Choosing yours
More than any different tool, a ratchet will last you a lifetime. Quality ratchets can be serviced inexpensively and so should never degrade. Sockets happen to be interchangeable because they are all standard. Buy the finest ratchet you are able, even if you get inexpensive sockets to start with.
Socket release
Sockets are held onto the ratchet by using a minor spring-loaded ball on the side of the square travel. After applying a whole lot of force, I’ve frequently found sockets get trapped on the travel and the only path to get them off is normally to hammer the ratchet on the floor or even hold it in a vice. Top quality ratchets include a button on the trunk which easily pushes off the socket if you are ready to release it.
1/4 inches – Used for smaller sockets and precision work. Useful for dismantling individual pieces on the bench.
3/8 inch – The middle sized, and for me, most readily useful size for basic use on an automobile. A 3/8″ drive can travel sockets of most sizes. It is big enough to use quite a lot of force, but not too big to fit into tight 
spaces
1/2 in . – 1/2″ sockets are usually applied for nuts and bolts from around 10mm and up. A 1/2″ drive socket can apply enough pressure to undo all nuts on an automobile.
There are also 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 Ratchets Wheel enables it freely rotate as you tighten the nut. Each click you hear is definitely a tooth passing the ratchet. The more pearly whites there are, the a lesser amount of movement is necessary on the give back stroke. A ratchet with 75 teeth will continue to work considerably faster when compared to a 32-tooth ratchet. Making substantial tooth-counts requires top quality engineering and manufacturing, so as an over-all guide the better quality tools will have an increased tooth count.
Drive sizes
socket-drive-sizes
All ratchets accept sockets by using a square travel and mostly there are three sizes of drive. All around the community these sizes are given in inches – even when the sockets happen to be metric.