12 or 6pt Impact Axle Nut Socket

[Spookrider]

I'm in the market for an axle nut socket set and found GP brand in the price I was looking for. But they have 6pt or 12pt impact socket sets.
Which one better?
I have heard 6pt is king when comes to impact sockets. How true is that statement?

http://www.tooltopia.com/grey-pneumatic-1708sn.aspx

http://www.tooltopia.com/grey-pneumatic-1705sn.aspx

 

[Fedwrench]

Consider it gospel unless you're working on a 12 point fastener.

 

[Hammer1963]

6 point when you can and 12 point when you have to.

 

[Deafautotech]

mostly of axle nuts i see are 6pts.. but i has 30mm 12 pt for special nut like Chrysler that has NAG-1 transmission and else vehicles that i dont remember which...

 

[Busted Bolts]

I agree with Fedwrench

 

[tonydanzah]

fedwrench is A Number 1

 

[pipsters]

Also, thetoolwarehouse.net has a USA SK set 30-36mm for $100 free shipping with coupon code WINTER10COUP if you're into the "buy USA" thing, so not much more although it doesn't include the 29, 38, or 39 but does have the 31.

I don't think 38 is really needed unless you are working on large SUVs.

And GP sockets bought from Tooltopia do NOT have a warranty on them...FYI.

HF has a similar set, 29-38 for $55 + 20% off. Plus warranty, if you are going the import route that is what I would do...

 

[wafrederick]

Some of the imports have 12 point axle nuts.Domestic vehicles use 36mm,35mm and 34mm including 32 and 30mm.I bought a Matco set on Friday with 30mm,32mm,34mm,35mm and 36mm in this set.I have encountered 35mm on some GMs,36mm will fit which is a very sloppy fit.

 

[Spookrider]

The SK set is very tempting, It will fill the gap of what I have gotten off of E-Bay and the need of an small shop tech.

 

[Skin]

And GP sockets bought from Tooltopia do NOT have a warranty on them...FYI.

If you can break an impact that large under normal use i'll give you a cookie. Not that it matters in my opinion since the SK warranty is currently worthless and when it does come back you'll be paying extra for it.

If you want domestic at least find someone still in business with a functional warranty. My 2 cents.

 

[pipsters]

If you can break an impact that large under normal use i'll give you a cookie. Not that it matters in my opinion since the SK warranty is currently worthless and when it does come back you'll be paying extra for it.

If you want domestic at least find someone still in business with a functional warranty. My 2 cents.

Maybe but that is a selling point. It needs to be pointed out that buying from there does not include the warranty on the sockets like HF would.

Also I have to wonder, on nuts that big, does 12 point really hurt?

 

[NotoriousCAM]

Toyota Axle nuts are almost exclusively 39mm 12 point and have been that way for years.

 

[Skin]

one other alternative would be to purchase the Sunex set instead.

http://www.tooltopia.com/sunex-tools-2839.aspx

 

[pipsters]

Also it seems people break the breaker bars more than the sockets, so maybe a 3/4" axle nut set is a better choice?

 

[Spookrider]

I'm limited to a CP-749 1/2 impact.

 

[Deafautotech]

i am not worry about impact wrenches... i am worry about sockets and warranty services....

 

[Spookrider]

SK I got $3G's in SK tool School Tool set in my tool box so, if some thing break I up a creek I guess so and $100. would not to big of an hit if one breaks I would figure.

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

I'm limited to a CP-749 1/2 impact.

Just get a 1/2" female to 3/4" male adapter. That what I use after I sold my 3/4" impact. The one I use is here:

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...group_ID=11536&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

And don't feel too bad, Iv'e probably got 8 or 9 thousand in SK tools in my box also but I don't worry about the warranty. Something minor (less than $5) will be replaced local. Anything else will be sent back once production starts up. I don't expect to need a warranty very often though.

 

[Spookrider]

I have maybe warr. less than 3 thing ever in all my life in my tool box. They will gather more dust than grease print from use. It more of an incase I need one and fill the gap of the three sizes I have bought from E-Bay, because I have promoted to a higher tech spot and might see that type of work.

 

[daveblank]

Toyota Axle nuts are almost exclusively 39mm 12 point and have been that way for years.

That statement only applies to the full size SUV's.

 

[mrholeshot]

If you need both and can only have one get the 12. I use 6 point almost always on impacts. But when you have to have 12, 6 point won't get it done.

 

[amolaver]

If you need both and can only have one get the 12. I use 6 point almost always on impacts. But when you have to have 12, 6 point won't get it done.

+1 - I use 12pt only on 12pt fasteners. 6pt sockets and wrenches anywhere else i can. i'll use the 12pt wrenches to hold a nut or bolt while wrenching on the other end w/a 6pt, but prefer not to use them otherwise.

i wish i could find decent quality long pattern 6pt wrenches at reasonable prices. i've got one set of 6pt craftsman raised panels, but my toptul and gearwrench stuff is all 12pt on the box end

ahm

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I use 12-point hub nut sockets in 24mm, 30mm, 32mm, 36mm and 39mm. Depends what you work on, really.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

If you need both and can only have one get the 12. I use 6 point almost always on impacts. But when you have to have 12, 6 point won't get it done.

I recall watching a friend use a chisel to remove 6 of the 12 points on a hub nut on his van once when he needed to fix a leaking axle seal. It did the job but it isn't something i would reccomend.

 

[quattrojon]

12 point hub nut sockets seem to be very popular at the moment. I probably sell three times as many 12 points than 6 points.

 

[scott37300]

And GP sockets bought from Tooltopia do NOT have a warranty on them...FYI.

I just talked to tooltopia and they said they will warranty them, just send it to tooltopia. Still an inconvenience but it is warrantable according to tooltopia.

 

[scott37300]

I have been wanting to get an axle nut set for a while now also. I came across this impact set from Grey Pneumatic, http://www.tooltopia.com/grey-pneumatic-1326md.aspx. It has 30,32,33,34,35,36 sockets. Since these are bigger sockets do you think that a weekend wrencher could get away with just using these impacts instead of axle nut socket set? I figure this will give me a decent set of 1/2" metric impacts and most of the axle nut sizes in one set. Right now my 1/2" impacts are HF. Or are axle nut sockets a must for a weekend wrencher?

 

[pipsters]

I have been wanting to get an axle nut set for a while now also. I came across this impact set from Grey Pneumatic, http://www.tooltopia.com/grey-pneumatic-1326md.aspx. It has 30,32,33,34,35,36 sockets. Since these are bigger sockets do you think that a weekend wrencher could get away with just using these impacts instead of axle nut socket set? I figure this will give me a decent set of 1/2" metric impacts and most of the axle nut sizes in one set. Right now my 1/2" impacts are HF. Or are axle nut sockets a must for a weekend wrencher?

These are cheaper:

http://www.tooltopia.com/sunex-tools-2646.aspx

Most likely come from the same factory in Taiwan, and can be sent directly to Suxex corporate to warranty. Also, Sunex have laser inscribed labels on the sockets as well, vs. GP which used to (not sure if they still do) only have printed numbers, which tend to wear off.

The "axle nut sockets" sold in sets are just big sockets, they are one and the same.

Good to know tooltopia will warranty the GP sockets, at least according to their current policy and to the guy you talked to...

 

[scott37300]

These are cheaper:

http://www.tooltopia.com/sunex-tools-2646.aspx

Most likely come from the same factory in Taiwan, and can be sent directly to Suxex corporate to warranty. Also, Sunex have laser inscribed labels on the sockets as well, vs. GP which used to (not sure if they still do) only have printed numbers, which tend to wear off.

The "axle nut sockets" sold in sets are just big sockets, they are one and the same.

Good to know tooltopia will warranty the GP sockets, at least according to their current policy and to the guy you talked to...

Thanks for the link. Nice to know you can just send them to sunex for warranty. I trust that more than tooltopia.

 

[pipsters]

Thanks for the link. Nice to know you can just send them to sunex for warranty. I trust that more than tooltopia.

No problem I did a lot of research on sets, ended up buying a Craftsman set but that 26 piece Sunex deep was the one I had settled on after going back and forth. On a side note, Sunex does use USA built presses to make their tools. Might make you feel a little better .

Before ordering I would also call them and ask questions, maybe even pretend you want to warranty a socket, etc. Also you must give proof of purchase (receipt).

http://www.sunextools.com/warranty.php

ToolTopia might also warranty the Sunex sockets too, and they have been in business for many years, so either way you should be OK. I'm not employed by Sunex, and both GP and Sunex get good reviews on here.

Something to consider, I bought the 52 piece Craftsman set for $171 + tax yesterday, and can sell off the SAE stuff for around $85 on ebay, and sell the short MM for around $50, so I got 12-19, 21, 22, 24, and 27 plus 3 extensions and a universal joint for $50 lifetime guarantee from Sears. Just something to consider, if you want bigger ones too HF sells a 29-38 axle nut set for $45 after 20% coupon, which are locally warrantied.

I figure *IF* I need a 20, 23, 25, or 26 mm at one time I can always buy it, and I still come out ahead.

 

[Racr350]

Toyota Axle nuts are almost exclusively 39mm 12 point and have been that way for years.

Did you mean 30mm 12 pt? Because most, if not all toyota passenger cars are the 30mm 12pt.

 

[NotoriousCAM]

Did you mean 30mm 12 pt? Because most, if not all toyota passenger cars are the 30mm 12pt.

Yeah sorry, 39 was the newer trucks.