Frank Dukes
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So i am in need of a decent e torx female socket set but cant spend a fortune. any recomendations?
Value E Torx socket set
- Thread starter Frank Dukes
- Start date
619DioFan
Well-known member
I recently picked up the tekton 35 piece torx set . has male and female in 1/4 , 3,8 and 1/2 inch drive. includes security torx. comes in a very sturdy case that is low profile enough to fit in a shallow toolbox drawer. got this set from amazon ( about 40.00 ) the part number is 1354. very happy with this set.
countryroad82
Well-known member
I have the Gearwrench set myself. Used to have a nice set of Macs and somebody needed them worse than me apparently.......
I have a Lisle set that was cheap and has been fine: http://www.amazon.com/Lisle-26280-Torx-Socket-Set/dp/B0002NYBVO
Sunex makes some good ones too.
Sunex makes some good ones too.
value...................... http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004XD0Z6O/?tag=atomicindus08-20. or you can just grab the e torx set from them for 25 bucks.... i used them for a year at a bmw dealer and a little bit when i worked in an indy shop. good luck, im sure the gear wrench set is just fine, might be a better choice if your really worried about breaking one. i sure haven't tho, that set held up well to heavy daily use.
slyonedoofy
Well-known member
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-42-p...0P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1#reviewsWrap
I bought this set a while back for $25.
It was made in china. But, for the price it was hard to pass up.
I bought this set a while back for $25.
It was made in china. But, for the price it was hard to pass up.
devoncoolman
Well-known member
I have a deep set of harbor freights. They are actually pretty good. If ur looking for real cheap and descent quality go with the hf.
malykaii
Well-known member
Vim.
raiderhillbilly
Well-known member
I really like Ampro for cheap tools. Advance Auto Parts used to carry this line.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A32UB18/?tag=atomicindus08-20
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A32UB18/?tag=atomicindus08-20
scarecrow505
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The impact e torx from harbor freight are what I have. Cant beat 'em for $7
Toptul does a set for 19 bucks. Thats on Ebay being sold by a fellow garage journal's dnschmidt too.
I bought a gear wrench set a while back for about 25 dollars, worked fine.
Later expanded my torx sockets with the full VIM set ($65), which also included e-torx so I ended up giving away the gearwrench set to a family member.
So if you plan to eventually get a whole set of torx, e-torx, and high security torx, you might as buy the full set now and save in the end. Otherwise Toptul via eBay and gearwrench via amazon both do cheap sets.
I bought a gear wrench set a while back for about 25 dollars, worked fine.
Later expanded my torx sockets with the full VIM set ($65), which also included e-torx so I ended up giving away the gearwrench set to a family member.
So if you plan to eventually get a whole set of torx, e-torx, and high security torx, you might as buy the full set now and save in the end. Otherwise Toptul via eBay and gearwrench via amazon both do cheap sets.
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OP
Frank Dukes
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Went with this one. thanks for all the replies.
No affiliation :: I'm posting this because I just spent some time looking this up so I'm posting the link. With shipping, price is $25. His moniker on eBay is schmidtdn.
TOPTUL - GAAR1402 14PC External Torx Socket Rail Set
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TOPTUL-GAAR...236?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c51c034e4
Coach James
Well-known member
I have the Tekton set and it has been fine.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A50NBMO/?tag=atomicindus08-20
It looks amazingly like the Neiko set.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HSHV84/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Coach
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A50NBMO/?tag=atomicindus08-20
It looks amazingly like the Neiko set.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HSHV84/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Coach
raiderhillbilly
Well-known member
Oddball places generally
The steps on a Freightliner FLD, exhaust manifold bolts on a Maxxforce, assembly bolts on a few starters, etc...ChevyEFI
Well-known member
I have used e-torx on inner gm column bolts, gm accessories, and bmw half shafts. I have some SO and some duralast sockets.
ihateminimumwage
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I bought a Blue Point set a few years back when I was working on trucks, but never used them. Ended up selling them and thinking nothing of it, until we had a Kohler generator with a GM Vortec 1.6L come into the shop, and the whole front cover and crank bolt were E-Torx. Got it all apart with spline sockets, but ordered a Gearwrench set that same night.
Don't know how long it will be until I need them again, but won't be selling off this set.
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sonvolt
Well-known member
I have the craftsman USA set and they haven't let me down.
Sam'sAutoParts
Well-known member
I have a couple loose Lisle sockets they are great. I have the China cman set as well and they are on the thick side, so not a fan for that reason.
nicksnothereman
Well-known member
Most of the modern spline sockets do the duty. You can pick up any for like 10 bucks if it's just an emergency purchase. 1/4" to get the smaller sized would be the best option in my opinion.
I bought those by mistake but they can do it.
Kobalt "xtreme" will do this (don't remember but don't think they're spline, I think they sell another set that is spline). Craftsman spline if they still sell them. Not ideal but basically all the larger retail chains have. Autozone might have a titan (or other) set but I don't know off hand.
Yeah, none of us can spend a fortune. What's your question again? How cheap a socket can you get away with? Please ask the question you are really asking. If you are doing some front engine work on a newer mercedes, the damage you can do with cheap etorx will far outway any tool savings. One stripped head and you will be screwed. If it's some interior trim you are finding etorx in, then you can probably answer your own question.
If you do a lot of work with newer cars, you will be seeing more and more etorx. You will need good sockets and probably wrenches.
My advice is, buy truck tool quality bit and specialty sockets. These sorts of fasteners are used in high torque applications in restricted spaces. I would sooner buy a cheap ratchet handle than a cheap bit socket.
If truck tools are out of the question, certainly don't buy Chinese. Buy US, or European tools first. Taiwan only as a last resort. You can get by with cheap sockets sometimes. Not etorx or bit sockets tho.
OP
Frank Dukes
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did you notice the part where i bought a US made Lisle set?? I am no full time mechanic. you people crack me up. I guess it should have read as what is a decent non tool truck brand to buy? I was not gonna pay 100 bucks for a set that i will rarely use. thanks for your 2 cents i guess??
Sorry I missed that.
FWIW, I've had some really bad luck with Lisle sockets in the past. If find them to be ill-fitting and SOFT. You only have to fail one screw to be filled with buyer's remorse. Hopefully this set will be okay for you.
Cheap sockets work for some guys. I got by with craftsman for many years. You have to soak stuff, make sure the tool and fastener is dirt free, and just be tool sensitive, sensing when you are pushing too hard.
My concern is always what happens when something goes wrong. When you round off a hex head bolt, you can usually still grab it with something. Etorx have pretty small heads, difficult to grab with vise grips and are often in spots where you can't easily drill them.
I recall having to tow a couple cars I had partially disassembled when something went wrong that I couldn't fix. Just trying to save you that expense and frustration, or at least share it with you so you can take steps to avoid it. Good sockets are a good first step. But as I said above, pentrating oils, possibly heat and just not trusting a $20 set of sockets are all cheap preventions.
Good luck.
acer66
Well-known member
That is the one I bought and they works fine for me but I am not a mechanic.
I bought them because I needed to change the voltage regulator on my '98 chevy.
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These screws have small heads that fit in tight places, and generally allow parts to be smaller. The socket is barely bigger than a washer would be. They were designed to allow a robotic bit or an industrial install tool to last a LONG time due to increased surface area contact between tool and screw (resulting in lower tool stress). This also allows them to be used in high torque applications. Ditto for triple squares, and internal torx.
So we'll be seeing more of these in the future, likely on a wide range of products. If you are young and handy, feel free to invest in these sockets. They aren't going away anytime soon.
So we'll be seeing more of these in the future, likely on a wide range of products. If you are young and handy, feel free to invest in these sockets. They aren't going away anytime soon.
Hopefully those are better than their standard torx impact sockets.
I bought mine when I needed to remove doors on modern (2007) fords. They pop up every now and again on modern vehicles. I've even seen hose clamp type clamps that use them.
george4
Well-known member
Mounting studs for clutch slave on c4 corvette.
malykaii
Well-known member
What are they used on?
I've encountered them a lot in the form of those aloy blue bolts on newer bmw's.
Now that I fix trucks, I see them on the GMC style workhorse trucks in random places like driveshafts.
I've encountered them a lot in the form of those aloy blue bolts on newer bmw's.
Now that I fix trucks, I see them on the GMC style workhorse trucks in random places like driveshafts.
malykaii
Well-known member
May I add that as mentioned above, the benefit of e-torx is more surface grip. In turn, it will be a lot more forgiving to a cheap socket than a six point bolt. Hence the cheap sockets don't have to be a bad thing. I even encountered a greasy/dirty drive shaft bolt and forgot it was e-torx. I stripped off half the head with a 6 point socket before comming to my senses. Borrowed a h.f. socket and tapped it on to the bolt carcas and it still gripped with ease.
You mention c.o.o and using truck brand tools. Did you know vim is the oem supplier of bits for Cornwell, amongst others. As a result, you end up with an import bit in a domestic socket holder when it's the bit that counts according to you. Plus with the world economy, more and more bolts and parts are made overseas. So what good is a quality domestic tool when it's only turning a Chinese bolt? Then to make matters more confusing you have domestic products like lisle made to h.f. standards selling for more than say asian Vim products made to truck brand standards.
I respect your points, but the "coo" and "you get what you pay for" concepts are less acurate today than a decade ago.
LordPsychon
Well-known member
Yeah, that's about the only place I've encountered Etorx bolts is on GM/Chevy cars (remember, I'm not a mechanic but I do like to peek under the hood from time to time).
Btw, "clutch slave" sounds like a death metal band name.
george4
Well-known member
Me too. Bought the car new in '89 and sold it a week ago after 192k fun miles with two clutch slaves.Yeah, that's about the only place I've encountered Etorx bolts is on GM/Chevy cars (remember, I'm not a mechanic but I do like to peek under the hood from time to time).
Btw, "clutch slave" sounds like a death metal band name.
Good post. Good points well stated. Just for the sake of discussion:
Correct. Only quibble here is the assumption that all things being equal. If you have a hex head bolt and a etorx both installed to the same torque, the etorx MAY have less stress in the tool due to increased surface area:
stress = Load/area
But remember the etorx heads are smaller than a hex head for a given thread size. For the manufacturer, the big advantage is the smaller bolt head, less tool clearance, and better tool life due to lower stress. But engineers like me will exploit the lower stress to bump up the torque where we need it. One fewer fastener on a water pump is a serious cost and weight savings.
So you can expect to see etorx (like torx) in higher torque applications than previous fasteners. We are also learning more about torque, and we're better at measuring it in industrial settings. That is also driving torque values up as engineers have become more aware of prevailing torque (run down or locking torque).
This is a common issue here on GJ and finds its way into almost every thread, but we never discuss it directly. The problem is, tool companies are outsourcing fab to China but not necessarily lowering prices. There may be good reasons for this. But for we consumers, what you say is true. You could find the same tool at three different price points with three different brand names. Its very difficult for us to sort this out. We have very little technical information. The result has been the loss of trust in a brand. "Why pay more for the premium brand when they all come from the same factory in China?"
My advice is simple. When the tool is "mission critical", i.e. you gotta have it to complete your task, buy that tool from America. America still builds great stuff. If you have three different ways of doing something, buy from wherever you wish. This was a hard won lesson. And I may be extrapolating it to etorx so take this with a grain of salt. My lesson was about allen headed fasteners. Once the bit loses its bite, it will round the screw head. I did that a couple times with Craftsman and Lisle bits and each time it cost me a lot of money to fix. Ditto for torx. When you need these tools you work, you REALLY need them to work.
I hope this discussion has been helpful.
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