20MM socket consipracy

[abvw]

18mm is very common on gm and euro vehicles

Where I have never seen an 18 on Asian vehicles they use 17 and 19



Now a 20mm socket I have only used on lug nuts that are 21mm/13/16 with the chrome cap that came off where 20mm fits just right



Now I use the 20mm open end flare nut wrench for gm fuel filters and chrysler hydraulic system lines.



Now what about the infamous 26mm I have never used them except maybe as a quick driver for spark plug tube seals on valve covers

I was pleasantly surprised the newer Honda Civics (8th gen, I believe) are using 18mm nut on the MacPherson struts camber bolts.


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[mailpup]

For some of the more odd sizes already mentioned:

The last time I used an 11mm socket was for pinch bolts on GM intermediate steering shaft u-joints. I was replacing the rack and pinion gear on a 2001 Pontiac Montana van.

I've found 23mm banjo bolts for external engine oil lines on a Mazda RX-7 rotary engine.

I've found 26mm retaining nuts on an older Nissan compact pickup front wheel bearing.

Although I've found 20mm GM fuel filters, those only needed open end or flare nut wrenches. I haven't found a use for my 20mm socket yet.

I haven't yet found a use for my 25mm socket either.

 

[metaleltr]

And yet no mention of 18mm. 19 and 17 are very popular yet I've only needed 18 once and had to go out and purchase an 18mm wrench as the set from 8-19 did not include it.

You must not work on GM cars/light trucks. You need several styles to tear down the suspension.

 

[ChevyEFI]

I replaced my lost 18mm combo wrench with one off the truck for MN12 Ford upper a-arms IIRC. 18 is also power steering line on metric GM.

 

[Mazdaspeed]

It is 17mm, just did it last week. MT drain/fill plugs may be that large though just from a casual glance.

I *think* the oil drain plug on my 2012 F150 EcoBoost is 18mm. Its been a few months since the last oil change so I'm a little unsure. I think I also used my 18mm combo wrench at least a couple of times when I was swapping out the Dana 35 on my TJ.

Oh yes sorry, I meant the transmission fluid drain, not the oil.

 

[mpmarino]

The conspiracy for me is that my 20mm deep 6pt 3/8 Snap On socket went missing.

I refuse to pay 30 to replace it, and the only used one I've seen was $25 !! Anyone want to sell thier unused SFSM20 since you don't need it ?

 

[honcho]

Though it is highly unlikely to happen, I'd love to see a manufacturer go on an exercise to minimize the number of different types of tools necessary for maintaining their products.

About 15 years ago, before the program was cancelled, I remember attending a trade show where a manufacturer touted that their turbine engine only required less than a dozen tools for performing routine maintenance. Not being a turbine mechanic, I can't say whether that's good or bad, but I do know that most aviation techs have a lot more than a dozen tools. The interesting part to me was that the manufacturer thought it was a selling point.

The challenge for most manufacturers is that many parts of their equipment are designed by different teams or legacy items that they don't want to redesign just to reduce the types of fasteners. When they purchase components and sub-assemblies from other companies for integration into their product, they don't care that they used 20mm or 23mm fasteners, they care that it fits, works, is reliable and meets the price point.

Heck, wouldn't it be kind of cool if a vehicle manufacturer was able to make all their fasteners where you could use metric or SAE size tools like

8mm or 5/16", 11mm or 7/16", 16mm or 5/8", 19mm or 3/4"

Of course, that limits fastener choice and not so bright folks (myself included) would do stupid things if they failed to pay attention to the details.

So, 20mm and the rest of the rarely used sizes are just more shiny chrome in my toolbox. I just hope I can find them when I need them.

 

[BearCuda]

I use 18's quite a bit, mostly on caliper bridge bolts I think.

 

[rider9195]

Use 18 on my Volvo a lot.

 

[dledinger]

Heck, wouldn't it be kind of cool if a vehicle manufacturer was able to make all their fasteners where you could use metric or SAE size tools like

8mm or 5/16", 11mm or 7/16", 16mm or 5/8", 19mm or 3/4"

I'll tell you what cracks me up....I looked for a 16mm reversible Gearwrench to fill the gap in my set...anywhere from $27.50 to over $30 on ebay. The same reversible Gearwrench in 5/8" is $10-12!

 

[dewmor]

I use my 18mm and 20mm sockets daily to keep my socket tray from floating away. Can't recall any other uses for them off the top of my head but I do know that my socket tray is securely held down now thanks to them.

 

[AndrewV]

For the 15mm socket, i use it weekly.
Some bolts, on lifted trucks use them on the skid plates, my shop gets everything in, so i use all my sockets pretty regularly. Just not 23mm's. Still looks brand new.

 

[jdmstr]

I use 18's quite a bit, mostly on caliper bridge bolts I think.

Used my 18mm on caliper brifge bolts as well i believr it was an older nissan maxima.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I was once told that 16mm & 18mm are the new 17mm & 19mm

For allot of European cars this seems to be the case.

I think 17mm is the DIN size for M10 and 19mm is DIN size for M12.

Unless you're VW-Audi, and you don't play by the rules. 16mm and 18mm all the way, like a true rebel.

 

[RumT]

LearJet 35/36/55 engine mounts

Of course how did I miss that.... mind you, I only tend to work on my own car
these days... I usually let someone else take care of my Jets.

The rest of the airframe and engines are SAE/fractional.
I should have mentioned that.

 

[JonnFX]

Yep, many newer Dodge and Chrysler cars use 18mm (and 16mm) or at least my Dodge Magnum uses it on many of its suspension fasteners.

 

[joebachor]

I use 20mm sockets and wrenches on machinery at the plant I work at almost every day.

 

[fourtythree]

I want to say I've used an 18mm a handful of times on my Mazdaspeed 3.

 

[Bryanthegreat]

Ford crown Vics and E series use 18mm for seat and seatbelts

 

[HighPlainsWrencher]

Ive used mine a few times as a spacer while pressing bearings.

 

[gtlaw]

I want to say I've used an 18mm a handful of times on my Mazdaspeed 3.

check out the clutch slave cylinder bleeder valve its 9mm

 

[Matt Irvine]

I use almost all of my metrics fairly regularly, but does anybody want to tell me what my 25/32 socket and ring spanner are supposed to be for?

 

[Dirty Diesels]

20mm? Let's talk about 23mm...evil.

Used to use 23mm wrench on Hiab crane hydraulic hose fittings regular, it's also a conversion of a 1/2" Whitworth size but socket, I cannot recall using yet.

 

[Hootbro]

I use almost all of my metrics fairly regularly, but does anybody want to tell me what my 25/32 socket and ring spanner are supposed to be for?

Unless you work on 1940's and prior vehicles, many of those **/32" sizes are not used anymore.

 

[dsmnickk90]

Bmw uses 9 and 11. Ford idler pulley the other day was 18. I think ive only used my 20 of strut compressors.

 

[zcbauer89]

I've used 20mm on some International Harvester farm equipment. That was when IH was starting to mix SAE with metric.

 

[eyeballengineer]

lower idler gear on International dt466 is 12point 20mm torqued to 470 ftlbs book calls for a special tool. 3/4 drive thinwall impact socket. also some larger cat head bolts are 12point or double hex 20mm

 

[georgiadave]

I use almost all of my metrics fairly regularly, but does anybody want to tell me what my 25/32 socket and ring spanner are supposed to be for?

20MM fasteners. LOL