Pry Bars: Useful Tools That Get No Respect

No one ponders a pry bar (crow bar, pinch bar, etc.), at least blissfully. It’s a tool that gets zero recognition and little respect, yet it is actually incredibly useful. So useful that some folks (this writer included) have multiple versions in their tool collections.

The reality is, the number of uses for a prybar are almost endless. For example, you can use them for lining up sheet metal, moving, levering and aligning suspension components, removing fuel injectors, popping off dog dish hubcaps, popping out seals, removing pulleys and bearing races, tightening belts (fan and otherwise), removing radiator hoses, and splitting ball joints—that’s just the tip of the iceberg, too.

Technically speaking, a pry bar is a lever that allows you to apply a considerable amount of force between two objects. There are all sorts of different pry bars available. At the time of this article, SummitRacing.com has over 100 different examples listed. They come in a number of different shapes and sizes. Each type of bar has a different intended purpose, so it’s important to know which version fits your needs.

Here are a couple of different examples:

Flat pry bars are ideal for prying, scraping, and pulling. Many are designed to remove nails and other general woodworking duties, but they also have a purpose in an automotive shop. The heads are broad and have relatively thin, beveled edges. The head is typically a curved rocker configuration that allows for maximum prying power. For car peeps like us, that’s the big advantage.

Instead of a big screwdriver, use a dedicated pry bar (with a flat blade). You won’t end up with a broken screwdriver plus you get the advantage of the rocker configuration. (Image/Wayne Scraba)

Another form of flat pry bar resembles a large screwdriver, but they’re longer with a curved end. This type of pry bar is available in all sorts of different sizes and lengths. You’ll find it does what a screwdriver shouldn’t—it functions perfectly for prying (thanks to the rocker configuration on the end) and the chances of breaking the tip are often minimal.

Rolling head pry bars are used for countless tasks (aligning pieces with drilled holes come to mind immediately). But with a rolling head hook end, these bars deliver the leverage needed to pry objects apart effectively. These bars are extremely useful for levering parts in and out of place, and as expected, they’re available in many lengths and diameters.

These rolling head pry bars have countless uses. You can buy them in a wide range of diameters and lengths. (Image/Wayne Scraba)

There’s not that much to say about pry bars, but if you need brute force in your shop, they’re the go-to tool. But brute force and strength aren’t the only attributes. They’re also very capable when dealing with delicate tasks like lining up sheet metal, prying seals out of precision machined cavities, and so on.

Here’s one simple use for a rolling head pry bar: Tape the head to protect the painted surface of a wheel and use it to quickly and cleanly remove dog dish hubcaps. (Image/Wayne Scraba)

As mentioned previously, SummitRacing.com is jammed with all sorts of examples. Check out the accompanying photos and captions for a closer look. They’re not expensive tools and everyone should have a few different examples in their tool collection. In the end, they get zero respect, but when you need a pry bar, you’ll be glad you had it!