A breaker bar is a long non-ratchet tool that is use in combinations with wrench-style sockets. By using breaker bars, you can loosen very tight bolts because they can exert an enormous amount of force because they can generate more torque than the standard wrench sockets.
The length of breaker bars contributes majorly in this aspect. When you use breaker bars you can protect the mechanism of ratcheting of a socket wrench.
The major convenience of breaker bars is that they can help loosen frozen bolts. Cars are a stereo system and there are nuts and bolts present everywhere.
Sometimes people face issues in removing these nuts or bolts. That is where breaker bars like 3/8 breaker bars come into use by producing enough torque to loosen these stubborn fasteners. A breaker bar consists of a long steel bar that can attach to a head with the help of a socket drive. This head is rotated at 240 degrees to help produce the required torque.
Things to Consider When Buying a 3/8’’ breaker bar
There are many attributes of a breaker bar that need to be taken into consideration in order to find the best one that can produce the most torque and for that length is the primary factor. The length of a breaker bar determines how much torque it will produce. Although length being a primary and most important factor of consideration for selection of breaker bar like a 3/8 breaker bar 600mm, it is not the only factor that should be consider. Other factors such as material, head rotation, weight, and comfort should also be consider.
3/8’’ breaker bar Length
The basic concept regarding the length of breaker bars is that the longer the breaker bar the more torque it will produce. Breaker bar lengths can go from 18 inches to as much as 40 inches.
While breaker bars with greater lengths are known to produce more torques and are favor but they can not be work in tight spaces.
If a breaker bar is too long it gets difficult to get it into tight spaces. Moreover, 3/8’’ breaker bar too much torque may be create which can tear off the bolts rather than loosen them. Snap-on breakers bars are some of the good quality ones present out there.
Drive Size
With a standard socket set the breaker bars come in four common drive sizes that are ½ inch, ¾ inch breaker bar, 3/8’’ breaker bar, ¼ inch. The most common breaker bar head sizes are ¼ inch and 3/8 inch.
which can easily remove or loosen larger nuts such as lug nuts. Therefore, smaller sized drives are useful for removing small frozen bolts. While a large drive like 3/8 inch is reserv for larger 40-inch breaker bars.
Never use adapters to change drive size 3/8’’ breaker bar because this can damage the machinery.
Like converting a ¼ inch drive into a 3/ inch drive on a Screwfix breaker bar is not good and can cause damage.
Material
Chrome-plated vanadium is the most common material use in breaker bars. This is an alloy of steel and is flexible to some extent which is why it can resist breaking off to a certain extent while remaining tough trying to resist bending under pressure.
One weakness of breaker bars is their heads which are known to break more often and before the bar itself. You will find most of the breaker bar heads made from the same material but the high-end breaker bars like 3/8’’ breaker bar Toolstation uses chrome molybdenum which is less likely to bend or break.
Weight
Weight of a breaker bar like 3/8’’ breaker bar needs to be consider because it is the determinant of its durability and the comfort of usage.
Lightweight breaker bars are easy to carry but they are thinner in size due to. Which they are more vulnerable to bending and even breaking off when a high amount of force is applid.
Most of the breaker bars weigh between 1.5 and 3 pounds. So, depending on the size of the breaker bar the lighter its weight the more susceptible it is to breakage.
Head Rotation
A hinge attaches the heads on many breaker bars like. Machine mart breaker bars that help it to rotate at 240 degrees angle.
Moreover, this makes for greater ease of use by permitting the operator to rotate. The pinnacle to the bar in the optimal position for leverage 3/8’’ breaker bar. The rotation in a breaker bar provides significant advantages but on the other hand, it also serves as the weak point between the head and the bar that can break off under severe pressure.
