This is based on our actual GEARWRENCH 185-piece set and the jobs we have used it for. The photos on this page are from our own brake, tune-up and garage work.
Quick verdict
A very good core mechanics set — but not quite an everything-you-will-ever-need kit.
We like the GEARWRENCH 185-piece set and have no major complaint about its basic quality or usefulness. The socket coverage is broad, the ratchets have worked well, and it has handled the DIY jobs we bought it for. The biggest gaps we have actually run into are a longer extension, more larger combination/open-end wrenches, and eventually a breaker bar for stubborn suspension fasteners.
What we like
- Broad SAE and metric socket selection
- 1/4-, 3/8- and 1/2-inch drive coverage
- 90-tooth ratchets with a tight 4° swing arc
- Useful mix of shallow and deep sockets
- Solid molded case keeps the set organized
- Has handled brake, tune-up and mower work well
- Overall feels like a dependable core DIY set
What we would change
- No truly long extension included
- Not enough larger combination/open-end wrenches
- No breaker bar
- Our ratchets do not have quick-release buttons, though this bothers us less now than it did at first
The exact set we bought
Our case identifies the set as the GEARWRENCH 185-piece SAE/Metric Mechanics Tool Set, model GW90MCBMTS. The case itself highlights the 90-tooth ratchets, 4-degree swing arc, off-corner loading design and low-profile ratchet heads.
What we have actually used it for
This was not purchased to sit on a shelf. We have used it for several kinds of real DIY work, including automotive brakes, spark plugs and tune-up work, general vehicle repairs, and maintenance on a 60-inch Cub Cadet zero-turn mower.
A 185-piece label sounds impressive, but what matters is whether the sockets, ratchets, extensions and wrenches you need are actually there when the car is apart. That is where this set has been both very good and a little incomplete.
The set in use during our Scion tC spark-plug job. A separate long extension made this job noticeably easier.
The socket selection is the strongest part of the kit
The reason we keep reaching for this set is simple: there is a lot of useful socket coverage in one organized case. For common automotive and mower work, being able to open one case and have multiple drive sizes, shallow sockets, deep sockets and bits immediately available is convenient.
The 90-tooth ratchets also have a short 4-degree swing arc, which helps when you are working around brake components, wiring, hoses and other things that limit handle movement.
The first real gap we found: no long extension
Our biggest early frustration was the extension selection. During brake work, a longer extension would have made it easier to reach fasteners through and around cables and other components. The same issue came up again when we did spark plugs.
We ended up buying a separate GEARWRENCH 12-inch extension. That addition makes the kit substantially more useful for the kind of work we do.
The 12-inch extension we added ↗The bigger issue now: larger open-end/combination wrenches
After more use, this has become a more important criticism than the lack of a quick-release button. The set includes a relatively small selection of combination wrenches, and for heavier automotive jobs that limitation becomes obvious.
We now need to add larger 14 mm, 17 mm and 19 mm open-end/combination wrenches for suspension work. Those are exactly the kinds of sizes we wish had been included in a set this large.
The older Husky mechanics set we used before this had a broader wrench selection, and that is one area where we still think the Husky layout was better.
You will probably want a breaker bar too
A ratchet is not the tool we want to abuse when a suspension bolt or other large fastener is seriously tight. For the upcoming lower-control-arm work, we are adding a dedicated breaker bar rather than asking the ratchets to do something they were not really meant to do.
Breaker bar we are adding ↗That does not count against the GEARWRENCH set as much as the missing larger wrenches do; breaker bars are often separate purchases. But it is worth budgeting for if your DIY work is moving beyond filters, plugs and brakes into suspension or other high-torque fasteners.
The lack of quick release bothered us less over time
When we first bought the set, we noticed immediately that the ratchets on our version do not have a quick-release button. Removing sockets felt a little less convenient than on ratchets where you press a button and the socket pops free.
After using the set more, we would now call this a minor annoyance rather than a major drawback. The sockets can still be removed normally, and it has not stopped us from reaching for the set. If choosing between two otherwise similar sets, we would still take quick release — but we would not reject this set solely because it lacks it.
Why we ended up with GEARWRENCH instead of another Husky set
We previously had a Husky 194-piece mechanics set for a long time. Eventually the case broke and would no longer close properly, so we bought an exact replacement. On the first day we used that replacement for a brake job, the large ratchet would not hold a socket correctly.
We returned it and bought this GEARWRENCH instead.
The GEARWRENCH has been the better ownership experience so far, but there are two things we still miss from the Husky: the longer extension coverage and the larger selection of combination wrenches.
A side tool we keep using: MaxiFlex work gloves
The green gloves visible in several of our garage photos are MaxiFlex Cut gloves that originally came from professional carpentry jobs where PPE was required. We ended up liking them enough that they also became useful for automotive work.
We like the feel and dexterity for brake work, wheel removal, general mechanic jobs and carpentry. They are not the cheapest disposable work gloves, but the fit is much better than bulky gloves when you need to handle smaller hardware.
On caulking-heavy carpentry jobs, some workers would cut one or more glove fingertips off for more fingertip control. We would not do that for jobs where the glove's cut protection is the reason you are wearing it.
View the MaxiFlex gloves ↗Would we buy this set again?
We consider the GEARWRENCH 185-piece set a solid base for a serious DIY mechanic. It has done what we needed on brakes, tune-ups and mower work, and we have not had the ratchet failure that pushed us away from the replacement Husky set.
If we were buying it again today, we would simply budget from the start for a 12-inch extension, larger 14/17/19 mm combination wrenches, and a breaker bar. With those gaps filled, it covers a much wider range of the work we actually do.
Who this set makes sense for
Very good core socket and ratchet coverage for brakes, filters, plugs and many common repairs.
The molded case keeps a large assortment organized without needing a full tool chest.
A good starting point, but expect to add specialty tools as your jobs get more involved.
Plan on adding larger wrenches, a breaker bar and potentially other job-specific tools.