Splined bit sockets , what for ??

[Christine]

Found a set of these special bit sockets ... 10-12mm is the biggest . They're not torx or 3 square , the end is circular , i've not seen them before ? .. 1/2" drive , what manfacture uses them ? The guy had a Citroen...

 

[ruffgeezer]

That one looks to be a Ribe socket, found on Fiat/Alfa cylinder heads.

 

There is also a range called Torx+ which is slightly different again, they are found on the oil pickups of the PSA/Ford Explodium turbo diesels.

[UltraWomble]

Well thats your answer then.

 

Citroen use bloody loads of hex fixings. T5 seems to be the most popular for internal trim and oor winders

[beko1987]

I bought a set of hex bits and sockets for the meriva as vauxhall seem to love them! Zx uses loads of them too, so they get good use!

[Christine]

Having had to bum a big 3 square from a mate for my VW T4 balljoint job , i was excited when i found them ,nice having your own tools to hand , but on closer inspection they're no good to me... unless my Seicento has them holding the head on !

[Pillock]

VW driveshaft? I've got a set and that's the only reason I can think I bought them. Maybe Polo cylinder head.

[Christine]

vw t4 driveshaft is 12 point 3 square, i had to borrow that tool as well..

[overrun]

Smart Fortwo seat subframes.

 

Coupled with an 18v Snap-On impact gun, Halfords Professional bits can turn through almost 360°, before they inevitably sheer!

[DodgyBastard]

VW Polo driveshafts use an m8 splined bit, I had a nightmare trying to jam allen keys and torx bits in there before I found out what I needed.

[DSdriver]

It looks like part of a clutch alignment tool to me, but may be too small. I used to use a scrap first motion shaft.

[DSdriver]

Smart Fortwo seat subframes.

 

Coupled with an 18v Snap-On impact gun, Halfords Professional bits can turn through almost 360°, before they inevitably sheer!

Are those the ones that are guaranteed for life?

[ruffgeezer]

 

This gives you an idea of what shite you are dealing with.

[overrun]

Are those the ones that are guaranteed for life?

Yeah. I need to make my semi-regular trip there, complete with mangled tools for free exchange.

[Pillock]

Great info ruffgeezer, thanks. You forgot one though - known as "the last one you need to get out"

 

[pbottomley]

could be worse, i had to deal with five sided bolts the other day !!! I mean WTF

 

10470186_10204806000122756_3569699144697944825_n by paul.bottomley, on Flickr

[overrun]

Irwin bolt grips are the answer to the last two posts.

Amazing things.

[twosmoke300]

I've got a 5 sided socket somewhere . cost me a quid at a car boot . never used it . I believe its for stripping Bendix callipers on French shit.

[fordperv]

Irwin bolt grips are the answer to the last two posts.

Amazing things.

I found irwin customer service to be crap though, i managed to snap one and sent it back for warranty exchange and didn't receive a replacement, made 3 more phonecalls to them, each time they promised to get the replacement out to me and guess what it never emerged

[fordperv]

Irwin bolt grips are the answer to the last two posts.

Amazing things.

I found irwin customer service to be crap though, i managed to snap one and sent it back for warranty exchange and didn't receive a replacement, made 3 more phonecalls to them, each time they promised to get the replacement out to me and guess what it never emerged

[ruffgeezer]

could be worse, i had to deal with five sided bolts the other day !!! I mean WTF

 

10470186_10204806000122756_3569699144697944825_n by paul.bottomley, on Flickr

 

If they are from French callipers, you never need to take them out!

[derskine]

Are those the ones that are guaranteed for life?

 

They snap with a 1/4" ratchet... but they are guaranteed for life, though it's a waste of fuel going to get replacement ones because they just break again!

[mat_the_cat]

If they are from French callipers, you never need to take them out!

 

I've got one to swap the (wider) casting on BX 16v calipers over to the standard ones, which are easier to get hold of. Used it twice in 10 years!

[pbottomley]

They are from garlic callipers and YES i did need to take them out, as I am making a custom rear calliper setup for my GT using a rear Saxo VTR calliper and a 106 front carrier (sounds daft but it works)...In the end said bolts were easy to remove, gave them to a mate who hammered an old ring spanner over the top, job done, said five sided bolts are now in bin and normal non "four reverse gears" bolts fitted