Metric vs. SAE Std tool use

[TWX]

GM,Ford and Chrysler should go back to SAE fasteners,easy with two thread pitches instead of 5 with the Metric bolts and nuts.It is called if there is nothing wrong with it,don't fix it!.I call it a waste of money going to the metric fastners.

I want our auto companies to sell vehicles overseas. That pretty much means metric unless we only want to sell vehicles to Myanmar...

 

[garfunkle24]

Now German cars use 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19mm, plus more specialty fasteners than ever (XZN, E-Torx).

Which German cars are now commonly using 12, 14 and 16? Everything I see is still DIN (10/13/17/19/etc). There have been several metric "standards" for as long as I can remember. Japanese stuff is different to DIN and North American is a **** shoot in my experience, although is more commonly 14/16/18 vs the DIN 13/17/19.

 

[mayhemman]

sae 90% most used is 1/2" and 9/16" wrench or socket.
10mm are common ever other day or so. not much about that though.


the truck is a mix standard and metric, mowers mostly standard cept a few here and there. when none works get the dynomite lol

 

[dankicksass]

I'd like to use my SAE tools more, but seems I only use them on my own stuff lately. I used to see a lot of old Fords and Chevys in the shop, but it's almost all VWs and newer Jeeps now. The Jeeps have a mix, especially if there's aftermarket suspension or axles.

 

[Black89LX]

70% SAE.. class 8 mechanic and I mostly use 1/2, 7/8, and 15/16 for chassis. but on engine work its metric.

 

[Outlawmws]

Well its been a bit over 20 hours since I posted the poll, and 160 votes are in. I note a dozen people vote 100% Metric, so I have a follow up question for those that voted that way.

Where do you live/work that you can get by without any SAE?

I'd guess most likely the EU, and not too likely in the US or Great Britain, but I could be wrong in that assumption.

 

[Rural53]

Well its been a bit over 20 hours since I posted the poll, and 160 votes are in. I note a dozen people vote 100% Metric, so I have a follow up question for those that voted that way.

Where do you live/work that you can get by without any SAE?

I'd guess most likely the EU, and not too likely in the US or Great Britain, but I could be wrong in that assumption.

Not EU but New Zealand. We have a lot of second hand Japanese import vehicles here so most stuff I deal with as an amatuer is Japanese 4wd and hence metric. The question was what do you use most? I voted 99.9% metric (ie 100%) because even though I own SAE tools the only SAE tool I've used in the last couple of years is a 1/2" spanner to undo/do up the cables on Warn winches.

 

[Outlawmws]

Bump for the during the week crowd.

Interesting numbers on the poll so far:

A bit over 50% are heavy Metric users, about 20% SAE, and nearly 30% are 50/50.

 

[TjoFrasse]

Well its been a bit over 20 hours since I posted the poll, and 160 votes are in. I note a dozen people vote 100% Metric, so I have a follow up question for those that voted that way.

Where do you live/work that you can get by without any SAE?

I'd guess most likely the EU, and not too likely in the US or Great Britain, but I could be wrong in that assumption.

Not a pro, just a hobbyist. Live in Sweden.

Just work on european and japanese cars. 90% of bolts I turn is DIN sizes. I have some SAE sockets that came with a kit, still unused though. Other than that all my tools are metric.

 

[Flatintoone]

This DIYer/Hobbyist uses 99% metric on the family's (21st century) vehicles. SAE comes in handy for home projects, air fittings, lawn mower, etc.
I would think that even someone who wrenches full-time on European or Japanese hardware would need at least the basics in SAE for things like pullers, extractors, taps, air fittings, etc.

 

[rayh91]

Well its been a bit over 20 hours since I posted the poll, and 160 votes are in. I note a dozen people vote 100% Metric, so I have a follow up question for those that voted that way.

Where do you live/work that you can get by without any SAE?

I'd guess most likely the EU, and not too likely in the US or Great Britain, but I could be wrong in that assumption.

Work at an Acura dealer so I don't see many if any SAE fasteners. It's nice to have just one set of tools.

 

[BigAl62]

When I started wrenching, most every thing was SAE, as the years went by most went to metric. I still use SAE, but not as much as I used to. It ***** having to have 2 sets of sockets and wrenches, but what are you going to do not work on anything that uses what you won't buy (SAE or metric)? I'm just glad I don't work on old British stuff and need British Standard Whitworth tools too!

 

[bobemmerich]

I voted 70% SAE, but only because I work on my Mustangs more than my regular vehicles.

 

[littletoes]

Most boilers and HVACR equipment is SAE, but I also work on Weishaupt burners, and THEY are 100% Metric.

I voted 70% Metric, thinking of my home stuff....but at work, its much closer to 90% SAE.

 

[Lt CHEG]

I voted 70% metric. I buy new vehicles and most of my wrenching is maintenance on them, so that accounts for the mostly metric. I also have a New Holland Boomer 3040 cab tractor and several attachments though as well as an equipment trailer to move it so I encounter a lot of SAE in those areas.

 

[oldwino]

I voted 70% metric. I buy new vehicles and most of my wrenching is maintenance on them, so that accounts for the mostly metric. I also have a New Holland Boomer 3040 cab tractor and several attachments though as well as an equipment trailer to move it so I encounter a lot of SAE in those areas.

Interesting about your New Holland Boomer. I have a TC33 that required me to start buying metric stuff...most accessories are SAE, but replacing starter, etc required metric and a trip to the tool vendor.

 

[Lt CHEG]

Interesting about your New Holland Boomer. I have a TC33 that required me to start buying metric stuff...most accessories are SAE, but replacing starter, etc required metric and a trip to the tool vendor.

Honestly, the tractor is mostly metric from what I've seen and all I've done on it so far has been to change the oil. However, as you mentioned the attachments are largely SAE as is pretty much everything on my equipment trailer.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

I went with 70% SAE.
working on specialty eqiupment - street sweepers / vac trucks and that sort of stuff - a 9/16 wrench is usually in my hand at least once a day along with 7/8, 1 1/4 and 1 1/2.....the work itself is about 90% machinery (hydraulics, pumps, blowers, etc) with some medium / heavy truck stuff thrown in.
We are seeing lots more metric components being built into the machinery, though. So that, automotive stuff and Jap tractors at home and whatnot , accounts for the other 30%.

 

[Gasser Built]

I went by for 4 years without any metric wrenches or sockets. I work on hot rods and american classics.
I started using Metrics once we started working on high end european cars and street rods.
But I use about 90% SAE

 

[Machobuck]

I never really use metric, I did work on my bicycle the other day and I recently bought a yamaha motorcycle but have yet to do anything there so I figured id vote while I was "pure" so to speak, or pretty damn close. Actually I use whitworth if not SAE

 

[stu32]

in the uk its all metric, even on the fords and stuff, only time i use sae is in a worn fastener or if its on summin reeel old like a old land rover

 

[PAPERMAKER]

90% SAE but we have some machines made in Europe.

 

[Spyder1gdsm]

I work in Aircraft Maintenance for the USAF and we only have SAE tools for our planes. All Snap-On as well.

At home, all my vehicles are metric.

 

[RedFordTruck]

63.4% sae

 

[twincam00]

[deleted]

 

[Link-Belt]

No fair. How come no BSE or whitworth?

 

[Toolhorder]

i have no need for metrics at work normally; however we do get some older cars through and i break out the std tools, its nice to have the right tools

Same here but A/C lines and some sensors like oil pressure, etc.. are SAE.

 

[MarkH]

One thing for the days past. One set of open ends, one set of box ends, one set short box ends, one ignition set, one 1/2 inch drive socket set with standard and deep. These covered everything we did

Now 1/4,3/8,1/2 socket set in metric,SAE,deep,std,flex impact and deep impact, 2 sets or combo wrenched metric and standard, short and long box ends metric and standard, flare nut metric and standard, open end metric and standard, crowfoot metric and standard. Who is this progress for. Not sure if it is my checkbook.

 

[MarkH]

Knew I forgot something, metric and standard flex and standard ratcheting wrenches.

One ratchet with a universal vs short and long regular ratchet, roto ratchet, flex ratchet, small body ratchet, index ratchet. Progress

 

[osborn.ozzy]

No fair. How come no BSE or whitworth?

because its not the 1800's

 

[mscribellito]

My car is a mixture of SAE/Metric... so both!

 

[platypus20]

When I started in the industrial boiler service business about 35 years ago, it was all SAE, up until about 8 years ago it was all SAE. As the super high tech boiler engineering and manufacturing today is mainly from Europe and an occasional piece from Japan, its now necessary to have both SAE and Metric tools in the service truck.

At the home shop its about 50/50.

 

[neonnblack]

and the Stratus might be. I can't remember if I've encountered SAE on there before or not. I know that K-cars had a mix, so they may have fully transitioned by the time they got to the JA platform.

I have both, use about 60-40 met-sae. My strat is fully metric.

 

[theoldwizard1]

My car is a mixture of SAE/Metric... so both!

What is SAE on a Mustang ?

I thought Ford went 100% metric back in the early 1990s.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

I posted 70 percent sae.

I typically wrench on 1st generation broncos and jeep cjs.

Occasionally newer jeep wranglers, suzuki sammys and toyota 4x4s wander in.

I generally don't wrench on nissans, hondas, and other ricers as they don't produce real 4x4s

 

[JDS968]

Probably 98% or 99% metric, which choice should I vote? I've got a pretty comprehensive set of shallow, deep, 6-point, 12-point, 1/4" drive, 3/8" drive, and 1/2" drive chrome inch-pattern sockets, all of which serve no discernible function other than to gather dust. I honestly can't remember the last time I used them. I also have a pretty comprehensive set of inch-pattern combination spanners, of which I use two...a 7/8" for tie rod nuts (also need to get a 15/16" for the occasional large one, instead of just using a 24mm, but I've got my heart set on a Snap-On GSOEX30 and I can't find one) and another (forget the size) for those quick-disconnect air fittings on air tools. So it wouldn't quite be accurate to vote 100% metric, but 90% is way off.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

What is SAE on a Mustang ?

I thought Ford went 100% metric back in the early 1990s.

I can't comment on the mustangs, but the F-series are pretty much standard untill the new body style came out in 97-98

The explorer/mountaineer is pretty much standard untill they dropped the 302 and went to the mod engines circa 2001

 

[Brian_B_]

I voted 50\50. I buy\keep sets of both. It depends on what I am working on. My truck is all SAE, but a lot of stuff now is metric.

 

[tribbles]

Mostly metric (I voted 70%), but I still do the odd SAE fastener around the house. The wife's Chrysler is mostly 10/13/15mm. The Caprice and Grand Am are just about all metric, but the Firebird is an unholy mix of metric and SAE.

Up until recently, the only 1/2" drive sockets I owned were metric.

 

[jtfc]

working on heavy trucks its mostly standard but lately i have noticed a lot of metric stuff has been appearing...