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Removing lug nuts from a rim or getting a frozen or rusted bolt to cooperate can be a frustrating and back-straining experience with a standard socket set. These jobs require the big guns: a breaker bar capable of producing enough torque to persuade these stubborn fasteners to comply. A breaker bar consists of a long steel bar that attaches to a head with a socket drive. This head usually rotates up to 240 degrees to allow the user to get the bar in the optimal position for creating the leverage needed to remove a difficult nut or bolt.
This guide will examine the factors to consider when shopping for the best breaker bar and review various models on the market, some of which may be especially suited to specific needs.
- BEST OVERALL: Neiko 00206A 1/2” Drive Premium Breaker Bar
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Great Neck BB18 1/2 Drive 18 Inch Breaker Bar
- UPGRADE PICK: Capri Tools 1/2 in. Drive Extended Leverage Breaker
- BEST AUTOMOTIVE: EPAUTO 1/2-Inch Drive 24” Length Breaker Bar
- BEST LARGE: Tekton 3/4 Inch Drive x 40 Inch Breaker Bar
- BEST MULTI-HEAD: Maxpower 1/2-Inch and 3/8-Inch Dual-drive Breaker Bar
- BEST TELESCOPIC: Olsa Tools Extendable Breaker Bar, 1/2-Inch Drive
- BEST SET: GEARDRIVE Breaker Bar Set
What to Consider When Choosing the Best Breaker Bar
Length determines just how much torque a breaker bar can produce, so it’s typically the first feature to consider when shopping for this tool. While length is perhaps the most important attribute, there are other important factors to keep in mind, including material, weight, head rotation, and comfort. Ahead, learn more about these and other crucial characteristics of breaker bars.
Length
Breaker bars work on the basic principle that a longer handle creates more torque. By producing more torque, the breaker bar is better able to free a locked nut than a shooter-handled ratchet that creates less torque. Breaker bars come in a broad range of lengths, from 18 inches to 40 inches.
While longer may seem better when it comes to breaker bars, that’s not always the case. A breaker bar that’s too long may be difficult to get into tight spaces. It may also produce too much torque, creating so much force that it shears off a bolt rather than loosens it. This risk makes it a good idea to always use safety glasses when using any size breaker bar.
- An 18-inch breaker bar is the most common length. This produces enough torque to remove lug nuts from wheels without causing damage while still being short enough to handle smaller nuts in the engine.
- A 24-inch breaker bar produces more power, making it ideal for freeing frozen nuts or lug nuts that have been tightened with a pneumatic air gun.
- While 30-inch bars are less common, that extra 6 inches of length may be what’s needed for removing a corroded, rusted nut or for freeing larger lug nuts on trucks and vehicles with rims that are 20 inches or larger.
At more than 3 feet long, a 40-inch breaker bar can produce a staggering 1,000 foot-pounds of torque. If a nut won’t come off under the pressure of a 40-inch bar, then it will probably need to be cut off. These bars are also ideal in cases where the operator needs to keep some distance from the nut being loosened for the purposes of safety. Use a 40-inch breaker bar with caution, as the amount of force it creates can easily break metal parts into pieces.
Material
Most breaker bars consist of chrome-plated vanadium steel. This alloy of steel is medium-hard, which means it’s malleable enough to resist snapping off while remaining hard enough to resist bending under pressure. The weak point of most breaker bars is the head, which tends to snap long before the bar does. While many breaker bars use the same type of steel for the breaker bar head, higher-end models use chrome molybdenum. A harder and tougher steel alloy than vanadium steel, a chrome molybdenum head is less likely to bend or break under pressure.
Weight
The weight of a breaker bar impacts its durability as well as its ease of use. While a lightweight breaker bar may be easier to carry, it’s likely also thinner. This makes it more susceptible to bending or even breaking when a significant amount of force is applied. With that in mind, most breaker bars weigh between 1.5 and 3 pounds, depending on size, which makes them light enough to manage but stout enough to hold up to the forces they must endure.
Head Rotation
The heads on many breaker bars attach via a hinge that allows them to rotate back and forth up to 240 degrees. This makes for greater ease of use by allowing the operator to rotate the head to the bar in the optimal position for leverage. While a rotating head makes a breaker bar more functional, it can also negatively impact its durability, as the joint between the head and the bar creates a weak point that can break under intense pressure.
Comfort
Applying the pressure needed to work a breaker bar places a significant amount of pressure on the hand, which can make a breaker bar painful to use. While wearing gloves helps, the hard metal handle can still be painful on the palms. Many breaker bars have ergonomic molded handles designed to fit the contours of the hand. This improves grip while also distributing the pressure of the bar throughout the hand. Some breaker bars also have knurled handles. This roughens the metal, making it easier to grip and preventing the tool from slipping out of the hand while applying pressure.
Drive Size
As with standard socket sets, breaker bars come in four different drive sizes: ¾-inch, ½-inch, ⅜-inch, and ¼-inch. Most breaker bars have a ½-inch or ⅜-inch head to facilitate removing larger nuts, such as lug nuts. That said, smaller sizes can come in handy for removing smaller frozen or heavily corroded nuts. Larger ¾-inch drives are generally reserved for longer 40-inch breaker bars while smaller 6- to 8-inch breaker bars have ¼-inch drives.
Avoid using adapters to change the drive size, as this could cause damage to the machinery or the breaker bar. For example, it’s a bad idea to use an adapter to convert the ½-inch drive on a 30-inch bar to a ¼-inch drive.
Extendability
While most breaker bars come as single pieces with a set length, some are extendable. These telescoping breaker bars have an adjustable length, typically from around 16 to 24 inches. To operate these bars, the user typically twists the bar clockwise to extend or retract the bar and counterclockwise to tighten it.
This is one of the more versatile breaker bars, allowing the user to extend the bar for bigger jobs and retract it to a shorter length for precision work. Keep in mind that while telescoping bars are convenient, they aren’t typically as strong as single-piece models, as they are more likely to bend or flex at the joint.
Our Top Picks
The tools below, which take into account the above considerations, trim the field to some of the best breaker bars for a variety of different needs. Any of them should be a valuable tool for removing lug nuts or loosening rusted and frozen bolts.
Best Overall
Neiko 00206A 1/2” Drive Premium Breaker Bar
The best breaker bar is one that’s versatile enough to help out in a variety of situations, and this model is, thanks to its size and construction. At 24 inches long, this bar is long enough to handle lug nuts while still short enough for working smaller frozen or rusted nuts without breaking them. The drive head rotates 180 degrees, allowing the operator to maneuver the handle for optimal leverage, while a ½-inch drive is large enough to suit most needs.
This model also features durable construction. The vanadium steel handle resists bending, and a heat-treated chromoly head with a spring-loaded ball bearing ensures the socket won’t pop off the head while under pressure. A molded handle allows for a firm grip while preventing uneven pressure on the hand that can be painful.
Best Bang for the Buck
Great Neck BB18 1/2 Drive 18 Inch Breaker Bar
A breaker bar is one of those tools that may sit around for months waiting to be used, so dropping a lot of cash for one may not make much sense. At about half the cost of other breaker bars, this model is a solid option for those who may only need a breaker bar on occasion.
At 18 inches, this breaker bar is long enough for removing lug nuts and freeing frozen nuts. Its ½-inch head rotates 240 degrees, allowing the user to get just the right angle for maximum leverage. A knurled grip prevents the bar from slipping out of the hand, while vanadium steel construction adds durability. At 1.5 pounds, this breaker bar is stout enough to avoid bending under pressure yet is still lightweight enough for easy use.
Upgrade Pick
Capri Tools 1/2 in. Drive Extended Leverage Breaker
Superior design and construction make this breaker bar an excellent option for pros or those who spend a lot of time in their home garage. The highlight of this breaker bar is the design of its head. While many heads attach to the bar internally, Capri goes with an external mount. This results in a head with a much stronger hinge that won’t twist on its pins under the forces created by its 30-inch length.
The head is also made of chrome molybdenum, a steel alloy valued for its high tensile strength. In short, the drive is unlikely to break under pressure. The pivoting head rotates up to 230 degrees, which allows the operator to take the best position for leverage. A molded handle conforms nicely to the hand for a comfortable grip while applying pressure.
Best Automotive
EPAUTO 1/2-Inch Drive 24” Length Breaker Bar
The 24-inch length of this breaker bar, coupled with features that improve its functionality, make it a worthy addition to any home mechanic tool set. Its length is suitable for a variety of jobs, from loosening frozen nuts in an engine to working lug nuts for a DIY tire rotation job. This breaker bar is also noticeably beefier than other models with its thicker shaft. While this adds weight—the bar is nearly 3 pounds—it also means it won’t bend or break under pressure.
A head that rotates 180 degrees allows the operator to find the right angle for maximum leverage. Design features ensure this breaker bar won’t give out under pressure. This includes an externally mounted head that holds up better to pressure than those with an internally mounted head. Plus, a spring-loaded ball bearing ensures the socket won’t pop off under pressure.
Best Large
Tekton 3/4 Inch Drive x 40 Inch Breaker Bar
Removing large rusted lug nuts or bolts requires maximum power. This breaker bar delivers just that with its large ¾-inch drive and 40-inch length. The head rotates 230 degrees, which allows the operator to find the right angle for leverage. While the rotating head makes it easier to use, that wouldn’t amount to much if the bar couldn’t endure all the force created by its length. Fortunately, it does, thanks to an external head that better resists twisting forces than a tool with an internal head.
The head also has a tension spring, which conveniently keeps it positioned at its set angle while the operator adds sockets or affixes the sockets to a nut or bolt. This breaker bar also features an extended molded handle, allowing the operator to use two hands for maximum force.
Best Multi-Head
Maxpower 1/2-Inch and 3/8-Inch Dual-drive Breaker Bar
An innovative dual-head design makes this Maxpower breaker bar one of the most versatile models on the market. Its rotating head is double-sided, with a ½-inch drive on one side and a ⅜-inch drive on the other. A spring-loaded ball bearing ensures that sockets stay on regardless of which side is used.
The 24-inch handle can create enough torque for changing the rims on a car while still being short enough to work loose frozen or rusted nuts inside an engine. In addition to facilitating its two drive sizes, the rotating head also allows the operator to get the best angle for working bolts or lug nuts loose. The handle features an ergonomic shape that allows for a comfortable grip.
Best Telescopic
Olsa Tools Extendable Breaker Bar, 1/2-Inch Drive
Why settle for a breaker bar that’s too powerful or not powerful enough? This versatile tool can extend from 16 to 24 inches. Use it at its full length for removing lug nuts, or drop it down to 16 inches for smaller nuts and bolts that require more finesse. The bar extends and retracts by turning the shaft clockwise to loosen and counterclockwise to tighten.
The head offers even more versatility with its ability to rotate 180 degrees. The shaft consists of sturdy vanadium steel, which resists bending and breaking. A knurled handle helps ensure that the operator maintains a firm grip, whether the breaker bar is set to 16 inches or 24 inches.
Best Set
GEARDRIVE Breaker Bar Set
One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to a breaker bar. Different lengths and head sizes are required to meet all of the demands of auto work. This breaker bar set can meet those needs with three head sizes, including a ½-inch drive, ⅜-inch drive, and ¼-inch drive.
The ½-inch breaker bar is 15 inches long, making it ideal for removing lug nuts. The midsize ⅜-inch breaker bar is 10 inches long and suitable for smaller jobs inside the engine, while the 6-inch long, ¼-inch drive breaker bar frees up smaller frozen and rusted nuts that might snap under the pressure of a larger breaker bar. All three breaker bars feature 180-degree rotatable heads that allow the user to find the optimal angle for leverage.
FAQs About Breaker Bars
If you still have questions about what size breaker bar you need or how they differ from other tools, read on for answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about these invaluable tools.
Q. What is the difference between a breaker bar and a torque wrench?
While both tools feature long handles and produce significant amounts of torque, they are used for different purposes. A breaker bar is designed to remove nuts and bolts that would be difficult or impossible to remove with a standard socket wrench. A torque wrench is designed to tighten a nut to a specific number of foot-pounds. Unlike a breaker bar, a torque wrench features a dial that allows the user to set specific foot-pounds.
Q. What makes a breaker bar strong?
Two aspects contribute to the strength of a breaker bar: the steel the bar is made of, and the design and construction of its head. Most breaker bars consist of strong vanadium steel that resists bending and breakage. The head consists of different alloys that resist breaking, while the design of the hinge should prevent the head from twisting when pressure is applied to the bar.
Q. How much torque can my breaker bar handle?
If a breaker bar breaks, it will typically do so at its weakest point, which is the drive. A ⅜-inch drive can typically take about 150 foot-pounds before breaking, while a ½-inch drive can handle up to 300 foot-pounds.
Q. What size breaker bar do I need for lug nuts?
While an 18-inch breaker bar will suffice for removing lug nuts, a 24-inch bar is typically the best option. This allows the operator to remove the lug nuts easily without straining the back or placing an undue amount of force on the nuts or bolts.