7mm Allen Wrench?

[littletoes]

Working on the brakes on my '03 Ford Focus, and reading the manual it says, and I quote; ".....use a 7mm Allen to remove the guide bolts..."

Anyone own one?

I went through a couple of sets I have, and neither have a 7mm in 'em.

I noticed 17/64 is a hair small, and 9/32 is a hair big.....crazy.

 

[Dirty Diesels]

Most ford brake caliper bolts are 7mm but they could be a one off of T45 torx but that would be on the focus c-max.

 

[basspro]

lol, I own several, all at work. I ran into this on our "old" 02 focus two weeks ago. I was going to do front brakes prior to listing the car for sale. I keep plenty of useful tools in my Stanley truck toolbox, but not this size. I went down to Autozone and picked up a set of SAE/MM bit set in common brake sizes for $10, done deal. So my 20min brake job turned into an hour, no big deal.

 

[Alex in Canada]

Typical Ford.

Use a double nutted bolt maybe?

 

[Packard V8]

Inch size sets are unlikely to yield a 7mm.

Hex key/Allens are so cheap, I've got literally pounds of the individual pieces. Seems like every time I buy a complete box at a garage sale, there are a couple of sets there. They come in handy for replacements for the socket driven sets. Twist one a little, throw it away, cut off a loose one and back in business. Need a custom length, no problem.

One of these days I'll get those without holders sorted into metric and inch, so I won't be guessing.

jack vines

 

[Dave455]

Yes, these Metric things are turning up more and more! I went out and got a set of wrenches that run all the way up to 10mm, and I have inhex sockets up to 19mm!

If the next question is 'which brand' I find Snap On and Stahwille to be about the best for inhex sockets, with Ko Ken close behind and just as hard wearing! Quality really seems to matter with the inhex sockets (ditto torx), much less so with regular Allen wrenches - I 'd just pick up anything U.S. made !

 

[Richard Cranium]

I just checked and my craftsman 42 pc bit set has the 7mm...Rich

 

[Packard V8]

If the next question is 'which brand' I find Snap On and Stahwille to be about the best for inhex sockets, with Ko Ken close behind and just as hard wearing! Quality really seems to matter with the inhex sockets (ditto torx), much less so with regular Allen wrenches - I 'd just pick up anything U.S. made !

Apex - not most readily available but the best IMHO.

jack vines

 

[Outlawmws]

Inch size sets are unlikely to yield a 7mm.

Hex key/Allens are so cheap, I've got literally pounds of the individual pieces. Seems like every time I buy a complete box at a garage sale, there are a couple of sets there. They come in handy for replacements for the socket driven sets. Twist one a little, throw it away, cut off a loose one and back in business. Need a custom length, no problem.

One of these days I'll get those without holders sorted into metric and inch, so I won't be guessing.

jack vines

I'm about ready to get a couple of divider boxes and sort all the loose Allen's in different sizes I've collected this way. sort of like drill bits...

And on the bolded part. I'm planning on making a set of long ones, as well as a set of ball points in socket sets...

Bondhus also made good ones, and I think still do.

 

[Packard V8]

Great minds think alike, Outlaw.

Bondhouse also made good ones, and I think still do.

If one is doing a search, Bondhus http://bondhus.com/index.html will have more hits.

jack vines

 

[firebox40dash5]

The Gearwrench 3/8" drive sets includes it. I've had excellent luck with all my GW hex/torx bits, never broke one (knock on wood) even using them on impacts.

I too wondered WTF a 7mm hex bit was used for at first.

 

[Outlawmws]

Great minds think alike, Outlaw.

If one is doing a search, Bondhus http://bondhus.com/index.html will have more hits.

jack vines

fixed!

 

[larry_g]

I ran into the same problem. One of my 8mm hex keys is now a 7mm thanks to a little grinder work.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[wafrederick]

Even Chrysler uses a 7mm allen wrench for brake caliper bolts.

 

[Stooge]

None of my bondhus or ecklind sets came with them, so i just bought a 7mm 3/8 bit socket since it would just be used for brakes and a socket and ratchet made more sense than leveraging an allen key

 

[Wayfastwhitie440]

Whats even better is the 9mm allen socket for the newer ford trucks but even better then that is when you call the commercial manager at the parts store that used to work for ford tells you that ford never used a 9mm allen and that no one makes a 9mm allen socket. I just said that if anyone ever called him looking for a 9mm allen socket is to have them call snapon they have them on the truck

 

[jjjrmx5]

Working on the brakes on my '03 Ford Focus, and reading the manual it says, and I quote; ".....use a 7mm Allen to remove the guide bolts..."

Anyone own one?

Yep. Just had to help a neighbor do the front brakes on his Mercury Contour/Ford Mondeo last month.

7mm for the funky hex caliper guide bolts.

I keep a full set of everything and all sizes for that reason. I thought it as totally weird but not uncommon in the tool world.

Blame Ford.

Or likely, FOE.

 

[zkling]

Yep 7mm hex indeed. I used to use a long craftsman hex key, until thanks to a member on here I got a Easco usa 7mm, 3/8" drive socket. So much easier. Quite a few of the smaller cars are using that cheap, shoulder bolt, one piece slide design these days.

Don't forget the spring clip on the front.

Most ford brake caliper bolts are 7mm but they could be a one off of T45 torx but that would be on the focus c-max.

I was working on the other day where some previous a$$hat had hammered a torx into what was a 7mm hex, then proceed to use a impact on it.

 

[rhuff86]

I hate when they do that stuff like that. I had to get one doing brakes on I believe it was a Seabring. Just today I had to get a T47 because my 45 was too small and the 50 was too big to take off an Idler pulley on a Jeep Commander.

 

[shockwave]

Actually 7mm is quite common hex size for calipers I even have a universal 7mm hex from hazet for some bmw. Where a 9mm I have only used a handful of times on a newer Mazda tribute

 

[Duarte]

The SAAB 9-5 brakes uses 7mm also. Not uncommon at all.

 

[rayh91]

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-6-pc-metric-3-8-in-dr/p-00934448000P?prdNo=5&blockNo=5&blockType=G5

I have this set. They work in a pinch but I seem to break a lot of them especially if the hex socket isn't in the bolt all the way or at an angle is when they break.

 

[bimmerZ5]

7mm Allen is pretty common, I have a few of them. not sure what the big deal is? car manufacturers that use ATE as brake supplier are all likely to have the 7mm Allen guide bolt.

 

[92integra]

i don't always use allen sockets but when i do i make it. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004LE0XBC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[unslow1]

Whats even better is the 9mm allen socket for the newer ford trucks but even better then that is when you call the commercial manager at the parts store that used to work for ford tells you that ford never used a 9mm allen and that no one makes a 9mm allen socket. I just said that if anyone ever called him looking for a 9mm allen socket is to have them call snapon they have them on the truck

I had to buy an entire set at Harbor Freight to do a Mariner. I tried to buy an individual 9mm of better quality but no place I tried stocked them.

 

[littletoes]

Thanks All!

Glad to hear I ain't the only one that learned this lesson....never knew my sets didn't come with a 7 till today, now ain't that funny?

Guess I'm dating myself, this is the first rig that I've had a need for a 7.

 

[venturesomerite]

for what it's worth, I have a companion (CHEAP craftsman brand) set of 3/8" drive allens. Cost like $10 or so, been using them for years for brakes, no problems yet. Just a thought.

You can def tell the are cheap, but if you don't use it every single day, it will do fine.

The come in torx, MM and SAE, so for about $30 you could have the whole shebang,

 

[theknurl]

7mm & 9mm Allens?

I got paid for spinning metric wrenches starting in '59
my SnapOn Allens have black stripes on them

there are NO 7mm or 9mm in my sets

half wit engineers are like male dogs and fire hydrants......they just have to leave their mark

go to page 199 of the SnapOn catalog and look at their stud pullers......how about a CG500-48 or a CG500-49?????

the 1st POS is a spark plug thread M12 x 1.25.....the second is M12 x 1.50 what can you do with that????

DIN M12 X1.75 is the STANDARD and SnapOn still doesn't have it?????

I explained it to them 37 years ago


geniuses

before anyone gets pissy, I worked in the engineering department of HiShear Corp an aerospace fastener company for years

my Father, the Enfant Terrible of the aircraft industry in the US (late '20s-early'70s)

basically accused Donald Douglas of treason in front of the Board of Directors....and got fired LOLOL

he called Jack Northrup......Jack wanted him to run fighter maintenance for all of England....
"are you kidding me? my Father left England because of nuts and bolts" (he was a master tool and die maker)

a Rolls Royce Merlin engine has 72 different screw threads.....
a Packard Merlin has 7.......you figure it out

instead my Father went to North American Aviation he was the Design Producibility Engineer on the P-51 to the B-70

you design a POS that uses a non standard fastener or tool, and try and get it past my Father

good luck

some of my Father's work;
http://airandspace.si.edu/webimages/previews/80-2100p.jpg

the wing root fillets are made in one piece......rolled and polished
the plane is missing the fuel tanks my Father made and its ID tag......yup, I have a blank Northrup ID tag......they MAY get it when I croak.......If my little sister feels like sending it to the Smithsonian......TWA was too cheap to send my Father a pass to make new tanks for them for free, so they could fly their very 1st plane to Washington

screw them

 

[nicksnothereman]

Working on the brakes on my '03 Ford Focus, and reading the manual it says, and I quote; ".....use a 7mm Allen to remove the guide bolts..."

Anyone own one?

I went through a couple of sets I have, and neither have a 7mm in 'em.

I noticed 17/64 is a hair small, and 9/32 is a hair big.....crazy.

They want you to use a socket on it probably. I know they sell them as "ford caliper socket".

 

[Danglerb]

My normal has it all HF 100 bit security set goes from 6mm to 8mm with no 7mm. Very likely I have 7mm in my toolbox, 100% likely I will soon.

 

[turdferguson13]

Working on all kinds of European cars, a 7 mm allen socket is very normal to me for brake caliper slide pins. 9 mm I have only seen a couple of times.

 

[Dirty Diesels]

Whats even better is the 9mm allen socket for the newer ford trucks but even better then that is when you call the commercial manager at the parts store that used to work for ford tells you that ford never used a 9mm allen and that no one makes a 9mm allen socket. I just said that if anyone ever called him looking for a 9mm allen socket is to have them call snapon they have them on the truck

Yep 9mm we got them on the Jaguar XF & Mercedes S-class (used to be 7mm & 8mm) brake calipers, we only used to use a 9mm on Perkins diesel engine sump plugs.

 

[efb16acrx]

9mm on escapes

 

[Dirty Diesels]

Yep 7mm hex indeed. I used to use a long craftsman hex key, until thanks to a member on here I got a Easco usa 7mm, 3/8" drive socket. So much easier. Quite a few of the smaller cars are using that cheap, shoulder bolt, one piece slide design these days.

Don't forget the spring clip on the front.



I was working on the other day where some previous a$$hat had hammered a torx into what was a 7mm hex, then proceed to use a impact on it.

I hate it when some clown does that, you just know when the bolt butchers have been there, you got some work to do

 

[Dirty Diesels]

Wait till you guys come across Peugeot, Citreon & Renault, they've got five sided pentagon bolts on their calipers & Mercedes vito van rear calipers, also ford put them on the mk3 mondeo calipers.

 

[jeremy v]

I don't buy hex sockets, because I have never been able to find them at a very good price or at any estate sales up until now, so I usually just use hex keys and/or cut down hex keys and put them in regular sockets as needed. If I want it to stay in the socket I put a little bit of plastic garbage bag over the hex end before pushing it in the socket and it stays put.

I just bought the 15pc set of hex L-wrenches from Bondhus a week or so ago (set #12195) and it seems like some of you could use one too. If I remember correctly they also sell the same set in ball end, but I don't know the part number for that set. It comes with several sizes that most metric sets do not include like 1.27mm, 3.5mm, 4.5mm, 5.5mm, 7mm, and 9mm. I only paid about $10 for my set, so it is a minimal price to pay for more rarely used hex wrench sizes that are still very good quality.

 

[littletoes]

Well, I'm now the proud owner of a 7mm hex socket....can you believe it?

Napa Carlyle (Taiwan I think)....asked the guy if it was lifetime warranted, and he said yes it was, and I asked him politely that if I broke it, could I get my money back. He said if I keep the receipt, that yes I could. No, I won't put a cheater on it, but I'll replace it with a Snappy if it breaks.

You know, some of you guys are just not making me feel warm and fuzzy about these crazy fasteners that are out there!

Thanks guys for the heads-up, wonder what else I'm going to run into with this Focus....I have to replace the passenger lower A-arm, front and rear.

 

[Dan5speight]

Vauxhalls use a 7mm bolt also on brake calipers. I was working onsome kneeding rollers at work and needed a 14mm hex key, ordered one from RS at 5pm got it the next day straight from Facom in France didn't even know they went that large

 

[mrbreezeet1]

now you got me wondering if my snap on set has one in it?

 

[Dirty Diesels]

Vauxhalls use a 7mm bolt also on brake calipers. I was working onsome kneeding rollers at work and needed a 14mm hex key, ordered one from RS at 5pm got it the next day straight from Facom in France didn't even know they went that large

Yeah they do & they go upto 19mm (3/4"af) in 1/2" drive & 3/4" drive for driveshaft centre bolts on VW & also some plant machinery.