Harbor Freight Wrench for E-Star Nuts

[xroad]

Does wrench for E-Star nuts and bolts work for regular hex nuts and bolts? The wrench set is E6 x E8, E10 x E12, E14 x E18, E20 x E24. If they do, that means the contact surface is at he face of the nut, not the corner. Sort of like a face drive socket or wrench or spline drive.

Why? It is low price, interesting, and I'm itching to buy someting different.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=65680

 

[Fedwrench]

Does wrench for E-Star nuts and bolts work for regular hex nuts and bolts?

No, they're cut differently to to grip the recessed torx. Hex won't fit. If you have a torx driver look at the end of it and you'll see what I mean. You could get the Chinese spline wrenches they sell that fit 6 different types of fasteners though.

 

[billymade]

Ok, so go buy the set; try it out and give a review!

 

[Uncle Buck]

Heck, as cheap as those are, and as seldom as I would likely use them I think I will pick up a set. I won't be able to report back though since I will like ly not reach for one till who knows when!

 

[chammyman]

cheap as they are rarely if ever used.

I can't think of any E torx bolt you can get to easily with a spanner, always need a socket and usually an extension in it as well.

 

[Merkava_4]

I can't think of any E torx bolt you can get to easily with a spanner, always need a socket and usually an extension in it as well.

Damn skippy.

 

[Stephenw]

That's the first time I've heard inverted torx fasteners called "E-Star".



I was shocked when I clicked on the Harbor Freight link and found...

 

[wilbilt]

That's the first time I've heard inverted torx fasteners called "E-Star".

I have seen tools for Torx fasteners referred to as "star" tools many times. I believe the "Torx" name is a trademark and the tool manufacturers have to pay a licensing fee in order to use the name.

Since the Chinese don't pay for licensing anything, HF is probably just playing it safe.

 

[Tool Pants]

I call them E-Torx or internal torx. The Torx name was/is a trademark, so maybe that is why they call it star. Or something just got lost in the translation.

I have a German car and I use the socket version for the seat bolts. You can sometims find a normal SAE or metric socket with will fit instead of an E-Torx socket.

 

[Joe B.]

Yeah, the 'Torx' name is owned by Camcar-Textron (if I remember correctly) They also had the patent on the design but that ran out decades ago. Trademark names don't expire.

 

[billymade]

I think they are also called "external torx"; trademark issues makes sense, I guess..... when I see the "torx" name being used in catalogs, many times it has the copywrite symbol as part of the name.....

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

cheap as they are rarely if ever used.

I can't think of any E torx bolt you can get to easily with a spanner, always need a socket and usually an extension in it as well.

I wish I could remember the specs, but I have seen exactly one vehicle where a wrench would have fit easier then a socket. This was do in part to rust, part age of vehicle and prior work. It had a brake line that came close to the torx bolt on the wheel cylinder. A wobble was needed but wouldn't fit, and it wasn't a good idea to move the line due to rust.

I might pick these up for the ONE time use. Better on the budget.

 

[chammyman]

well for the $7 or whatever it is its worth it for the 1 time use.

you sayign wheel cylinders reminds me of one as well, a vauxhall I think, where the wheel cylinder is held on with torx bolts and you can't get in with a ratchet due to the spring seat being in the way

 

[epmills]

I work on Mercedes all day long for a living (E-Torx bolts all over the place), I have yet to NEED a E-torx wrench, although there have been a few times where one would have been easier than a socket. Gearwrench makes a ratcheting version of these, I may invest in a set at some point if I can find them on sale. Usually 50 bucks or so for a 4 peice set.

 

[Fedwrench]

I wish I could remember the specs, but I have seen exactly one vehicle where a wrench would have fit easier then a socket. This was do in part to rust, part age of vehicle and prior work. It had a brake line that came close to the torx bolt on the wheel cylinder. A wobble was needed but wouldn't fit, and it wasn't a good idea to move the line due to rust.

I might pick these up for the ONE time use. Better on the budget.

That was probably a GM u van like a Chevy Venture for example. A 1/4 12 point combination wrench works just fine on the that size of external torx.

 

[joenero]

Transfer Case on 2003-2005 Range Rovers with the BMW M62 V8, it is impossible to use a socket/ratchet on some of the bolts so a wrench has to be used. I just use a regular 8mm 12 point wrench and it gets the job done.

 

[xroad]

I work on Mercedes all day long for a living (E-Torx bolts all over the place), I have yet to NEED a E-torx wrench, although there have been a few times where one would have been easier than a socket. Gearwrench makes a ratcheting version of these, I may invest in a set at some point if I can find them on sale. Usually 50 bucks or so for a 4 peice set.

That is what I want to know .....

What regular hex socket fits onto what Torx head?
What Torx socket/wrench fits onto what regular hex head?

 

[Senorpablo]

Created another thread about some great Blackhawk sets on eBay. There are some torx sets as well:

Blackhawk double box ratcheting torx set, 4 pc.

 

[JayL]

For the $7 price why not. I have never met an E-Torx bolt yet but maybe its because I'm just a DIY mechanic tinkering mostly with Japanese vehicles.

 

[elvisaurusrex]

Just buy a nice, non-chinese-made pair of vise grips. I've never even seen a bolt like that..

 

[Frank Elson]

Range Rover Classic brake calipers use them - but, like everyone else, the 12 point socket does the job.

 

[autoace]

Saab and Benz use external torx, I have some Snap-on ones that were big bucks. I saw Harbor Freight had these wrenches, a niffty small metal box set of tamper proof torx and e-torx sockets with a stubby ratchet, and deep external torx sockets in two drive sizes. I bought them all, on sale for thirty bucks and have to say they look and work fine. They don't get used that often so I'm sure they will do fine. I have my own personal tool stash of Cornwell, Snap-on, etc., but I won't let my employees touch those tools, they can use my Harbor Freight and Craftsman stuff in different boxes but will be fired if they grease print my premium stuff. What usually surprises me lately is how tough the tools are, the above E-torx wrench set had a pipe put on one for a Saab 9-5 V6 job for some reason and it didn't wimper, I have the receipt for lifetime warranty proof anyway, save and label your reciept and throw them in a box. If you get a half dozen or so H.F. tools photo copy the receipt and mail them back or take to store, they will give you new ones. In the last 3 yrs. I have had the worst luck with Craftsman tools and they don't "give them away "like Harbor Freight does, here's a tip, I disassemble all my new ratchets and fill them with Clevite engine break in lube, lots of times you can adjust the spring for pawl tension and make a cheap or expensive ratchet slick and more reliable.A.A.

 

[eschoendorff]

here's a tip, I disassemble all my new ratchets and fill them with Clevite engine break in lube, lots of times you can adjust the spring for pawl tension and make a cheap or expensive ratchet slick and more reliable.A.A.

Merkava has a friend!

 

[Frank Elson]

nope, wrong lube.
aa you will probably burn in hell.

 

[peterbilr98]

you need the wrenches for a peterbilt door hinge cant fit a socket and ratchet between door and cab only thing iv found use for the wrench for

 

[bart1]

E-Torx. External torx. Common on German cars, especially bmw. I have a Hazet set that has some wrenches and some sockets. I don't think I have used them yet, but I used to have a mini (new, bmw owned) and I had several. Don't recall any on my Porsches, or Japanese or American cars.

 

[jeremy v]

Wow, I saw this thread and clicked on the Harbor Freight link thinking I would get a set in case I ever need them, but their site showed them as not existing. Then I noticed that this thread is several years old.

 

[devoncoolman]

Lol this is an ancient thread indeed. Pulled this baby out of the archives. Etorx wrenches are needed to do starters in x series bmw's and wheel cyl on several gm cars including granprix grandam and venture vans.

 

[sselander]

Gearwrench makes External Torx (E-Torx) double box ratcheting wrenches

You may find some older ones labeled K-D

http://www.gearwrench.com/search?q=e-torx+Ratcheting+Wrench

 

[nicksnothereman]

Wow, I saw this thread and clicked on the Harbor Freight link thinking I would get a set in case I ever need them, but their site showed them as not existing. Then I noticed that this thread is several years old.

Just get a set of 1/4" craftsman universal sockets. More than adequate for most e-torx (that aren't drivetrain bolts). 3/8" if they are. They're like 10 bucks for a decent set or you could just use 12 point wrenches (metric probably a better fit). Cheapest way to do it.

I'm not sure why these don't exist anymore besides the fact that there aren't a whole lot of e-torx fasteners on cars and their customers probably didn't buy them...but the idea for the set is in fact awesome if they were decent quality. Sk has a wrench set for like 26 bucks...not too bad if us made.

 

[kts]

Gearwrench makes External Torx (E-Torx) double box ratcheting wrenches

You may find some older ones labeled K-D

http://www.gearwrench.com/search?q=e-torx+Ratcheting+Wrench

These were life savers when I needed to install a bunch of studs in the head for the exhaust manifold on my old BMW with the engine still in the car. Much easier than trying to double nut 24 studs in an awkward area with limited access.

I got them for $25 or so off Amazon, worth every penny!

 

[ndoran]

I work on Mercedes all day long for a living (E-Torx bolts all over the place), I have yet to NEED a E-torx wrench, although there have been a few times where one would have been easier than a socket. Gearwrench makes a ratcheting version of these, I may invest in a set at some point if I can find them on sale. Usually 50 bucks or so for a 4 peice set.

I missed out Canadian Tire had the Gearwrench/Mastercraft-Maximum 4 piece ratcheting set on sale for $19-99 just before Christmas.

 

[unslow1]

Lol this is an ancient thread indeed. Pulled this baby out of the archives. Etorx wrenches are needed to do starters in x series bmw's and wheel cyl on several gm cars including granprix grandam and venture vans.

I was trying to remember what I had recently run into them on. I did wheel cylinders on my sister's Grand Am. That must have been it. Usually I see them on manifold studs.

 

[jeejay]

 

[48548]

Etorx? Or etorx plus?

 

[jeejay]

torxfinit-e (not to be confused with torxfinit-i)

 

[Gmonkee]

I use SAE sockets on a small breaker bar.

Six point 5/16" 3/8" 7/16" seem to be the magic sizes. I want the wrenches but no great need to spend when a solution is at hand.

 

[geartow]

i beleive this wrench set has been discontinued . which is a shame as they worked well for mercedes drive shaftg bolts

 

[Briancapecoral]

I just replaced a head gasket on my son's Suzuki (GM engine.) Those would have been great, it had e-torx all over the place. I used sockets but wrenches would have saved some time on the low torque fasteners. To answer the original question, they would be a great tool to have if needed, but won't work well to tighten a hex head.

 

[AA/FC]

Some Medium duty step vans (think bread trucks) use E-Torx bolts (E-10) on the rear drive shaft yoke. In the towing business I always carried my own "drive shaft bag" regardless if the company truck had a full stock of tools. My bag always had two E-10 Torx wrenches, one Snap-On and one VIM Tools, along with a full set of Lisle E-Torx sockets. If you weren't careful, you could easily round off the head of those little buggers if your socket wasn't dead-on square with the bolt head. (drive shaft in the way) So I usually broke them loose with a wrench first, then zipped 'em out with my cordless impact.

On another note..... I just replaced a rear wheel cylinder on a 2006 K1500 Chevy Silverado the other day and it was held in with two E-Torx bolts. Weird. I had no idea those could be found anywhere on a GM light duty truck.