What socket do I use to remove my spark plugs. I went to my local auto parts store but didnt find anything. Whats the name of the socket I should look for or what size.
Thanks
Andy

 

It should be la deep socket and like a 12mm or 14mm or so.
Then, just get a claw or something that you can actually pull the spark plug out with .
Make sure you don't get stuff down in there though.

 

Don't forget to use a 3/8 extension with that deep socket.

 

you need a 5/8" sparkplug socket...... it has a rubber grommet inside to hold the sparkplug during removal and install..... and a extension about 6" if I rember correctly....

 

if you live near a walmart they sell a set of 3 spark plug sockets including the 5/8 that you need for $5 i think. stanley brand. i picked them up just incase i work on someone elses car.

 

exactly what z32drifter said - a spark plug socket is best used for this - the rubber grommet both holds the plug in place so you can pull the old one out and the new one in... I thought it protected the plug from damage too.. but maybe thats not true.

A trick I learned - to make sure that the new plugs are not cross threaded, is instead of directly using the socket/extension to screw the new plug in, use a small length of rubber hose pushed onto the top end of the plug - then just use the hose to "twist" the plug into its socket. Since the rubber hose is flexible the plug won't be forced into cross-threading - the hose gives the plug the freedom to move up/down/left/right until its seated flush and threaded correctly.

 

Do you guys know what those little wire claw things is?
It looks kind of like just a wire that bends and then bends right back to where it was. Anyway, it has a little handle like a syringe and when you push down on the handle, this little claw(4 parts of the wire) come out. Then, when you release the handle, it grabs whatever you need it to. It is great for small areas.
I have found that this works great with the spark plugs to make sure that you don't cross thread the plugs. Just get it started with that.....it cannot use too much force...and then finish up with the socket once it is seated in there correctly.

 

Thanks for the tool tip Brudaddy - I gotta go get one of those... another neat tool to have handy is a telescoping magnetic pickup tool - it just looks like the antenna mast on our cars (i.e. collapses in the same way), but has a strong magnet at the end - its great to retrieve bolts/nuts that find their way into unreachable parts of the engine bay, etc.

 

I have one of those too.
They are built the same way.
In fact, I think they came in a pack together.