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5.5mm (Metric)

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R Walter

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Lindrith, NM
I've got several 1/4 inch drive 5.5mm sockets.

Has anyone ever used this size? What application ever uses a 5.5mm nut? Why not 6mm or 5mm? Why go to the half size?
 
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makgreens

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ooltewah,tn
i have....i cant remember what i used it on but i had to search my random socket drawer for one because i never have it in my socket rails or trays
 
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Fedwrench

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It's actually a very popular size depending on what you work on. In addition to trim components, many blower motors and AC actuators are secured by little brass colored 5.5mm bolts on both Ford and GM models. of course if you don't have a 5.5mm socket, you'd probably get by with a 7/32 socket.:wtf:
 
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jjjrmx5

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Dec 30, 2010
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Cincinnati, OH
R Walter said:
I've got several 1/4 inch drive 5.5mm sockets.

Has anyone ever used this size? What application ever uses a 5.5mm nut? Why not 6mm or 5mm? Why go to the half size?
Click to expand...

They are useless, just like Torx Plus and triple square/12pt/cheesehead bits. Pitch them out or sell them here on GJ and never have to be haunted by them again.
They are tainted and never-used scroundrel tools.

LOL.

Well, that is until you need them.

And there will be a time you need them.
Be patient young Skywalker.
 
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PistolWhip

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People's Republic of New Jersey
As stated, its a popular size for things Ford hopes you won't take apart. The ECU comes to mind. The plastic bracket that holds the ECU to the lower right kick panel in most Ford vehicles is fastened with a 5.5mm bolt. Ask me how I know... :D
 
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Lomotil

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South TX
+1 on all the posts thus far... I've used it once, but for the life of me, I can't remember what on.

It's funny, I was just talking with my friend a month or so ago, and he needed that exact size, tore up his toolbox and eventually found it. One of those oddball sizes in his toolbox he thought he'd never use.
 
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catfish

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Oct 24, 2010
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Australia
Had to use 5.5mm socket to open up my IBM model M keyboard for cleaning , the craftsman set i got only has 5.5mm in regular not in long reach so i had to literally drill some of the plastic around the bolt to fit the socket on the nut.

Thats the only place i have seen 5.5
 
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Mike_C

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Mar 16, 2011
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I actually bought the craftsman mini wrench set just for the 5.5mm wrench. I use M3 hardware on my rc trucks all the time, the M3 nuts are 5.5mm.
 
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canuckian

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East coast of Canaaada
there were a bunch of 5.5 fasteners on an older (early 80's I think) Suzuki motorcycle I once had. Not sure where they were but I do remember having to buy a set just to get that wrench. Luckily I did find a singleton socket at Canadian tire so I didn't have to get a socket set just for that one.
 
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R Walter

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Lindrith, NM
Thanks for all the replies and info.

Maybe the basic question is why bother with a 5.5mm nut/bolt? Why not make it either 5mm or 6 mm?
 
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BQuicksilver

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Aug 25, 2006
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I just used it on the fuel system in a 1998 S10 truck. I was really surprised when I needed it. I thought it would never get used when I bought it. Also used an E4 torx nearby.
 
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OEXL16B

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May 17, 2012
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These have a special high-low thread pitch for going into plastic. A lot of these screws used in automotive applications will have a 5.5mm head.

Hi_low_Screws.jpg
 
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Mastermind

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Jun 28, 2012
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Ypsilanti, MI
wow. i use my multiple 5.5's Daily. have a magnetic one tacked to a 1/4 drive adapter for screwgun, another couple magnetized ones,deep and shallow, even a 1/4 drive impact universal, couple wrenches. need to find a ratchet wrench in 5.5 though...hmm.

( I do bodywork at a ford dealer :D)
 
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Peoria Man

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Mar 1, 2012
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2,491
My GM cars have a lot of 5.5mm fasteners.

I've actually got a little collection of 5.5mm nutdrivers; currently I have Craftsman, Snap-On, Xcelite, Matco and some sort of hardware store brand generic. Plus a handful of 5.5mm sockets. No such thing as too many!
 
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franzdom

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Sep 7, 2009
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NC
Peoria Man said:
My GM cars have a lot of 5.5mm fasteners.

I've actually got a little collection of 5.5mm nutdrivers; currently I have Craftsman, Snap-On, Xcelite, Matco and some sort of hardware store brand generic. Plus a handful of 5.5mm sockets. No such thing as too many!
Click to expand...

You could add wWiha in straight or flex, I have some of these, they are awesome!
 
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fredybender

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Apr 16, 2012
Messages
141
7/32 = 0.218"
5.5mm= 0.216"

Its most probably an inch thing finding its way into the metric world (DIN-ANSI)
Probably a stupid engineer, "Speck-ing" out an inch driver for a metric thread...
Then having that screw mfr. putting out this on the open market for the OEM car supplyiers...

EDIT:
After googling Metric standard, metric M3 does call for 5.5mm .
Oh well, nothing like GJ to call for research and making honest retracts ;)
 
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Biomed

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Mar 19, 2011
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662
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Minnesota
JCM (Japanese Cash Machine) bill acceptors use 5.5mm. When you attend the training class they even hand out 5.5mm drivers.
 
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