Torx and Allen Sockets

[humpdawg]

Good to hear VIM tools are good. I need some more bit sockets and I remember VIM tools are affordable, but wasn't sure if they were worth a ****.

What else is on that list? Just curious because our 3 german cars are all put together much better than our american made cars, and much more thought out as well. They are tougher to take apart though. I don't mind.

I want to hear an explanation, too. I do body work and I'm coming from working on a lot of domestic and Asian cars to recently a fair amount of German cars. I have actually found German car to be much easier to dissemble and reassemble than American and Asian.
I am one of those people that feels new cars are easier to work on than old cars.
I have a strong hate for phillips/pozidriv screws, if that says anything.

 

[sberry]

One of the reasons Germans are often better is they have better QC with fasteners, they monitor it till installation. Don't let screws sit and rust before use, are properly lubricated before installation.

 

[Skin]

BMW's use torx head bolts

big difference between the torx bit sockets and their applications being discussed and external torx.

 

[paigej]

I thought it was a strange place to run into them but found them when we had to remove and replace some playground equipment recently, I was like ...who the hell is going to steal a playground slide? all the button heads were security types.

I'm pretty sure it's for protection from lawsuits. The first kid that falls off a slide because some a@@ took the bolts out! Kinda like the security screws in bathroom stalls....

 

[bobemmerich]

I have these. The original Allen...With the exception of what is marked.

 

[ddo]

I usually use interchangable bits rather than a socket set for hex and torx. I like the space savings and not worrying about tearing up a bit. Much harder to find individual socket hex and torx. I have more than enough hex bits rolling around and they're dirt cheap. Used the socket approach a bit but it was always frustrating to have one bit out of the set go bad. Have 3/8 and 1/4 square by 1/4 hex adapters made by Wera and couldn't be happier with them.

 

[jmm]

As far as US made stuff bit sockets, I have Craftsman Industrial, Proto and Snap-On. It's not always the case, but with these particular items Proto's offering is every bit as good as the Snap-On. The Craftsmans do the job, but warrantying them out would be a hassle if it ever came down to it.

 

[durallymax]

Good to hear VIM tools are good. I need some more bit sockets and I remember VIM tools are affordable, but wasn't sure if they were worth a ****.


I want to hear an explanation, too. I do body work and I'm coming from working on a lot of domestic and Asian cars to recently a fair amount of German cars. I have actually found German car to be much easier to dissemble and reassemble than American and Asian.
I am one of those people that feels new cars are easier to work on than old cars.
I have a strong hate for phillips/pozidriv screws, if that says anything.

THeir mag rails are my favorite for organizing anything.


I shouldn't say the german cars are hard to dissassemble. They come apart nicely, are very well thought out and tight fitting. Its just that often times there are a lot of steps to get to the end result. Like removing the HVAC controls on my MKIV Jetta versus our GM trucks. Take half the dash apart on the jetta and only take on trim piece out on the GM. On the flip side, the GM goes back together sloppy and never fits well again where the VW goes together tight and stays that way.


They don't seem to have many "WTF were the engineers thinking" moments either.

 

[humpdawg]

I guess I do have some blue point branded VIM stubby TORX sockets. I love those things, they have held up very well!

THeir mag rails are my favorite for organizing anything.

They look nice for organizing, but I hate having my tools magnetized.

I shouldn't say the german cars are hard to dissassemble. They come apart nicely, are very well thought out and tight fitting. Its just that often times there are a lot of steps to get to the end result. Like removing the HVAC controls on my MKIV Jetta versus our GM trucks. Take half the dash apart on the jetta and only take on trim piece out on the GM. On the flip side, the GM goes back together sloppy and never fits well again where the VW goes together tight and stays that way.


They don't seem to have many "WTF were the engineers thinking" moments either.

I had that exact thought working on a 2012 MB C 250. It was rearended. The front headrests were replaced, 3 seat belts were replaced, rear body panel replaced, spare tire hardware replaced, trunk lid repaired, and quarter panels repaired.
I'm replacing the exhaust and installing the bumper tomorrow. That was the most pleasant car I have ever worked on. Very simple and like you said, It's all still very tight.

 

[shoturtle]

I usually use interchangable bits rather than a socket set for hex and torx. I like the space savings and not worrying about tearing up a bit. Much harder to find individual socket hex and torx. I have more than enough hex bits rolling around and they're dirt cheap. Used the socket approach a bit but it was always frustrating to have one bit out of the set go bad. Have 3/8 and 1/4 square by 1/4 hex adapters made by Wera and couldn't be happier with them.

It is pretty simple with a socket bit when they wear out, just knock them out an put in a new one. I replace all my hex or torx socket bits when they wear down with wiha bits

 

[mobiledynamics]

Just wondering. I know matco and cornwell bits are Vims.
What about brands like otc, sunnex, neiko, and the list goes on

 

[shoturtle]

otc is good so is sunex they have taiwan made. Neiko is pretty poor quality. But that is reflexed in their price. Think their bits are made in china.

 

[Skin]

Just wondering. I know matco and cornwell bits are Vims.
What about brands like otc, sunnex, neiko, and the list goes on

Matco are actually USA made. Its some MAC sets and Cornwell the are S2 steel bits from Taiwan. Cornwell is definitely sourcing from VIM, MAC might be too but they're having their own sockets made for housing the bit.

 

[mobiledynamics]

Yeap. I learned that when I got my Security Torx Bit from Mac and Cornwell Hex the same week and was scrathching my head like...wait a minute, they look very similar

 

[jvitez]

Wright tools. I've got their SAE and metric hex set. Made in USA.

http://www.wrighttool.com/online_catalog.asp

 

[Douglas733]

THat is so cool...tell me some about "the original Allen" that is interesting

I have these. The original Allen...With the exception of what is marked.

 

[Motor-Mechanic]

big difference between the torx bit sockets and their applications being discussed and external torx.

True, but GM Europe have used internal torx on head bolts (as have Ford...Pinto engine) and transmission bell housing bolts, and engine mounting bolts, and transmission mounting bolts.

 

[durallymax]

True, but GM Europe have used internal torx on head bolts (as have Ford...Pinto engine) and transmission bell housing bolts, and engine mounting bolts, and transmission mounting bolts.

Bell housing bolts on 4l60 are Torx-Plus. lots more torque ability there. Not saying every one is that way, just one I ran into.

 

[Motor-Mechanic]

Bell housing bolts on 4l60 are Torx-Plus. lots more torque ability there. Not saying every one is that way, just one I ran into.

All of those mentioned in my previous post are standard Torx. I believe Nissan use Torx-Plus on some auto transmission bell housing bolts, but they're the largest Torx-Plus application i've seen so far.

 

[Mad_Max]

I will ask your opinion without new topic. I am in the market on set of allen and torx sockets. Quality and durability are on the top, than price. I am in dilema between Hazet and Nepros.
What is your opinion? Do you have another proposition?

 

[shoturtle]

I have not uses Nepros, but the hazet have very hard tips on their bits. So they wear well.

 

[Mad_Max]

I have some things from Nepros, and they are great, but I have not used Hazet.

 

[Steve_P]

otc is good so is sunex they have taiwan made. Neiko is pretty poor quality. But that is reflexed in their price. Think their bits are made in china.

have you actually used Neiko bits? I say this because the ones I have appear to be ok, with my limited use, esp for the $, and they are made in Taiwan, not china. I have said this before, but they appear the same quality as the HF taiwan bits, and sunex bits, of which I have both.

 

[shoturtle]

Yes I order them from amazon. They were very soft. But they were cheap. Taiwan made bits are much better then their chinese cousin still. But the chinese ones are dirty cheap. The set I got off of amazon were made in china on the packaging. But I am not surprise. HF uses a second tier taiwan supplier. While all there taiwan stuff are okay, whey you compare them to a higher grade taiwan stuff from Blue Point or Kolbalt. You really see the difference.