ibdavid

I'm going to purchase a spark plug socket for DIY'ing spark plugs. Any advice on what would be best? Here are two that I thought would work well, just don't know which one (or something else) would work best. One has a single swivel the other has a double swivel. I'm thinking the length of the double would be best???? I just found another one......any advice would be helpful.

Ray Calvo

Build your own; dig in the archives to see what I did.

ibdavid

Ray, did that and saw a 4" extension, some tape and a universal joint, is that all you used?

Cooter

David, it's a "jimmy-rig" setup, but it does work well. Just make sure the extension is secured to the ratched...ask me how I know

ibdavid

I can imagine what a PIA the top right side will be, just trying to make things as easy as possible and get the "right" tools so I have them in the future. I'm sure I can figure this out on my own, but you guys are always so helpful....

Cooter, did you have a problem with the socket assembly coming off the ratchet?...or the socket?

Dudley

That swiveling socket looks really cool but you wll only use it once every 30,000 miles. Take Ray's suggestion, tape is cheap. One thing I would add, that will come in handy in other projects, is a stubby socket wrench.

Dave

Cooter

Yeah, the whole taped up thing dropped off the ratchet...it was not pretty...In the end, it really was not that big of a deal to do. It just requires removing a lot of other things to finally get access to the plugs. I did mine at the same time as the 60k service (@ 50k) so I had already removed a bunch of stuff. Just take your time and go slow. Also, don't overtighten the plugs. Snapping one off or crossthreading is bad news. And you can judge for yourself about using antiseize on the threads. The workshop manual says not to but many here do - try a search and I'm sure you'll find plenty of good info. Good luck !!

Ray Calvo

You just see the pretty picture or you find the article? As I remember, I took one of those aftermarket "T"-handle spark plug sockets and cut the handle off. Then took a 3/8" drive 8mm (or so) Allen head socket and knocked the hex head out (Sears sockets that have the head held in with a little Allen screw are ideal). Then the end of the "T"-handle I ground down into a hex shape using a Dremel tool so it just fit the end of the Allen head socket. Then I epoxied it in place (if you have a welder, that might be better but am unsure about welding to chrome which many of these tools are coated in).

The total length of the completed tool was important; as I remember 7" was the key number (I'm at work and can't remember the details of a job done years ago). Too long and you can't fit it in the engine; too short and you'll never get it out of the head once the new spark plug is in place (esp. on the upper plug located at the right-forward cylinder (No. 4?)).

The tape was there to give a little firmness to the joint and stop the end from flopping around (making it a PITA to install in the engine).
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Correction: measured it after I got home. Total length is 6 1/4".