6 or 12 pt axle nut socket set

[mountain_man]

I am about to purchase some axle nut sockets and am looking at getting a sunex set. However I am torn between 6 and 12 pt. My question is which set will serve me better. Where I work we see a lot of american and asian cars. Not much european.

Will the 12 point wear out faster, or round off the 6 point nuts?

Or should I get a 6 point set first and then fill in with 12 point stuff later?

 

[Jarhead0408]

I am about to purchase some axle nut sockets and am looking at getting a sunex set. However I am torn between 6 and 12 pt. My question is which set will serve me better. Where I work we see a lot of american and asian cars. Not much european.

Will the 12 point wear out faster, or round off the 6 point nuts?

Or should I get a 6 point set first and then fill in with 12 point stuff later?

I'd get both. Jeeps need 12 point.

I bought Sunex for the 12 point and HF for the 6 point.

 

[mcmtech]

I've got 6 point, and then have bought the 12 point sizes as I've needed them

 

[LXCam]

You'll find 12 point in most cases.

 

[JJThrasher]

I've never needed a 12 point personally. I just use my normal 1/2" impact sockets which are 6 point.

 

[bcradio]

6 point is much more common

 

[ex-x-fire]

6 point is much more common

but 12 pts are becoming that too.

 

[WhiffySpark]

Lexus and Toyota are generally the only common 12 point I see. I have the ast set to cover vw/audi. Lisle 6 points for everything else

 

[bmwpowere36m3]

Depends on what you work on... all I see are 32 and 34 mm 12-pts. Not sure what "set" you need to buy. I've got them as needed.

 

[tonyciambrone]

If you can only have one set and you work on a lot of vehicles, go 12 point. Mercedes uses 12pt 30mm on some vehicles, I think Toyota does too. So that's at least 30, 32 and 34 mm that you will need 12 pt in. and with how big those fasteners are I don't think you'll round them. my .02

 

[Richard Cranium]

If you are going to buy just one set, get the 12 point. I have both.

 

[mountain_man]

Thanks

 

[dsmnickk90]

I have both.

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

if you are working on different cars, you need both.

 

[dnschmidt]

When the size of the socket gets that big 6 or 12 point doesn't matter from the standpoint of rounding off fasteners. So 12 point does them all.

 

[bcradio]

but 12 pts are becoming that too.

True, the newer stuff seems to be 12pt more now.

GJ answer is to get both

 

[stage20]

I'd be ok to use 12 point sockets on nuts that large. I'd just buynthe 12 and be done. Big sockets take up a ton of room in a box

 

[Finky198]

I have a set of the 6 point harbor freight sockets and a full set a 3/4" drive chrome 12 points that covers all of the rest. I would say I use 70/30 6pt vs 12pt.

 

[anndel]

For Toyotas I use a 12 point

 

[BajaBound]

Go 12 on those.

 

[Superbec]

12p will do normal hex nuts, not the other way around

no you will not damage any hex fasteners with good 12p sockets, ever damaged a nut with a closed end 12p wrench? I thought so.

Also , there's not much torque on those fasteners , not close to the limits of the sockets

For some bmw's you'll need 46mm 6p

 

[Pho20]

12pt most axle nuts are not reused anyway so no worries about rounding

 

[mjoekingz28]

True, the newer stuff seems to be 12pt more now.

GJ answer is to get both

Yeah, but you HAVE to get deep SAE 12pt and SAE 6pt, shallow 6pt and shallow 12pt plus all metric deep and shallow (12 and 6) plus THEN you gotta have the impact SAE and metric.


Then I suspect you will be okay.

 

[wasabiboys]

12p will do normal hex nuts, not the other way around

no you will not damage any hex fasteners with good 12p sockets, ever damaged a nut with a closed end 12p wrench? I thought so.

Also , there's not much torque on those fasteners , not close to the limits of the sockets

For some bmw's you'll need 46mm 6p

1000% true for bmws

 

[Gew]

Thanks for this, guys. My Toyota uses 30 mm and I thought it was 12 pt but now when I removed the wheel it turned out to be 6 pt, and I had just bought a set of 12 point hub nut sockets. Now I know I can still use them! [emoji846]

Other then the 30 mm socket, my red box also contained 32 and 36 mm sockets, plus 14, 17 and 19 mm Allen sockets. All made of Ch-Mo steel. Hopefully these bad boys will last me a lifetime! [emoji41]

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

Our new 6-point set (78866) made for people afraid of 12-point sockets even has a sneaky 12-point in it because some sizes are only in 12-point. You just need it

 

[Kev442]

Just had to use the Cman 36mm 12 point chrome socket I last used around 1992 this week. Even as an avowed 6 point fan, there really is no problem at these sizes.

 

[Superdavey]

when you get into bigger nuts sizes like axle nuts, its generally hard to strip them... 12 point should be fine