Metric wrench sizes ?

[Scooterfish]

My Cman wrench set is missing 16 &18 mm. Cman club is having the 1/2 off single wrenches comming up. I have not had much luck finding metric sizes at the local fleas, hock shops.

How often is the 16/ 18 used?

What sizes are often used common/often (automotive) above 19mm?

Thanks

 

[GrantMLS]

I have a car with the wheel hubs reaure 22 or 23mm - also an older 244 volvo that loves 16 and 18mm - but its the only time I have ever used those sizes along with a 14mm?!

 

[Chris Adams]

I have 16 and 18's that get used at least once a year, but I work on lots of different vehicles. You may NEVER need either one.

I use 27 mm 28 mm and 36 mm. Few of my bigger sizes get used.

 

[Rigmaster]

It REALLY depends on the type of vehicle you normally work on.

I NEVER used to use my 16 or 18mm when I worked on older BMW's (pre-1991 models, roughly), but they are all over the place on the 92-up BMW's.

If you're just OCD about not having any blank spots in your wrench lineup, then buy them individually- otherwise I'd wait until I needed them, or was sure I would need them.

You might want to post up a WTB thread on the classifieds forum here, I'm SURE someone has what you need for a good price....


As for the larger sizes, I could not do without my 22, 30, 36 and 46mm, but other than that, I never need any other sizes. I've got lots of tools but I don't even own a 20,21,23,24 etc.... Keep in mind this is working on BMW's almost exclusively.

 

[HandyManny]

I've used up to 23mm for some applications. In fact the oil drain plug on my air compressor has a 23mm hex head.

16mm can be used to substitute for a 5/8 inch wrench on a 5/8" fastener head if needed. The measurments are only a couple 1/1000 inch off. Though a 5/8" will fit a tad bit snugger on a 5/8" head.

I run into the same delema. Some wrenches get misplaced or borrowed indefinitely without my premission, so I end up having to replace some of them. I like the Craftsman Professional high polished combo wrenches. I had replaced some missing Proto wrenches with some new Wright wrenches, but wasn't too impressed with those new Wrights. I kept em anyway. I just think that the Cman pros are a better wrench for the money.

It's good to have all sized from 8mm upto at least 21mm

 

[MAD]

Fasteners with 16 mm and 18 mm hex heads are common on many domestic cars as well as imports that were made after ISO standard hardware became common. 16 mm and 18 mm hex heads are rare on older imports that used DIN or JIS standard hardware.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

I know things like bumper brackets, spare tire bracket, etc. on my Ranger are 18mm. I believe 16mm is a standard drain plug size with Fords.

IMNO, a metric set should go from 8 to 19mm, and above (23,27mm) if you have a lift and do suspension work.

 

[paramudduck]

80's Chrysler used 18mm in the transaxles. I still have memories of tying to find one on a rainy Sunday evening.

I have ran across a couple of them on my Blazers.

It seems like the one size you don't have there will be one bolt holding every thing together in that side.

 

[kartracer55]

I never use a 16mm, I wish I never bought it. Of course, Id have the big gap in my wrench rack.


18mm will be found on a lot of "domestic" (and I use that term loosely) cars. Now and then replacement suspension components for japanese cars will replace a 17mm with an 18mm hex.

 

[GDA]

If you are going to be doing much suspension work then I'd also suggest you cover the sizes you might need for your press tools like ball joint puller, pitman arm and tie rod pullers, wheel bearing press kit etc.

Each of those seemed to require a 21, 22 or 24 and depending on location you might not be able to get a ratchet and socket on it to use it.

 

[slimshady_2469]

16 and 18 are both fairly common and i know the hub nuts on my car are 32mm, and they get bigger depending on wheel size usually is a pretty good indication.

 

[Spookrider]

Alignment on a '95 Ply. Neon the rear toe adjust and some other car has the same size also for the same job.
The 16 ??

 

[jshillin]

I rarely use a 16mm, but I've used 18mm a lot. They are in various places on Dodge Neon's and Mitsubishi Eclipses.

 

[Skyline]

It REALLY depends on the type of vehicle you normally work on.

I NEVER used to use my 16 or 18mm when I worked on older BMW's (pre-1991 models, roughly), but they are all over the place on the 92-up BMW's.

The old BMW's were really great. You could just about take apart the entire car with the little tool set in the trunk, and all that had was 10mm, 13mm, 17mm & 19mm wrenches. I always loved that feature.

 

[petty4243]

I use both the 14 and 16 often... drain plugs on 16mm late model ford v-8 engines 14mm other european makes

have used 18 on a few mitsubishi drain plugs...


I suggest if you can find them get them from 8- 22or higher...

If you have them you will never need to make a special trip to the store when you do need it

 

[T56 Impala]

18 is common on the suspensions of mid 90s to present GM cars. Not sure about trucks. I have used 16s on several Toyota's, BMW's and Audi's.

 

[sk farmer]

why do craftsman and sometimes gearwrench do that . socket sets often have too much overlap. some sets up to 6 overlap. example, 1/4 - 3/8 - 1/2 6 and twelve point 1/2 socket not to mention deep. wrenches let's skip 2 or 3 sizes maybe no one will notice. how stupid. i refuse to buy a set with missing sizes. it isn't a set if it is missing sizes.

 

[Kona Cruisers]

heres one.. GM fuel filters have both 16/20 mm on the fuel filter...

I asked the snap on guy for a 20... he siad "why".. just tell you how often a 20mm gets used

 

[sk farmer]

someone in their infinite wisdom decided you didn't need that size. problem is you did need it. not even your snappy guy was right. i am sure i have sizes i haven't used but i am just as sure that at some point i will need it. just as you needed that 20mm. cheaper and easier to buy it in the set and have it than try to hunt one down when you need it later. if it is missing something, IT IS NOT A SET.

 

[Hawk321]

16 and 18 is a must have...also 21,22,24,27,30,32,34 and 36 (last 4 in 12pt.).
16 and 18 is the standard at european cars.
6-19 without exceptions are essential. Sizes like 25 are often inch sizes.

 

[Mike83]

When I replaced my PS hoses on my GM, 16 and 18 were all I needed...as line wrenches and open end long and stubby. A 4-way angle wrench would have helped too. As others mentioned, 18mm is common on GM suspension.

 

[DetroitDIESEL444]

youll need 16 mm for the exhaust manifold bolts on the 6bt and isb 5.9 liter cummins diesels, and i think some newer ford trucks on the oil drain plug.

id say get them its always a pain when you need it and dont have it

 

[speed bump]

When I replaced my PS hoses on my GM, 16 and 18 were all I needed...as line wrenches and open end long and stubby. A 4-way angle wrench would have helped too. As others mentioned, 18mm is common on GM suspension.

Yep, I bought a 16 and 18mm line wrench because it was cheap, got home and started thinking what will I ever need this for. Dad used it a month later for his Suburban.

16 and 18mm are both pretty common on GM stuff it seems like.

 

[garfunkle24]

Seems to me manufacturers either go with 10/13/17/19 or 14/16/18. Most of my experience is with farm equipment and as an example Massey uses 13/17/19 while John Deere uses 14/16/18. My Subaru uses 12/14/16/18 commonly.

 

[HolisticPerformance]

18 is about the 4th most common bolt size on GM vehicles, I use it everday. 16/20mm is extremely common on flare nuts, I think that the following large wrenches are essential:
24, 27, 30, 32, 36, and corresponding SAE sizes are also found.
I've never seen a bolt/nut larger than 36 on a vehicle, AND, I use a 35mm socket for nearly all GM axle shafts (it may actually be SAE, but 35 is an excellent fit).

 

[Scooterfish]

Thanks for all the input. I`m going to get 16 & 18 and work on some of the bigger sizes.

I have older tools, funny thing I have 3/8 dr metric, in cman, blackhawk,penncraft sockets none have 16 , 18mm

I have cman combo & open wrenches none have 16, 18mm
I do have a powerkraft open end wrench set which is complete 8mm thru 19m
I think it is a conspiracy by some mfg/retailers to sell a set at a good price then leave a couple sizes out you have pay big $ for. So to me there is a difference between "set" and "complete set "

I`m just a weekend wrench guy but I hate spending 2hours running around trying to buy a tool at full price in the middle of a project when I could have had it in my box on sale.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

Thanks for all the input. I`m going to get 16 & 18 and work on some of the bigger sizes.

I have older tools, funny thing I have 3/8 dr metric, in cman, blackhawk,penncraft sockets none have 16 , 18mm

I have cman combo & open wrenches none have 16, 18mm
I do have a powerkraft open end wrench set which is complete 8mm thru 19m
I think it is a conspiracy by some mfg/retailers to sell a set at a good price then leave a couple sizes out you have pay big $ for. So to me there is a difference between "set" and "complete set "

I`m just a weekend wrench guy but I hate spending 2hours running around trying to buy a tool at full price in the middle of a project when I could have had it in my box on sale.

That is one reason to look elsewhere, besides Sears, for non Craftsman (Gearwrench, for example) tools. Sears is good for their tools, and the emergency tool. The trucks (most of which I don't have), tend to be good for some emergency tools, or they go the other way, and are always sold out/out of stock (DAMHIK).

 

[a390st]

I will give you this piece of advice...Get 23mm. You will probably never need it in your lifetime. However, if you are located in a small town like I was, there is no such thing as a 23mm to be had. I had to drive over an hour away and shop around for another hour plus to get what I needed. Of course it was an emergency and an adjustable wrench wouldn't fit in the cramped location.

 

[sk farmer]

I will give you this piece of advice...Get 23mm. You will probably never need it in your lifetime. However, if you are located in a small town like I was, there is no such thing as a 23mm to be had. I had to drive over an hour away and shop around for another hour plus to get what I needed. Of course it was an emergency and an adjustable wrench wouldn't fit in the cramped location.

great advice 390, that is why any set that skips a size is kind of a joke. a wrench is not a specialized tool like a special puller or alignment tool.they are the most basic parts of our tool collections. if you do any amount of wrenching you will eventually need it . most wrenches to fill out the set can be had for little money but priceless when you need it as you found. how much did that lost time cost you? i am also guilty. i think my mm's only go to 21 or 2

 

[shovel]

After never having an 18 mm wrench (wasn't included in my Craftsman set or may Dads!) I had to buy one and used it twice this week. The upper rear shock bolts on a 01 Ford Expedition are 18 mm head on a 1/2 - 13 bolt. Used it again on the front brake caliper brackets. I can't believe I've never need this before and I wonder when did Sears start to include them in the sets.

 

[ephotrod]

A 16 mm is used on a chevrolet impala from 2003 up on the rear e-brake adjustment.
Josh

 

[Uncle Buck]

18 is about the 4th most common bolt size on GM vehicles, I use it everday. 16/20mm is extremely common on flare nuts, I think that the following large wrenches are essential:
24, 27, 30, 32, 36, and corresponding SAE sizes are also found.
I've never seen a bolt/nut larger than 36 on a vehicle, AND, I use a 35mm socket for nearly all GM axle shafts (it may actually be SAE, but 35 is an excellent fit).

You failed to mention 8, 10, & 15 mm which I have found in great frequency on GM vehicles.

 

[kythri]

2002 Ford Crown Victoria front brake caliper brackets use 18mm.

Haven't used a 16mm that I can think of.

 

[Fedwrench]

Aside from power steering lines and fuel filters, the 16mm is fairly close to 5/8 so, you may be able to live without it and not miss it. However, 18mm is real common on suspension components from mostly domestic brands. I've only used 20mm on GM fuel filters and AC lines. I've never used a 23mm wrench. However, I would recommend having metric size combination wrenches in 6-24mm because, it's always better to have it and not need it than to need it, and not have it. If it's bigger than 24mm I would probably reach for a breaker bar and socket or a 1/2 inch impact wrench. Aside from AC lines which seem to approximate 1 1/16, 1 1/8, and 1 1/4 inches. I do have 27, 28, 30, and 32mm wrenches but, really haven't used them.

 

[Crawlin]

I used my 16mm the other day. Drain Plug on my Duramax Diesel motor is 16mm, also used a 32mm wrench on the pitman arm nut too.

 

[posaune]

I have a car with the wheel hubs reaure 22 or 23mm - also an older 244 volvo that loves 16 and 18mm - but its the only time I have ever used those sizes along with a 14mm?!

Just out of curiosity, what on a Volvo 240 uses 16mm? It is missing from all of my GearWrench sets (which I am using more and more) and I haven't come across a need for that size yet. I have 2 240s and a 940...