Drive size is the square that fits the ratchet or wrench. This page covers 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, 3/4 and 1 inch. Use 1/4 inch for small fasteners and tight access, 3/8 inch for general engine bay work, 1/2 inch for wheels, suspension and most car work, and 3/4 or 1 inch for commercial vehicles and plant.
No, use impact sockets. They have thicker walls and a tougher steel made to absorb the hammering of an impact wrench, whereas polished chrome sockets are for hand tools and can crack under impact. Impact sockets here include standard and deep types in 1/2, 3/4 and 1 inch drive, for example 27mm in 1 inch drive.
A 6 point socket bears on the flats of a hexagon nut, giving more grip on tight or worn fasteners. A 12 point, or bi-hexagon, socket engages at twice as many positions, which helps where swing room is limited. Both are listed, including 6 point and 12 point sockets in 1/2 inch drive and bi-hexagon sockets in 1/2 and 3/4 inch drive.
Use a deep socket where the nut sits on a long stud or down a recess that a standard socket cannot reach. Deep and deep impact sockets are listed in 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 inch drive, with sizes such as 13mm, 14mm and 30mm in 1/2 inch drive, plus spark plug sockets in 3/8 inch drive.
An extension bar fits between the ratchet and socket to reach fasteners set back behind other parts; lengths listed include 150mm in 1/4 inch drive and 300mm in 3/8 inch drive. A wobble bar lets the socket tilt slightly so you can work at a small angle. Find them in Ratchets, Extensions & Adaptors.
For general workshop tightening, a micrometer torque wrench is set by hand to the value you need; one listed is 3/4 inch drive covering 68-407Nm. Cordless torque wrenches, listed at 36V in 3/4 inch and 1-1/2 inch sizes, are powered tools for repeated heavy tightening. Pick the drive size to match your sockets.
Sockets & Torque Tools
Sockets & Torque Tools brings together sockets, drive accessories and torque tools for vehicle, plant and general workshop use. The Sockets & Socket Sets section covers individual, impact and specialist sockets and socket sets from 1/4in to 1in square drive. Ratchets, Extensions & Adaptors lists ratchets, extension and wobble bars and adaptors, and Torque Wrenches includes wrenches for tightening fasteners to a set value, alongside torque multipliers for high torque applications.
Brands include Draper, Sealey, Laser Tools, Chicago Pneumatic, Sykes Pickavant, Govoni, PCL and Connect. Keep drive sizes consistent across ratchets, extensions, sockets and torque wrenches, or use adaptors where needed. When choosing a torque wrench, make sure the fastener values you work to sit within its stated range rather than at either end of the scale.
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