Choosing yours
More than any additional tool, a ratchet can last you a lifetime. Quality ratchets can be serviced inexpensively therefore should never wear out. Sockets happen to be interchangeable because they are all standard. Choose the best ratchet you are able, even if you get inexpensive sockets to start out with.

Socket release
Sockets happen to be held onto the ratchet by using a minor Ratchets Wheel spring-loaded ball on the side of the square drive. After applying a lot of force, I’ve typically found sockets get stuck on the travel and the only path to have them off can be to hammer the ratchet on the floor or even hold it in a vice. Good quality ratchets add a button on the trunk which easily pushes off the socket while you are prepared to release it.

1/4 in . – Used for smaller sockets and precision work. Useful for dismantling individual pieces on the bench.
3/8 inch – The center sized, and in my opinion, most readily useful size for standard use on an automobile. A 3/8″ drive can travel sockets of most sizes. It really is big enough to use quite a lot of force, but not too big to match into tight spaces
1/2 inch – 1/2″ sockets are generally used for nuts and bolts from around 10mm and up. A 1/2″ travel socket can apply enough force to undo all nuts on an automobile.
Additionally, there are 3/4″ and 1″ ratchets but these are being used on trucks, tanks and industrial machinery.
Tooth count
Inside a ratchet you will find a toothed wheel which allows it freely rotate as you tighten the nut. Each click you hear is usually a tooth passing the ratchet. The more tooth there are, the significantly less movement is necessary on the gain stroke. A ratchet with 75 teeth will work considerably faster than a 32-tooth ratchet. Making excessive tooth-counts requires top quality engineering and developing, so as a general guide the better quality tools will have a higher tooth count.

Drive sizes
socket-drive-sizes
All ratchets accept sockets by using a square travel and mostly there are 3 sizes of drive. All around the environment these sizes are given in inches – even though the sockets will be metric.