GripEdge | 17mm Hex Stubby Flex Head Low-Profile Dual Action Driver Ratchet

The GripEdge 3/8" drive Dual Action Drive system is built around one number: 27mm. That is the combined height of this ratchet head with a 3/8" DAD bit seated in it, measured from the fastener up, against 63.8mm (2-1/2") for a standard 3/8" ratchet carrying a GripEdge standard-length bit socket. The DFRB47590 is the stubby member of the 17mm hex ratchet family. It solves the horizontal clearance problem on top of the vertical one: a 4-3/4" (121mm) body that fits and swings where a full-length handle hits a frame member, bulkhead, or housing before completing a stroke, while the head stays at the same 27mm height as the standard and extra-long versions. The short lever arm also gives finer control on small and lightly torqued 3/8" fasteners.

The height comes from the head, not the handle. A 17mm hex pass-through retention cavity lets a 3/8" GripEdge Dual Action Drive bit seat into the ratchet by its external hex, so the bit and ratchet work as one unit rather than two stacked parts. That advantage only applies with GripEdge 3/8" drive DAD bits. A standard bit socket cannot be driven by this ratchet at all, and a 1/4" drive DAD bit with a 7/16" hex body will not engage the 17mm cavity.

Key features

• 27mm combined height. With a DAD bit seated, head and bit measure 27mm (1-1/16") on the fastener, compared with 63.8mm (2-1/2") for a standard 3/8" ratchet and GripEdge standard-length bit socket.
• 4-3/4" stubby body. The shortest ratchet in the 3/8" DAD lineup fits pockets and cavities where a longer handle has no room to move. The trade is leverage: for seized or high-torque fasteners, the 10" DFRB1090 or 18" DFRB1890 is the better choice.
• Contoured handle. The handle profile is shaped for grip stability and control, reducing hand fatigue over extended use and at awkward angles.
• Reversible 90-tooth mechanism, 4 degree swing arc. Ninety teeth engage with minimal handle travel, so the ratchet keeps working where swing room is measured in degrees, and it is fully reversible.
• Non-locking flex head, 0 to 180 degrees. A friction pivot holds position through the full range without a lock. Omitting the lock saves parts and height and removes a component that can fail under load.
• Flush-mount selector switch. The direction switch sits flush with the head, so it cannot snag on surrounding components or flip mid-stroke, and it works with gloves on.
• Low-backdrag mechanism. The handle resets on the return stroke without pulling the bit or fastener backward, which keeps small and lightly seated fasteners from turning with the handle.
• Field-serviceable. The head uses exposed fastener points and replaceable gear assemblies, the flex joint is replaceable, and dedicated repair kits are available (DRB90HRK head kit, DRB90FJRK flex joint kit), so a worn ratchet gets rebuilt instead of replaced.
• Forged Cr-Mo steel, high-polish chrome. Chrome-molybdenum construction resists wear and deformation under heavy torque loads, with a chrome finish for corrosion resistance and easy cleanup.

Built for automotive, aerospace, industrial maintenance, and precision fabrication work where a 3/8" fastener has to be reached and turned in a space a standard ratchet cannot enter.

Technical data

Compatibility

This ratchet works only with GripEdge 3/8" drive Dual Action Drive bits. The 17mm hex pass-through cavity is sized for 3/8" drive DAD bodies; 1/4" drive DAD bits (7/16" hex) will not engage. Compatible sets include:

• DDHBM9S: 9-PC 3/8" Drive Low-Profile Metric Hex Dual Action Driver Bit Set. 6mm through 14mm, all sizes.
• DDHBS6S: 6-PC 3/8" Drive Low-Profile SAE Hex Dual Action Driver Bit Set. 1/4" through 9/16", all sizes.
• DDSB8S: 8-PC 3/8" Drive Low-Profile Star Dual Action Driver Bit Set. T30 through T70, all sizes.
• DDTS12S: 12-PC 1/4" & 3/8" Drive Low-Profile Triple Square Dual Action Driver Bit Set. M16 and M18 only. The M4 through M14 in this set are 1/4" drive and will not fit.
• MDDB52S: 52-PC RPT™ 3/8" Drive Low-Profile Master Dual Action Driver & Ratchet Set. All 48 bits, plus the 17mm hex to 3/8" and 1/2" square drive adapters that let this ratchet run standard sockets.

Browse all GripEdge Dual Action Drive bits and ratchets