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this post was submitted on 13 Mar 2025
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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.
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.
I've never seen this happen before unless a cheater bar or hammer or whatever was used. That would be misuse. I was not using a cheater bar or hammer though, I was only using my bare hands and muscle.
If I had a torque wrench, it would be interesting to test a variety of brands of extensions to determine their failure points.
I'm curious, how long is your 3/8 ratchet handle? Pretty hard to get over 80 ft lbs using a dinky short ratchet.
That's why 1/2 is used, for breakaway and the leverage needed to torque to the correct spec. Caliper bracket bolts are pretty important to be tightened correctly.
Update:
From end to end, the ratchet is 7 1/2 inches long.
The center of the ratchet head is about 5/8 of an inch in, meaning there's basically 6 7/8 inches of handle delivering the torque.
Yea man I usually try to use something with at least 12in handle in order to get enough torque.
Usually caliper bracket bolts are anywhere from 65 to 115 ft lbs torque in most cases.
You do not want those to fall out.
Oh, very true, definitely don't want any bolts or nuts coming loose.
I started working on and rebuilding go-kart engines like 30 years ago at age 12, and started working on vehicles around age 22. I've never had any screw, bolt, or nut that I've installed ever come loose, and my roommate's brakes are no exception, they're not going to come loose.
It just dumbfounds me that I managed to twist break an extension like that, with my bare hands and muscles and all.
After breaking the extension, I dug deeper into the trunk to get our boxed in wrenches to tighten everything back up, no problem there.
Honestly I think the extension was made of mild steel, not good tempered steel.
This is the toolkit I was using, apparently Pittsburgh brand...
https://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tools/tool-sets/tool-kits/tool-set-with-case-130-piece-64263.html
My tools are in the vehicle downstairs right now, so I'm not currently sure exactly how long the ratchet handle is, but it's not significantly long. If anything it's basically about the average length you would expect a cheap 3/8" ratchet to be.