Extended Length Hex Bit Sockets

[dede2897234]

Does anyone own these type of impact hex sockets made by manufacturers like Grey Pneumatic: http://www.gpsocket.com/index.cfm?event=catview&id=4662.

I am interested in GP models 1343MH and 1363MH.

Which specific automotive repair applications (ex: brakes, drain plugs) would these extended length hex sockets provide an advantage versus the standard length ones?

When working on which specific automobiles would it be advantageous to own the extended length hex sockets?


Thanks,

Dave

 

[mrholeshot]

I'm sure there is a use but I don't have a clue why I would buy a set. I have long ones but I don't ue an Imcact with them

 

[dede2897234]

mrholeshot,

Have you used your extended length, non-impact, hex sockets in an automotive repair capacity?

If so, which automobile make, model, and specific repairs did you find the extended length to be advantageous?

Which brand of extended length hex sockets do you own? If you own any standard length hex sockets, are the extended length as durable as the standard ones?

Thanks,

Dave

 

[Brutl67]

I work at a Chevrolet/Buick Dealership and have since 2001, and I don't have any of those and have never had a need for one. My Snap On standard length set is all I've ever needed.

 

[Robertob]

I use long (non impact) ones in motorcycle repair all the time - intake manifold bolts, for one thing. Can't think why for cars.

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

I think they might been in engines, where extenstions are to thick(ie some manifolds)

 

[dede2897234]

Robertob,

Which brand of long hex bit sockets do you own? Have they been durable for you?


Thanks,

Dave

 

[Vinko]

I have a set of Armstrong that are useful for getting into to certain motors on machines to make repairs or adjustments. Especially where an allen key might be too cumbersome, awkward or take take too long to use.

 

[Torq'er]

Never needed them for anything on cars/small trucks either, but use the non-impact ones just about everyday on Busses/RV's.
Couldn't do some jobs without them in the cramped engine bays.

I have the longs in standard and ball-end, but the ball-end is all I've ever used.

 

[doctorschmullus]

Teng Tools from australia makes a set for about $85

 

[Stick Figure]

only oem application that comes to my mind for the extended sockets is on the intake manifold for the IS350. I use mine pretty often but mostly dealing with aftermarket parts. I've never looked for an impact version, but i don't use an impact but maybe twice a month anyway.

 

[Robertob]

Robertob,

Which brand of long hex bit sockets do you own? Have they been durable for you?


Thanks,

Dave

I have snap-on in only the sizes I need 3-4-5mm. I broke the ball end off a 5mm once with abuse, the non-ball end ones are fine. There's not much torque on a 6mm bolt. The rest I just use short craftsman or SO in certain sizes. Craftsman ones wear out fast so I have to replace them once or twice a year.

 

[otanica]

I work on CNC lathes and mills, i use long series all the time. There are no normal bolts on these machines.

Brad

 

[Stick Figure]

I I broke the ball end off a 5mm once with abuse, the non-ball end ones are fine.

I've broke the ball end off of my 6mm Snap on 3 or 4 times. I have an application where we use these in turbo exhaust manifolds, so they will occasionally seize up. The good is that they snap off because they are hard enough to not strip. The Matco set i have strips the ball out rather quickly rather than breaking. Not sure if that was done so they could say it worn out rather than broken or not.

 

[rhandwor]

Some heads use allen heads and the length would be useful.

 

[Danglerb]

I have a bunch of extended hex, different brands, HF, Snapon, Hazet, main use are the cam carriers on a Porsche 928 block with the bolts about 4" down inside the cover.

I don't use impact, and do use the shortest I can since ALL of the longs ones tend to twist more than I like.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

In my experience impact hex drivers are excellent for turning hexagonal reccesses into round reccesses and not much else.

 

[dede2897234]

Moose,

Do you own any non-impact, extended length, hex bit sockets? If yes, which brand(s) do you own and have you used them extensively in repairing automobiles?


Thanks,

Dave

 

[dede2897234]

I have a bunch of extended hex, different brands, HF, Snapon, Hazet, main use are the cam carriers on a Porsche 928 block with the bolts about 4" down inside the cover.

I don't use impact, and do use the shortest I can since ALL of the longs ones tend to twist more than I like.

Danglerb,

Which extended length hex sockets twist less: the Snap-on's or the Hazet's?

Have the Snap-on's or the Hazet's been more durable in automotive repair use for you?


Thanks,

Dave

 

[blarf]

McPherson struts. Most of the Bilsteins I've seen take a 7mm hex key as a counterhold so you can get that top nut on. The Konis I've got for the BMW are the same way.

K-Jet. The K-Jet fuel distributor adjustment is usually buried fairly deep. I don't know if those bits are long enough (typically one uses a long t-handle, but a bit could work if long enough).

Merc seems to really like the hex socket screws, so I could imagine some long bits being useful there (they also liked K-Jet so... eh). OLD (likely already thrown out) Volvo head bolts for the early OHC motors used a hex socket screw as well. For that you'd absolutely want an impact socket... not so you can use an impact driver on it, but so it won't break on you while trying to remove the bolt.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Moose,

Do you own any non-impact, extended length, hex bit sockets? If yes, which brand(s) do you own and have you used them extensively in repairing automobiles?

Dave, yes, i have a few. Snap-on, Hazet, Stahwille and another i think. I use them all the time, i have Snap-on 3/8" drive ones in 5/6/7mm and a ball-end 8mm and use the 5/6mm ones all the time. They're very good and extremely useful. I use them whenever possible as i like that the extra length gives lots of "hand clearance". For deeply-reccessed bolts they're essential, as the socket part of the driver won't fit. The Snap-ons are very good quality, as are the Stahlwille and Hazet.

The Hazet is a 5mm long (8-10") ball-end one for VWs, use it all the time too as it's just really handy.

The Stahlwille ones are 8mm and 10mm, for brakes, headbolts, stuff like that. On some VWs the rear brake caliper carrier bracket is held on with two 8mm socket head bolts and you need either a long driver or driver + extension to clear the shocks.

For me they're essential. I use them near enough daily (more so now that i work on everything.) and i think that 4/5/6/8/10 are the essential sizes. 7mm is useful for brake calipers slider pins to clear bleed valves and calipers in some cases. (Mazdas for one.)

I have long Torx/Triple Square for the same reasons.

Hope that helps.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Which extended length hex sockets twist less: the Snap-on's or the Hazet's?

For me, my Stahlwilles and Snap-ons twist about the same, which isn't much at all. I can get Stahwilles cheaper than Snap-on here.

K-Jet. The K-Jet fuel distributor adjustment is usually buried fairly deep. I don't know if those bits are long enough (typically one uses a long t-handle, but a bit could work if long enough).

Merc seems to really like the hex socket screws, so I could imagine some long bits being useful there (they also liked K-Jet so... eh). OLD (likely already thrown out) Volvo head bolts for the early OHC motors used a hex socket screw as well. For that you'd absolutely want an impact socket... not so you can use an impact driver on it, but so it won't break on you while trying to remove the bolt.

K-Jetronic uses a long 3mm driver, Snap-on make one for this purpose. But as you said, usually you use a T-handle for it.

Others use socket-head headbolts. Mercedes-Benz for example use 8mm and 10mm. I think a good quality bit would be fine. Better than an impact which is softer and generally not as high tolerance.

 

[blarf]

K-Jetronic uses a long 3mm driver, Snap-on make one for this purpose. But as you said, usually you use a T-handle for it.

Some do. The Volvo turbos use a 4.5mm drive IIRC. My guess is that some others do too since the turbo's fuel distributor was a V6 or V8 one with the extra ports plugged up.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Some do. The Volvo turbos use a 4.5mm drive IIRC. My guess is that some others do too since the turbo's fuel distributor was a V6 or V8 one with the extra ports plugged up.

Really? Never seen one like that. News to me!

 

[dede2897234]

Moose,

Do you own both 4" and 6" overall length hex bit sockets? If yes, which length do you prefer more than the other and why?


Thanks,

Dave

 

[knobby]

Another use the recessed bolt at the bottom of motorcycle front forks that secures the damping rod,impact keeps the damn thing from spinning usually 5 or 6mm

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Moose,

Do you own both 4" and 6" overall length hex bit sockets? If yes, which length do you prefer more than the other and why?

They're all different lengths. The Snap-on ones are 6", the Stahwille ones are about 5.5" and 6". I don't recall having a problem with mine being too long, yet. 4" would probably be fine. I don't recall ever needing a driver for something reccessed even that deep. 4" would give less overall twist but it wouldn't really make much of a difference realistically.

I think i'd prefer 4". When i "make" my long 1/4"-drive 4/5/6mm ones they'll be 4" long.

 

[blarf]

Really? Never seen one like that. News to me!

Yeah. The 240 Turbo was a rather odd duck, fun cars, but ditch the fuel injection ASAP. It wasn't great then, and it's worse now.

 

[Robertob]

Another use the recessed bolt at the bottom of motorcycle front forks that secures the damping rod,impact keeps the damn thing from spinning usually 5 or 6mm

forgot about that but i usually use a t-handle.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Yeah. The 240 Turbo was a rather odd duck, fun cars, but ditch the fuel injection ASAP. It wasn't great then, and it's worse now.

240TIC with a B23?

I'd like one of those twin-cam Swedish-spec 240TICs..

 

[dede2897234]

Moose,

Which automotive repair situations have you found the extended length Torx bit sockets to be useful?


Thanks,

Dave

 

[blarf]

240TIC with a B23?

I'd like one of those twin-cam Swedish-spec 240TICs..

That's a B21FT fuel distributor, pretty sure the B21ET got a similar looking one but got higher flowing injectors than the early B21FTs. I've got the factory manual sitting around here somewhere. Thankfully by the time they brought the twin cam turbo to market, they switched to LH-Jetronic (altho true to form lots of things were slightly different from the 8V turbos and the non-turbo 16Vs). The 2.3L turbos we got were, thankfully, all powered by LH-Jetronic. Perhaps one of the most simple and elegant fuel injection systems ever devised.

IMO the intercooler really made a mess of the 240 turbos (it's less tedious on the 700/900s because of the fuel injection and wider engine bay). I liked my 240 turbos, but the 700/900s were much more civilized for daily drivers (and easier to do maintenance on, easier to safely get more power too). I still miss my silver sedan with its pristine black leather interior and stiff clutch.

Which automotive repair situations have you found the extended length Torx bit sockets to be useful?

Off the top of my head I can't think of any, but a good set of TORX screwdrivers is a must for dealing with the Bimmer. Areas where I need the extra reach haven't been ones where I need the extra torque of a ratchet or breaker bar.

 

[wafrederick]

There is a long tox bit manitory for Ford 302s and 351s,a long T40 torx bit.Used on one of the plenum retaining bolts which is a T40 and is the inside middle one.I finally bought a long torx bit set,a Mac set which I got 30% off the list price becuase the dealer is going out of buisness.It has a T70 torx bit in this set and I do not know what use it is for

 

[Goinlow]

An 8mm long hex saved mr the other day doing rotors on a 95 passat.

I like Moose's idea to make long 1/4 hex drivers. I really want a set of them and a set of long torx.

 

[blarf]

There is a long tox bit manitory for Ford 302s and 351s,a long T40 torx bit.Used on one of the plenum retaining bolts which is a T40 and is the inside middle one.I finally bought a long torx bit set,a Mac set which I got 30% off the list price becuase the dealer is going out of buisness.It has a T70 torx bit in this set and I do not know what use it is for

Damn. That *is* big. The biggest I've seen was a T60 on my friend's Corolla (big honking banjo fitting for the power steering).

 

[wafrederick]

T60 is also used on GM "w" body cars for the front brake caliper bracket bolts.

 

[beelsr]

scoobies use a T70. front trans drain plugs.

 

[Vinko]

Dave, yes, i have a few. Snap-on, Hazet, Stahwille and another i think. I use them all the time, i have Snap-on 3/8" drive ones in 5/6/7mm and a ball-end 8mm and use the 5/6mm ones all the time. They're very good and extremely useful. I use them whenever possible as i like that the extra length gives lots of "hand clearance". For deeply-reccessed bolts they're essential, as the socket part of the driver won't fit. The Snap-ons are very good quality, as are the Stahlwille and Hazet.

The Hazet is a 5mm long (8-10") ball-end one for VWs, use it all the time too as it's just really handy.

The Stahlwille ones are 8mm and 10mm, for brakes, headbolts, stuff like that. On some VWs the rear brake caliper carrier bracket is held on with two 8mm socket head bolts and you need either a long driver or driver + extension to clear the shocks.

For me they're essential. I use them near enough daily (more so now that i work on everything.) and i think that 4/5/6/8/10 are the essential sizes. 7mm is useful for brake calipers slider pins to clear bleed valves and calipers in some cases. (Mazdas for one.)

I have long Torx/Triple Square for the same reasons.

Hope that helps.

I thought SO stopped making the longer version of the hex drive sockets, at least not offered in regular catalog anymore.

 

[bchee]

Saw these at Lowe's and was reminded of this thread.
They are the ball-type

 

[Griff93]

Do not buy the Grey Pneumatic allens. They are very soft and do not hold up at all. One of my co workers bought some of these a couple of weeks ago. He's had to warranty them every week since then and they don't last a whole week either. I have Snap on long allens that are handy every once in a while. I mainly use their regular length bits. I use my long torx more than my long allens as I mainly work on BMW stuff.