Serious question, I used to think a 3/8 drive was fine for everything on a 6.7 Powerstroke

Last week in the shop, I was fighting a seized caliper bolt on a 2019 F-250 and my 3/8 impact just clicked. My buddy tossed me his 1/2 inch Milwaukee and it zipped it right out. I guess I've been making things harder on myself for years. Anyone else have a stubborn bolt that finally made them switch up their go-to tool?

3 comments

3 Comments

ruby_sanchez453mo ago

A 2019 truck and you were still on a 3/8? Man, I gave up on that for anything bigger than a lawnmower years ago. Those caliper bolts are a different animal.

the_julia3mo ago

Actually, 3/8 drive works fine if you've got a good breaker bar.

the_hugo1mo ago

the_julia might have a point about breaker bars, but the real issue with 3/8 drive on modern trucks is bolt length. those caliper bolts on a 2019 are probably torqued to 80 ft-lbs plus, and a 3/8 ratchet just doesn't have the handle length to get good leverage without busting knuckles. long bolts mean you're fighting rust and thread lock too. switch to 1/2 drive and you get a longer handle and thicker socket walls that actually grip the bolt head without rounding it off. sure, a breaker bar works, but if the bolt is stubborn that 3/8 ratchet head can twist and break before the bolt moves. learned that the hard way on a ford f-150 last year.