Why Torx Plus?

[Blacknwhitepit]

Does anyone know a logical explanation for why there are now Torx Plus heads?

It seems to me that automobile manufacturers would only switch fastener types if it were either meant faster installation, cheaper to make, or for some safety reason.

Meanwhile I have to buy new sockets for this application. Not that I mind an excuse to buy new tools!

 

[Gearhead_42]

Better torque transfer across faces rather than face to point like regular torx... in other words, less prone to stripping.



That, and collusion with the wrench manufacturers, so you can NEVER own every tool you need... :rofl:

 

[ba614]

I noticed Wiha sells the Torx Plus sets. My Harley has regular Torx fasteners and they are easy to round out. I wish these companies would standardize the type fasteners they use. If you buy a vehicle from an American company when you work on it you have to figure out if the fastener is SAE or metric and i guess now you will have to figure out if the Torx heads are Tirx or Torx Plus. i don't mind buying the tools but I get aggrivated switching back and forth between metric and SAE and now it will be torx plus and torx.

 

[M5 LiTE]

So when is E-Torx Plus due out? I can just see my Snap-On dealer buddy laughing his way to the bank with techs "snapping" up regular Torx Plus and E-Torx Plus wrenches in short and long pattern, sockets and screwdriver-style sets.

I could see the tool manufacturers coming together to "develop" a new type of fastener and lobbying manufacturers to incorporate them into their regularly serviced components. Or at least the tool manufacturers are in cahoots with the fastener manufacturers... The techs will need to have the new "special" tool (or at least the dealer will have to purchase another specialized tool) in order to be able to complete a service.

 

[engnerdan]

According to the info I read when researching the difference for work, you can use regular torx drivers in torx-plus fasteners but you do not get the benefit of the torx-plus and they are a little sloppier.

-Dan

 

[mulepackin]

"It seems to me that automobile manufacturers would only switch fastener types if it were either meant faster installation, cheaper to make, or for some safety reason."

Or, as has already been stated, to allow tool manufacturers to make and sell yet another tool in a large variety of styles and sizes to further confound and challenge us poor buggers working on things. Let's see, add this to the list of:
- Standard head
- Phillips head
- Pozidrive head
- Robertson head
- Hex head
- Torx head
- External torx
- Security Torx head
I'm certain there are others I missed???

 

[Thumper]

Uhhh ..........You missed Clutch Head. Better known as "butterfly or figure 8 " screws found mostly on older American cars.

 

[Major Ramifications]

You also didn't mention spline headed fasteners, which I had never heard of until recently. Come to think of it, they look a lot like Torx Plus.

 

[drbill]

I did some research on this back when Ford started using them on the bed bolts for the 04 F150's
They went to them to speed up assembly because you don't have to slow the gun down when going from bolt to bolt while tightening them during production.

 

[mulepackin]

Uhhh ..........You missed Clutch Head. Better known as "butterfly or figure 8 " screws found mostly on older American cars.

How could I have forgotten those , my 55 Chevy was loaded with them! Still have those drivers in the toolbox.

 

[tony p]

A few others (seen in the UK and Europe at least) are...

a 'security hex' (hex with a pin in the middle, rather like Resist-Torx)

male and female spline-heads

BNAE (two slim, dead-straight slots crossing at 90 deg, with no flaring at the centre)

Torq-set (similar, but the limbs of the 'cross' are offest)

Tri-wing (as above, but a three-eared 'cross')

Bristol key (six small square teeth spaced around the edge of a circular bore in the head - I think that's an aerospace one)

No idea what they are all for though... have only had personal encounters with the first two.

I thought the auto industry did it to discourage you from working on your own cars!

 

[Elroy]

How is this for some propaganda:

http://www.camcarsolutions.com/torxplus_ds.asp

 

[Uncle Buck]

How is this for some propaganda:

http://www.camcarsolutions.com/torxplus_ds.asp

It's about time you checked in!

 

[Danglerb]

Its the old no user serviceable parts inside line. Dealer only service is something they all dream of achieving. Much greater profits, and people buy new cars much sooner.

Spline is 12 point star "most" of the time, my cars use the M8 and M12, for flywheel and CV joints. Mercedes uses them on heads and some other parts.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Its the old no user serviceable parts inside line. Dealer only service is something they all dream of achieving. Much greater profits, and people buy new cars much sooner.

Spline is 12 point star "most" of the time, my cars use the M8 and M12, for flywheel and CV joints. Mercedes uses them on heads and some other parts.

I personally think that Ford has the inside track on achieving this goal, every single Ford product I have ever worked on had more *** aches engineered into them than GM could ever dream of, it seems that Ford has done a good job of creating a need for the specialty tools the truck drivers carry! They have not beat me yet cause I am too damned stubborn to give my stuff over to them!

 

[dink]

Here is the next step up from Torx plus....when that doesnt do the job

Ribe Drive
---Used on new VW's

 

[Uncle Buck]

Here is the next step up from Torx plus....when that doesnt do the job

Ribe Drive
---Used on new VW's

Lord I hope those do not start showing up on everything new!

 

[joenero]

There's also tamper resistant torx plus, you can only use those bits on those fasteners, they're 5 points instead of 6, so you can't use regular tamper resistant torx bits.

 

[joenero]

Jaguar is using rib drive bolts for they're V8 cylinder heads now too, err.

 

[rhandwor]

I have one torx plus E torque for Nissan transmissions. Snap-on or J Kent Moore sell this size. This is a 1/2 inch drive. Bloomer Tool sells a 1/2 inch set of E Torx from E 10 Grey pneumatic does also.

 

[autoace]

They show up on MAF(mass airflow sensors)and for a few trans bolts, but I have not seen much, Porsche is starting to use them,only vehicle I have seen them on.