Who uses 12 point impact sockets?

[Formerjeeper]

Saw an email from Tekton saying they now have 12-point impact sockets in 3/8 and 1/2 drive.

Started me thinking - what's the purpose of this? It seems like ultra tight places where you need 12 point for placing the socket would make chrome the preference, and it's so rare I see an actual 12 point fastener I just use chrome for that also instead of keeping a 12 point impact set around. I'm just DIY user though.

Does anyone use 12 point impacts regularly and why/where?

 

[65ranchero]

Nope, I have not run into 12 point bolts where I needed them.
IDK maybe for some kind of head bolt? Big industrial components?

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Haven’t ever needed one working in the automotive industry. I do have one 12 point Pittsburgh Pro impact socket I found under the hood of a truck it’s a 7/8 so I use it to pull lug nuts off the bigger trucks. I really don’t even need a 12 point for that it’s just I don’t have a 22 or 7/8 regular impact socket.

 

[KnurledNut]

Some head bolts
Some driveline components
Some axle nuts
Some wheel bolts
Some crankshaft bolts

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Yep I forgot Toyota uses a 30mm 12 point axle nut which almost always has to be impacted off. Some driveshafts have 12 points but usually I’ve got to use hand tools on those cause impacts don’t fit to angle on there. Head bolts definitely only hand tools on those too but still some are 12 point.

 

[KnurledNut]

@BlakeTheCarGuy
39mm on some Toyota/Lexus

 

[ToolmanGary]

I have a few sets of 12 point 1/2 and 3/8 impact sockets, even 12 point swivel sockets. Diesel engines use some 12 fasteners on them and I do a lot of diesel work.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

@BlakeTheCarGuy
39mm on some Toyota/Lexus

Wow I was a Toyota mechanic at one point and never came across one that big. Wonder what models that is on?

 

[Flared Base]

I have ARPs that are 12 point on the flex plate, torque converter, rod bolts, main studs, and supercharger brackets. I went with 6 points on the head studs and rest of the engine accessories. I assume my situation is the exception.

 

[CS454]

The couple I have are for U-Joints and Flywheel bolts on rigs. Haven't run into anything on my current equipment with 12 point bolts/nuts that I couldn't get loose by hand.

 

[FMB4]

I'm waiting for some manufacturer to introduce a 13 point fastener. JK.

 

[JradM]

KnurledNut had it. It DOES come up in automotive applications - mostly driveline.

I did U-joints on my F150's front driveshaft recently - had to sacrifice a chrome 12pt 12mm socket because I wasn't willing to fork out for the Sunex specialty socket. Hopefully Tekton's are more reasonable.

I seem to recall seeing it on brakes before too... I don't remember the car make at the moment though. I think I just resorted to hand tools that time.

Edited to add: it might have been a VW.

 

[Fly YX]

Use them on aircraft .

 

[qqzj]

Why are 12 points used in driveline?

 

[CS454]

Why are 12 points used in driveline?

So you'd ask, as far as I can tell LOL.

 

[JradM]

Why are 12 points used in driveline?

Probably as a skill testing question.

There's no GOOD reason as far as I can tell. Possibly to reduce weight on those high-speed spinning components? To make sure you buy OEM bolts of the proper grade when you replace them? Could it theoretically allow for greater torque with it's higher number of faces?

 

[65ranchero]

Why are 12 points used in driveline?

Probably why Torx were introduced in the late '70s, I was told it was to speed up assembly
But I really don't know

 

[JradM]

Probably why Torx were introduced in the late '70s, I was told it was to speed up assembly
But I really don't know

That sparked an idea for me. I know on that F150 I worked on the rear bolts were recessed deep behind a metal guard. Perhaps it was supposed to help make it easier to line up your socket with the fastener? That's the idea with 12pt sockets generally right? Perhaps driveline components are often difficult to access and this was an attempt to make it easier - while also not compromising engagement strength like would happen with a 12pt fastener on a 6pt bolt.

 

[charbar]

I turn wrenches for a living and the only 12 pt impact socket I own is a 12mm for Ford driveshafts. And half the time you still have to use a chrome socket anyway just because of the clearance. I come across 12pt on other things, but just always grab a chrome one. Im not against using a chrome socket on an impact here and there. If it was something I seen on the regular Id get an impact socket.

Never seen the need I guess.

 

[Al Borland]

Why are 12 points used in driveline?

Because the designers hate us working on our own cars and want to make our lives HELL.
I would like to go back in time and kick some of them in the huevos while wearing clown shoes.
( Why clown shoes? They're bigger, and should hurt more.)

 

[KnurledNut]

Wow I was a Toyota mechanic at one point and never came across one that big. Wonder what models that is on?

Land-Cruiser, Sequoia, Tundra, LX570

 

[Wrench97]

Semi truck drive lines used 12mm then 13mm 12 pts to hold the straps to the yokes, they are used for clearance issues and the head is smaller then a standard 6 pt head.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Why are 12 points used in driveline?

Smaller diameter and less weight = less chance of being out of balance or snagging anything that might get caught.

 

[Jagmandave]

I build engines for Classic Minis and Sprite/Midgets - all the ARP studs I use are 12 pt, I only use the impact on tear down tho.. cyl.head, and rodnuts mostly.

 

[RedneckWelder]

Semi truck drive lines used 12mm then 13mm 12 pts to hold the straps to the yokes, they are used for clearance issues and the head is smaller then a standard 6 pt head.

this. Some driveshafts I deal with have 6 pt bolts, some have 12 pt bolts.


I also see 12 pts internal to components a lot more than external. A set of 12 pt impacts if you deal with that kind of stuff regularly speeds teardown.

 

[Lucid Moments]

I needed one once on a late 90's Jeep Cherokee suspension. Don't remember off hand exactly what it was. Irritated me because I didn't have one at the time.

 

[Lucid Moments]

I also see 12 pts internal to components a lot more than external. A set of 12 pt impacts if you deal with that kind of stuff regularly speeds teardown.

You talking about a double hex on that? I have heard of them but not run into them yet.

 

[setfocus]

I only use 12 points on 12 point nuts/bolts

I've got a 30mm deepwell axle nut socket for the toyotas
got a 12, 13, 14mm matco's for jeep wrangler and older ram hub bolts
have the 1/2" tekton set for Landrovers, they like to use 12 points but I still don't have the giant size needed for the BJ nut seen on the front lower forward arms. It's larger than 32mm. Still don't understand why people buy those. Overpriced hunks of ****, wish I had that kind of money, to throw away on ****
I see them on drive shafts but I've always been able to use a box wrench for those

I look on and off for affordable deep cut 12 points for clearing sensor connectors, like ford focus cylinder head temp sensors

 

[RedneckWelder]

You talking about a double hex on that? I have heard of them but not run into them yet.

There are so many weird fastener types I’m not sure what double hex is.

I don’t work on automotive so I don’t see the really weird **** that the Euros love to use, just normal 12 point and the wildest we get right now is external torx- had a Cat C4.4 a couple months ago with those on the rod cap bolts.

 

[Lucid Moments]

There are so many weird fastener types I’m not sure what double hex is.

I don’t work on automotive so I don’t see the really weird **** that the Euros love to use, just normal 12 point and the wildest we get right now is external torx- had a Cat C4.4 a couple months ago with those on the rod cap bolts.

My bad. I misread your previous post. You said "12 pts internal to components" and I read 12 pts internal. I was thinking of an Allen with another Allen overlaid on it at I guess it would be a 30 degree rotation.

 

[setfocus]

My bad. I misread your previous post. You said "12 pts internal to components" and I read 12 pts internal. I was thinking of an Allen with another Allen overlaid on it at I guess it would be a 30 degree rotation.

they use triple square in automotive which also has 12 points but at a pointier angle than the 12 points from a double hex... so a triple square socket would fit loose in a double hex bolt but a double hex socket would not fit in a triple square bolt at all... if that makes any sense. I'm not sure if internal double hex exists, I've never seen it

 

[johninct]

I am going to use a 5/8" one to take the starter off of a Cat 215 Excavator.

 

[Mgdoug3]

I have a set of 12 point 1/2" drive impact sockets. I use to have a truck that used 12 point bolts for for the wheel bearings. On larger sizes (24mm and above) it doesn't matter too much except for damaged or corroded bolts. I do have a set of 6 point impacts I use most often. High powered impacts round off a bolt quick.

 

[FuzzyTiger]

I have the Astro Axle Nut socket set. Its all 12 point impact sockets (29 to 39mm) and that's the only place I've ever used them.

 

[Wakefield]

I believe 12 point on 12 point is supposed to allow more torque before failure on a given diameter of wrenching size than 6 point on 6 point (12 point on 6 point not so much) believe that is only true if it isn't rusty
does a Subaru have some kind of 12 point bolt holding crankcase halves together? Down in a recess?

 

[Moose-LandTran]

so a triple square socket would fit loose in a double hex bolt but a double hex socket would not fit in a triple square bolt at all... if that makes any sense. I'm not sure if internal double hex exists, I've never seen it

They do make double-hex bolts like that. Toyota and Lexus headbolts. Triple square not really interchangeable.