Skip advert
Advertisement

Offset spanners

A drop-end spanner gives a fresh angle on car DIY jobs. We put six sets to the test.

Working on cars is rarely a simple affair, and often there are bolts that can’t be tackled by a spanner or a socket set, which is where these wrenches come into their own.

They go by a variety of names – swan neck, offset, cranked, drop end – but whatever you call them, they are a halfway house between a conventional flat spanner and a socket.

Unlike the latter, they can tackle recessed fasteners even when there is
a long length of thread exposed. Where they have an edge over flat spanners is that they’re easier to use when working hard against panels. They really could be the difference between getting stuck and finishing a job – but which set is the best for your toolbox?

Advertisement - Article continues below

The test
We started our evaluation by checking that the 10mm spanner in each set could withstand the 58Nm load demanded by the British Standard for these tools. Not only did we look for damage, but the spanner needed to show some flexing to ensure that if it did fail, it would safely bend rather than shatter.

Next, we factored in length, depth of offset (above), how tight bolts were held and ring size – a slim design is a good indicator of quality metal. Finally, we looked at value for money, balancing price against performance, the number of tools offered and whether a carry case was included in the cost.
 

Verdict

Unless you’re a professional, you won’t be able to justify shelling out nearly £53 for the superb Kennedy KEN-582-1970K set. So Draper’s 64607 is our Best Buy, narrowly pipping the equally impressive Sealey AK6321. We felt that the raper’s keener price and more reassuring load test results just outweighed the Sealey’s superior finish.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Kia Sportage

Kia Sportage

RRP £28,065Avg. savings £3,153 off RRP*Used from £15,600
Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

RRP £26,495Avg. savings £2,607 off RRP*Used from £15,997
Omoda 5

Omoda 5

RRP £23,990Avg. savings £2,161 off RRP*
Audi A3

Audi A3

RRP £26,295Avg. savings £3,576 off RRP*Used from £11,895
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Car Deal of the Day: Open wide and say R, it’s a sporty Volkswagen Golf for £210 a month
Volkswagen Golf - front action

Car Deal of the Day: Open wide and say R, it’s a sporty Volkswagen Golf for £210 a month

The Volkswagen Golf has always been a quality choice, but now it won’t break the bank, even in R-Line trim. It’s our Deal of the Day for September 5
News
5 Sep 2025
Electric car battery repairs and health checks: how to keep thousands of EVs on the road
Battery health checks - Arnhem site 4 REVIVE MOBILE

Electric car battery repairs and health checks: how to keep thousands of EVs on the road

The truth about EV battery repair and why understanding state of health could revolutionise the electric-car market
Features
5 Sep 2025
New BMW iX3 to shake the EV world with huge 500-mile range
New BMW iX3 at the Munich Motor Show - front static

New BMW iX3 to shake the EV world with huge 500-mile range

The UK’s longest EV range at a tasty price: BMW’s game-changing iX3 is here
News
5 Sep 2025