Xzn bit sockets- why always so long??

[bimmer630]

I feel like every time I see triple square/xzn stuff for sale, it’s in a long bit format... but every time I NEED TO USE one of these bits, the long format gets in the way.
I bought An SK xzn 10 years ago for stuff on my Passat and cut it down shorter.. then I needed some larger xzn sizes for vw/Audi stuff and the SO sockets I bought were long. They didn’t have any other option on the truck.
Most recently I needed more sizes and grabbed a Mac set in a red plastic box, and they are all long bit/shafts too.
Is it me or do Tool companies just prefer to sell the triple square stuff in long lengths?

Granted I do have a vim 1/4” drive stubby triple square set, but those only go up to 10 or 12


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[Nero]

I feel like every time I see triple square/xzn stuff for sale, it’s in a long bit format... but every time I NEED TO USE one of these bits, the long format gets in the way.
I bought An SK xzn 10 years ago for stuff on my Passat and cut it down shorter.. then I needed some larger xzn sizes for vw/Audi stuff and the SO sockets I bought were long. They didn’t have any other option on the truck.
Most recently I needed more sizes and grabbed a Mac set in a red plastic box, and they are all long bit/shafts too.
Is it me or do Tool companies just prefer to sell the triple square stuff in long lengths?

Granted I do have a vim 1/4” drive stubby triple square set, but those only go up to 10 or 12


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The one I got from Capri Tools is fairly short and has a wide variety of drive sizes for the price. Their 10 in 3/8" drive, is shorter than the stubby Snap-On 10 XZN for what it's worth.

 

[chrisnazzy]

Based on what you've already stated you have, I'd pick up one of the Mac standard length sets to go with your long set.

SXMTS9B - 9pc. M4 - M16SXMTSP8PT - 8pc. M5 - M16 Impact

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[mlum6969]

^ or VIM stubby xzn

 

[L.Cheapo]

My 3/8" drive 8mm Snap On XZN bit socket is about 2.25" end to end. It's the only one I have, but I know they offer a full set in similar lengths.

 

[professaurus]

OTC makes a stubby set part # 5942 that has a hex end that you can turn with a wrench for even more clearance.

 

[Tonyuk]

Facom sell the same kits as the mac above, you can also get stubby sets through amazon and ebay;

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Welzh-We...m=173615758534&_trksid=p2045573.c101006.m3226

 

[winlinmac]

Can't go wrong with VIM stubbies, they'll take a better beating than the less familiar brands

 

[bimmer630]

Yeah.. I don’t always want to be this far from my work, lol.
Cameo by my newly rebuilt sk 1/2” ratchet with dt kit[emoji14]

...anyway i guess it’s just been that anytime i see xzn stuff for sale, it’s long bits.



Here’s my collection thus far. I have just purchased bits as I need them and now I have a mish mosh of redundant tools... the sk used to be a long bit but I cut it


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[bwringer]

Ya know, I have no idea why in the world they're that long

I haven't used my set since I had a Passat (and that's been a long while), but it never even occurred to me to look for a shorter set; I just thought that's the way it is and I figured there was some inscrutable Germanic reason for the unreasonably long adapters.

To keep your sanity with German cars, you sort of have to give in to the idea that sometimes you're never going to understand why they did things a certain way.

 

[BroncoAZ]

The Capri set is nice and short.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007UQLR9U/?tag=atomicindus08-20

For Impact check out the Sunex 3640:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CP8E5L0/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Wamsutta]

I gotta ask this stupid question:

Why are triple square bit sockets called "Xzn" bit sockets?

 

[5ktq]

My theory is, the first place I saw them show up on German cars in the 80's was on driveshafts (though CV joints).

In that instance a stubby wont clear the joint, so they came with 2-3"+ long bits.

After that I guess just inertia.

 

[bwringer]

I gotta ask this stupid question:

Why are triple square bit sockets called "Xzn" bit sockets?

They're exactly the same thing, but I've never been able to figure out the meaning of XZN. My best theory is that it's the acronym for a German company somewhere in the mists of history.

The "z" from "zeug" (translated as "thing" or "device") is very common in German company names, especially in industry. For example, Wiha Werkzeuge (Wiha Work-Things, literally - Wiha Tools).

 

[5ktq]

From what I can find:

XZN® is a registered trademark of the company Bauer-Schauerte

Guessing that's from the era when Textron owned them (XZN® sure reminds me of TORX®).

B&S normally have more german names like inbus, verbus, etc.

 

[Sine Swept]

Just saw Wiha has some 12 / 14 / 16 L keys available.

My torx Wiha has been top notch.

For the longer bit sockets could they not be cut and pressed out and in?

Tool steel can handle being shortened if it can be reused in the socket. Or buy sockets with set screws?

 

[5ktq]

I bought the wiha keys in 10 and 12 (i think). Haven't really had to used them yet but they look nice.

Figure they'll be useful for some short access things - I changed the seats in my one car recently and the rails are held in with triple square with very little clearance. Ended up using the snap on ones I have, but there was no room for a ratchet (had a wrench on the hex part to clear).

 

[rick carpenter]

I had to buy a set of xzn bits to remove the door on a Jetta I had a while back. The proper way was to remove the fender for to access the hinge that had one triple square bolt in it. Baloney. I bought a parts house xzn bit set that was, like you say, too long and had the M12(?) bit cut down so I could just use my ratcheting wrench without disassembling the car. Haven't used them since.

 

[aheroicdose]

So I have absolutely no evidence for this, but it seems kinda like all four of those letters have 4 points, and if you were to superimpose them, one over the next, you'd get a 12 point star.

 

[dnschmidt]

Dude, ASTRO to the rescue: https://www.astrotools.com/product/9-piece-3-8-drive-nano-impact-triple-square-bit-sockets/

 

[Dave455]

Totally understand the O.P. on this one.

Not just XZN but also Torx and hex. Seldom need the long ones, but often need the short.

KoKen offer a selection of 4 different lengths.

Hazet offer two lengths, as do Stahlwille.

Here are the short ones.

 

[Blind1]

VIM for me.