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Spindle Nut Socket Sets

Pontiac787

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May 31, 2016
Messages
801
Location
New Hampshire
I’m looking to purchase one of the better spindle nut impact socket sets. I’m thinking Astro/Gray Pneumatic/Sunex. Is there any legitimate reason not to go with a 12 point set? I’ve already got 6 point impact sockets up to 30mm. It seems the 12 point set would be more versatile with no real drawback due to the larger sizes.

Astro seems to be the best value, especially since it’s not an everyday tool for me.
 
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four.cycle

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Oct 19, 2015
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28,953
Location
Tacoma, Washington
We were selling CTA spindle nut sockets in the 80s. Good stuff. NO clue if level of quality has changed. At that time, they were all U.S. made. Not a clue today.
Just tossing it out there as an option.
Looks like they sell sets and onesie-twosies as well.
 

ecotec

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Oct 5, 2010
Messages
5,451
I have always preferred 6pt… depending what you work on. You may also need some 4wd ones and 12pt 30mm and maybe 39mm and who knows what else. There are some sizes that I know exist… but I have never needed.
 
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Pontiac787

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May 31, 2016
Messages
801
Location
New Hampshire
The question I’m trying to answer is if anyone has had issues rounding a 6 point nut with a 12 point socket on something larger than 30mm.
 

no704

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Apr 27, 2016
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5,224
Have a set that I rented at Orileys and never returned.
 

lund

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Nov 2, 2019
Messages
796
Location
Michigan
Spindle nuts are usually not high torque, so 12pts will work.
I think for large sizes, even for a 6 pt socket, 12 pt works fine. The material engagement areas should be plenty large enough where stripping is not an issue.
 

jayemm

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Dec 18, 2018
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up high down low
Seems like a good place here to ask a question. A few weeks ago a neighbor removed the front drive axle nut on his 2010 VW Passat when replacing the strut. After he finished I saw the nut looked a bit chewed up. I know he bought a socket but not what kind. Is that nut a tri-square or just 12 point and are the sockets interchangeable?
 
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vssjim

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Joined
Aug 5, 2007
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2,713
Location
McLean Va.
The question I’m trying to answer is if anyone has had issues rounding a 6 point nut with a 12 point socket on something larger than 30mm.
I have both but the Astro set is 12 point and I use it all the time no problem just grab the box and go
 

vssjim

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Joined
Aug 5, 2007
Messages
2,713
Location
McLean Va.
Seems like a good place here to ask a question. A few weeks ago a neighbor removed the front drive axle nut on his 2010 VW Passat when replacing the strut. After he finished I saw the nut looked a bit chewed up. I know he bought a socket but not what kind. Is that nut a tri-square or just 12 point and are the sockets interchangeable?
12 point external is the same as triple square same thing
 

ChevyEFI

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Joined
Sep 2, 2012
Messages
8,750
Location
Phoenix, AZ
Well, not quite.
Seems like a good place here to ask a question. A few weeks ago a neighbor removed the front drive axle nut on his 2010 VW Passat when replacing the strut. After he finished I saw the nut looked a bit chewed up. I know he bought a socket but not what kind. Is that nut a tri-square or just 12 point and are the sockets interchangeable?
Nope
 

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dscheidt

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Apr 26, 2017
Messages
2,901
Thank you. Now I can see there is a difference. Why do they do this **** (triple square) when 12 point exists. Able to withstand more torque before stripping , I guess.
For internal drive at least, triple square can take the highest torque of drives that are relatively straightforward to put in a bolt head. that means you can can use a smaller head (and probably thread size), and smaller heads make it easier to put bolts where they can't be undone without taking half the car apart. I expect external triple-square is similar, but that's just a guess.
 
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