Choosing yours
More than any various other tool, a ratchet can last you an eternity. Quality ratchets could be serviced inexpensively therefore should never wear out. Sockets will be interchangeable because they are all standard. Buy the greatest ratchet you are able, even if you get inexpensive sockets to get started on with.
Socket release
Sockets are held onto the ratchet by using a minor spring-loaded ball privately of the square drive. After applying a lot of push, I’ve sometimes found sockets get stuck on the drive and the only way to have them off can be to hammer the ratchet on to the floor or even hold it in a vice. Good quality ratchets add a button on the trunk which easily pushes off the socket when you are prepared to release it.
1/4 inch – Used for smaller sockets and precision work. Useful for dismantling individual elements on the bench.
3/8 inch – The middle sized, and for me, most useful size for standard use on an automobile. A 3/8″ drive can drive sockets of all sizes. It really is big enough to use a great deal of force, but certainly not too big to match into tight spaces
1/2 ” – 1/2″ sockets are generally applied for nuts and bolts from around 10mm and up. 
A 1/2″ travel socket can apply enough push to undo all nuts on an automobile.
Additionally, there are 3/4″ and 1″ ratchets but these are being used on trucks, tanks and professional machinery.
Tooth count
Inside a ratchet there is a toothed wheel which enables it freely rotate as you tighten the nut. Each click you hear is normally a tooth moving the ratchet. The more the teeth there are, the less movement is necessary on the give back Ratchets Wheel stroke. A ratchet with 75 teeth will continue to work considerably faster than a 32-tooth ratchet. Making huge tooth-counts requires top quality engineering and developing, so as a general guide the better top 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. Everywhere in the world these sizes are given in inches – even when the sockets will be metric.