Not a very productive day.

[CHRIS1980]

I had plans today. Plan 1 was to change the front discs and pads on my Boring,but the cap heads that hold the calliper to the carrier are a funny size. So that job was out the window. The next job was to look at why my Dads kit car charging light won't come on,I got no where with that,then we found out that the speedo cable has snapped and the Mot is tomorrow afternoon. Why do kit cars have shit electrics? Why do car designers fit odd size fixings? ....I only want to vent but feel free to take the piss.

[Andrew353w]

Suspension & brakes seem to use different spanner and torque sizes to engine parts.  I'm sure the manufacturers, in their infinite wisdom have a perfectly logical reason for this, but I can't get it... Gone are the days when you could strip an entire engine with a 10, 13 & a 17mm spanner. My 21mm spanner has only ONE use; the sump plug on my Citroën! Seems a waste, but I need it for that!

[the judge]

No drama for MOT on the kit. May conk out with no charging though

[colino]

I remember being at a trade day years ago and the nice man from Brembo, when asked about the use of 7mm allen keys, did a stage shiver and asked if we wanted owners changing their own brakes.  No good technical reason, just trying to keep one-step in front of DIY.

[New POD]

I remember being at a trade day years ago and the nice man from Brembo, when asked about the use of 7mm allen keys, did a stage shiver and asked if we wanted owners changing their own brakes.  No good technical reason, just trying to keep one-step in front of DIY.

 

And a 7mm internal hex would stop me how ?

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

And a 7mm internal hex would stop me how ?

 

Typical allen key kits go from six straight to eight. I had to cycle into town to buy a ridiculous kit of every allen key ever made to get a 7mm the first time I did brake work. 

[Squire_Dawson]

The rot set in with the vogue for Metric measurements. When everything was in AF, or even Whitworth, there were few problems.

[twosmoke300]

7mm hex keys have been round for donkey's years now tho. . You used to be able to get a 7mm on it's own with a handle just for doing brake work

[colino]

Showing my age, but 7mm was chosen not because of mechanical needs, but simply because 7 was not commonly included in sets at the time.  In fact the factors/Halfords etc. made a few bob (and apparently still do) by selling "special 7mm brake tools".

[jonny69]

7mm hex keys have been round for donkey's years now tho. . You used to be able to get a 7mm on it's own with a handle just for doing brake work

 

Yeah, I'm sure you can get them. You can also get 16mm spanners, but hardly anyone uses them and they don't come with most tool sets.

 

I blame the French. And I'm correct in doing so.