Literally anything else
Buy harbor freight; if you use it enough (properly) to break it then buy a higher quality version.
Exactly. I’m not going to wait until I can afford Snap-On tools to fix my AC belt.
I broke this while replacing brake pads today.
Fuck Harbor Freight. At least I have 5 other extensions, all other brands that aren’t made of frozen peanut butter.
Harbor Freight also makes torches. Just saying.
Yeah, I broke this while working on brakes today, a torch ain’t got any business anywhere near the ABS sensors.
It broke trying to loosen one of the 17 millimeter main mount bolts. The extension was apparently made of poorly tempered metal, plain and simple.
a torch ain’t got any business anywhere near the ABS sensors
It does if you know what you’re doing. Although a magnetic inductor is a better choice, but most mechanic cosplayers won’t have those.
Also, why not use 1/2 inch? Maybe a deep well instead to lose the extension.
Plenty of ways not to rely on a cheap extension for break away, doesn’t matter the brand they can all snap with misuse.
I didn’t have 1/2" drive tools. I’ve been doing brakes and other vehicle repairs for over 20 years and I’ve never needed 1/2" drive for anything besides drive axle and strut mount nuts.
This was just a couple measly 17 millimeter bolts. If anything, I would have expected the bolt head to round off first, I’ve never twisted a 3/8" extension to the point of breaking before.
Hell, I’ve even done head gaskets using a 3/8" drive and it didn’t break. It wasn’t HF either…
17mm bolt head means nothing. Does not necessarily correlate with the thread diameter in applications such as caliper bracket bolts. Most will be a flange head bolt with greater than normal thread diameters.
1/2 drive is always the answer for caliper bracket bolts no matter the manufacturer.
Don’t blame the tools for your misuse.
You don’t just up and buy a higher quality version when you’re stuck on the side of the road, you count your blessings that you have like 5 other extensions, all better brands than HF.
It’s almost a nice convenient road kit, but yeah when you can literally twist-break an extension just using your hands and arms, the metal is shit tempered and can’t handle torsion forces.
Which is exactly what ratchets and extensions are meant to handle, torsion forces, AKA twisty forces.
Oh for emergency in the car tools totally get the good stuff. But when you are trying to outfit your garage cheaply to get stuff done, it’s a good enough starting point.
If you can afford a garage, you can afford good tools. If I had a garage, you think I’d cheap out on my tools?
I had to go back at the bolt in question with a wrench from another kit after breaking the extension. At least I have other better extensions, I just didn’t have them with me at the moment.
Some of these look like Omega Mart products lol
Hahaha!
I actually got one of those key shaped folding mini machete things, only cost me like $1.06, counting tax.
Nifty little letter opener, at least that hasn’t failed and didn’t cost much.
Pneumatic slide whistle?
…
Someone make that real.
The 12 horse noxious fume generator got me.
I’m in these pictures and I accept it.
The muppet grade gloves with various numbers of fingers got me :)
Thank you for this
I love harbor freight. People that shit on Harbor Freight are just gate keeping.
You don’t mechanic much do ya?
I broke this while replacing brake pads today, it couldn’t handle a 17mm bolt. Thank goodness I have 5 other extensions, all other brands that aren’t made of frozen peanut butter.
I actually do, stop being such an elitist. Yeah I’ve moved on to better tools, but the young and much more broke engineer that I was depended on HF for a lot of things.
Sorry you don’t know how to “mechanic” other than with brute force. Try learning a little.
Learn what?
I’ve replaced head gaskets before using 3/8" drive ratchet, sockets and extensions before, even the exhaust bolts didn’t cause the tools (non HF tools) to break.
This HF shit is just piss poor tempered, not suitable for any serious real world use when the extension can’t even handle the socket sizes that came in the same kit.
HF is making condoms now?
That’s basically what my Wera tools from amazon look like! Some asshole was like “Hey China, can I get a full set of impact rated tools with something vaguely germanic stamped on the outside?”
China: “Do you want us to put ‘impact rated’ on the box?”
Asshole: “Nah… that’s going to fuck our profit margin up.”
Impact rated? Who said anything about an impact wrench, I broke this with a ratchet and my bare hands.
If she’s that good, it’s worth the pain.
one was shipped on a boat, and the other was made out batteries
