Quick Tip: Controlling a Universal Joint Socket
Classic Car Restoration Club EditorsDescription
Controlling sockets when using universal joints can be challenging. Here is a great little tip to help you maintain control.
When working on your car, a sometimes the bolts are in places that you just can't get a regular socket on straight. So, you know, they've got this great tool. The universal joint for the socket set problem is, is a lot of times you can't like guide it all the way in. So you, you start to bring it in and the socket suddenly tilts down and you try it again and it tilts down. So the way I found that works best just to control that is take some electrical tape, wrap it around the joint a couple of times. Now you can get in on your bolt and the, the universal joint will still operate the way it is intended and your socket won't be flopping around, use this tip next time you head to the grudge.
I use a spring on the swivel that has the same inside diameter as the universal. Use them on 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 drives. Sometimes they move a little and need to put them back in place, but they don't wear out like the tape does.
Regarding your ‘universal’ socket tip. We call them flex sockets here and that electrical tape flopping prevention tip is good but I’ve always used a little dumdum instead. (Caulking) Thanks and Happy Wrenching!
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