I ran into them somewhere, I know I have because I bought a 5 or 6 piece set of them.
Where have you run across external torx?
- Thread starter rapyoke
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iananderson17
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Yep. Only place I've ever seen one..
Moose-LandTran
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All over European GM cars, various places on BMWs, all over Mercedes-Benz cars, a few places on VW-Audi cars (Mostly in engines, main bearing caps, some headbolts, rod bolts.)
pmohr
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Also, main cap bolts in the VQ (most common Nissan V6), E14.
King Bojack
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I got a better question... Why the hell do car makers use E Torx in the first place? All of a sudden for a given application a simple hex nut/bolt is no longer good enough? Carmakers in cahoots with tool makers?
jjjrmx5
Well-known member
As a fastener, it allows a great amount of surface area for the tool to grip on to reducing the risk of stripping or damaging the nut and allowing for a higher torque rate.
Other reason is that is keeps the under-tooled or unknowledgable wrencher out of stuff that they'd (the mfgr.) rather not having him mess with, which is mainly saftety or liablity areas. Seat bolts, ABS, seat belst, air bags, ECU, steering columns, ignition/key areas, bearing caps, etc. German mfgrs try to do it with the 12pt. triple square.
bobcatdan
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All over the place on dutez engines.
regguy1
Well-known member
Front wheel bearings to spindle 2002 Chrysler Sebring
Some Jeep trans bellhousing to engine bolts
Some Jeep trans bellhousing to engine bolts
MrMark
Well-known member
The Germans do it because they believe it is a superior fastener system, not to keep anyone out of anything. If you want to keep someone out of something the best way fastener wise is a torx plus security which has 5 lobes and almost no one has the tools for that. When you see one of those (under-tooled, genius mechanic or dirt pit hack) that tells you "beware" this is not supposed to be messed with. E-torx, not so much.
bobcatdan
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I have to explain tamper proof torx plus to everyone trying to do a timing belt on their dutez. They are all like what the hell is that bolt?
King Bojack
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Ok then why don't they use E Torx all over the place? They use them in really weird spots for seemingly random reasons. I just don't get it.
Shipfittin
Well-known member
I have ran across them on a 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier.
I imagine they don't use them everywhere because it's not a common tool for most people? They might prefer to use it on certain items because they will rarely need to be replaced, if at all.
I imagine they don't use them everywhere because it's not a common tool for most people? They might prefer to use it on certain items because they will rarely need to be replaced, if at all.
jethro29
Well-known member
they are everywhere man.if you work on cars ,you will need them evntually.my advice is to invest in a good set,because a stripped or rounded e-torx stud or bolt is a real pita to deal with.
jjjrmx5
Well-known member
Agreed. Well... Snap-on sells the torx +.
I'm just always fascinated as to where the e-torx turn up.
It varies greatly from brand to brand and place to place on each vehicle.
Every mfr. and every engineer has their reasons I'm sure. But you will need the tool e sockets at some time some place I am sure.
MadMark
Well-known member
It does give more fastner to wrench contact area, but remember it also reduces the cross sectional area of the fastner.
So I would not be suprised if the e-torx head portion occasionally broke off on a stuck bolt.
MrMark
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I wonder if it works better for the tooling on the assembly line for the Germans. Almost everything under the hood of the Merc I have seen is e-torx.
crewchief888
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deutz diesel head bolts, injector hold down clamp bolts, rocker arm holddowns,
cessna or vickers hydrostatic pumps.
cessna or vickers hydrostatic pumps.
LocoCoco
Well-known member
Could be nice too that if you do strip it, there's a chance you can still remove it with a pair of Vise Grips.
What I've seen more often for tamperproofing are "security torx" (what I've heard them called anyway) where it's just a regular torx but with a pin in the middle so a special bit with a hole in it is needed. Jeep uses these on the roll bars that mount to the tub. The rest of them are just regular torx.
LC.
bolecailey
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I never used them until I bought my M3, now I use them all the time and am thinking of buying a nice set but don't don't know where to begin.
zoomzoomjeff
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Jeeps notoriously use Torx. My Grand Cherokee uses internal torx, external torx, safety torx, metric, and even SAE in a few places. 
From what I can remember the hatch strut bolts were external torx. The turn signal stalk and other items near the airbag are safety torx.
From what I can remember the hatch strut bolts were external torx. The turn signal stalk and other items near the airbag are safety torx.
Mustangmike
Well-known member
Sorry, E and F series trucks with full floating rear ends. remove the axle, and the hub, flip the hub over, and inside the there are 8 or 10 E55 torx bolts that secure the rear brake rotors to the hubs. sorry not to clarify on op
Appleyard
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Axel hub of the newer Ford E350s
I really should've read the entire post first...
I really should've read the entire post first...
Last edited:
rocklobster
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If you have to ask...
If you wrench enough you will eventually run into torx somewhere because they can be found just about everywhere in modern (<25yrs) vehicles.
If you wrench enough you will eventually run into torx somewhere because they can be found just about everywhere in modern (<25yrs) vehicles.
mrshaun
Well-known member
1998 p30 step van snap on truck drive shaft has e9 torx bolts on it. I always carried one incase I broke down and needed to be towed. ( have to pull the drive shaft on these trucks )
Patrick Boyle
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SAAB likes E torx. Head bolts and bearing caps on the H series engines (B205, B235)
znowaczyk
Banned
best answer yet!
ibedayank
Well-known member
newer style AC-Delco alternators 2.8l and 4.3l s10 motor studs on intake and other places
mecpman
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I've used them to remove the steering colom covers on the newer gm's its an e8 i believe and also the seat tracks on new gm trucks and vans
bmwohio
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So, for a shadetree mechanic, where is a good place to purchase a full set of internal and external torx?
Are the sets on amazon any good?
Like this one--> ?? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HSHV84/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Or this one--> ?? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KI11Q4/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Thanks for any feedback
Are the sets on amazon any good?
Like this one--> ?? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HSHV84/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Or this one--> ?? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KI11Q4/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Thanks for any feedback
littletoes
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E-Torx under the air bag in Pontiac steering wheel columns! And you need a "skinny" deep version to reach 'em!
Wrenchette
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E8 used on 1988-98 GM truck headlights.
E8 also used on L body/N body and maybe J body rear wheel cylinders.
I can't remember what size the seat bolts used in W bodies are.
E8 also used on L body/N body and maybe J body rear wheel cylinders.
I can't remember what size the seat bolts used in W bodies are.
Major Ramifications
Well-known member
So, for a shadetree mechanic, where is a good place to purchase a full set of internal and external torx?
Are the sets on amazon any good?
Like this one--> ?? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HSHV84/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Or this one--> ?? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KI11Q4/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Thanks for any feedback
Sears had an American-made Craftsman set the last time I checked.