wrench for really tight spots, just be careful not to mess up the teeth.