Where have you run across external torx?

[rapyoke]

As a shadetree mechanic, would it make sense to have a set of external torx sockets? Where have you guys run across them?

 

[Fedwrench]

Ignition switches and on the end of various studs. They would only be worth having if you need them for what you work on.

 

[MrMark]

Just have a look under the hood of a german car, you will see them everywhere. I bought the Wiha (Heyco) set and the SO set. The Heyco set is VERY nice for the money if you need them.

 

[t100]

exhaust, water pump studs.

 

[hofferwood]

"97 Malibu headlight adjustments
Chuck

 

[CLee0507]

I seem to recall there was some external torx bolts on the intake or heads of my Explorer. Also used them on the back side of a Mack Granite headlight assembly.

 

[jjjrmx5]

Seat hold down nuts and various seatbelt fasteners for many current GM vehicles.
Toyota ocassionally uses them as well.

Mainly things the factory doesn't want the avg. joe messing with due to fault, safety and litigation. That's why the Torx-plus fasteners are used on a lot of safety based assemblies.

All in all you never know where they will pop up and because they offer a pretty good bite area , they are acceptable to remove and re-install, as least for me.

Until they start producing mass quantities of e-torx combo wrenches as you can use a std combination wrench on them for the tight spots but it's not advised, you'll only see them in specialty or "stay the &^% away" fastener situations for OEM.

 

[GTVi]

I've used them on BMW's

 

[Freeborn John]

They pop up on some Fords, notably on studs which can be removed to make life easier by improving access to awkward jobs in the engine bay.

 

[coldfusion21]

Lots of them on my 93 BMW. Axle bolts and bellhousing bolts and head bolts all e torx.

 

[shampoop]

German cars.

 

[Vicegrip]

As said German cars. I like external torx. Great grip on the tool and hard to round off.

 

[aussiek2000]

Cadillac Catera, but it is an Opel.

 

[bw77]

Wheel bearing/hub on Volvo cars.

 

[DiscoBerry]

for me i see them mainly on studs that are removable, i think they are worth having but i wouldnt buy expensive ones

 

[z28snksknr]

Distributor cap on 93-97 Camaro's / Firebirds + 92-96 Corvette's w/ LT1's (Caprices and Impala SS' of that period too just to be complete).

As if that job wasn't enough of a pain in the ***.....

 

[Jeeper]

The top bell housing bolt on a jeep wrangler is external torx. Just the top, the rest are normal hex.

 

[Boost Creep]

headlight adjusters on my yukon have em

 

[Crash913]

Seat bolts on my '01 Silverado

 

[blown94conv]

Power steering pump bolts on a 94 Mustang GT.

 

[ptschram]

Seat mounts, SRS/Airbags, headlight assemblies, and something else I can't recall right now-Land Rovers.

 

[MrSnicks]

All over the Saturn engine I just replaced the spark plugs in. Took an E10 socket to get them off.

Patrick

 

[acmike]

The top bell housing bolt on a jeep wrangler is external torx. Just the top, the rest are normal hex.

Just TJ/LJs as far as I know..

I know YJs just have 6 normal hex fasteners. Haven't had the trans out of a JK yet though..

 

[LocoCoco]

Starter bolts on a 2.5L TJ.


Had to run out to Part Source and buy a set for $35. That was years ago and haven't touched them since...



LC.

 

[ekeller]

I have used normal 6 point sockets on them before with good luck.

 

[Buckgnarly]

Flywheel on Ford Ranger

 

[Boiler]

Studs that the spare tire mount bolts on with on the Jeep Liberty. Sounds like something you'd leave alone but I wax behind my mount bracket...

 

[Boiler]

Anyone have a link to some micro E-torx? Smallest I have is E4 and my glasses have little torx nuts on them that are about half the size of an E4. Very similar in size to a T4. Remember that E-torx and torx sizes aren't equivalent. I'm guessing it would be an E0 or E00, if there is such a thing.

 

[crbracing]

intake gasket and timing belt on a 03 or 04 cts i think i only used 2 sockets everything els was external torx.

 

[tooth]

bmw transmissions all use them

 

[Sterff]

Just used some of mine recently on a Pontiac 2000 alternator bracket.

 

[cowboy73]

Wheel cylinders on 90 Pontiac Sunbird.

 

[pmohr]

Hub bearings on Chargers/Magnums, E12 IIRC.

 

[jim faston]

Volvo ABS computers. Notorious for failure.

 

[richfinn]

GM use them all the time in Europe on the Vauxhall/Opel range of vehicles.

As stated Ford use them for installing engine mount studs etc.

 

[Mustangmike]

Ford trucks use them to hold the rear brake rotors onto the hubs. E55 i think

 

[BQuicksilver]

German car engines.

 

[pmohr]

Ford trucks use them to hold the rear brake rotors onto the hubs. E55 i think

Are you talking about the larger/HD trucks, or your typical 150-350s? I've never seen E-torx used for a rotor hold down bolt on Fords, or anything for that matter (not to mention an E55 bolt would be huge).

The huge size of the E55 bolt notwithstanding, rotor hold down bolts are counter sunk and flat to allow the wheel to bolt up, the only ones I've seen are female torx and hex.

 

[MattT]

Just TJ/LJs as far as I know..

I know YJs just have 6 normal hex fasteners. Haven't had the trans out of a JK yet though..

Worked on a '94 XJ a while back and the top two bellhousing bolts were e-torx. IIRC it also had some e-torx studs.

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

E8 on 80's-mid 90's GM steering columns.