This article was co-authored by Michael Dey and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising. Michael Dey is an Automotive Enthusiast specializing in sharing detailed automotive content and restorations on rare and exotic vehicles. Michael has been passionately working on and restoring cars for over 15 years. He has a follower base of over 30,000 YouTube subscribers and 28 million views. Michael is a Factory Trained Master Guild Audi Technician and ASE Certified Master Automotive Technician.
There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
This article has been viewed 57,828 times.
Are you tired of refitting a standard wrench on a nut or bolt every time you finish turning it? If you want something quicker and easier to use, a socket wrench (ratchet) is the perfect addition to your toolbox. Socket wrenches have so many uses around the house for home and automotive repairs—if it has a nut or bolt, it’s time to use one. Since they only move in one direction, you don’t have to reposition your socket wrench after each turn and repairs go by so much faster. If it’s your first time with a ratchet, keep reading and we’ll walk you through exactly how it works!