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Not Allen

balge

Active Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2010
Messages
827
Location
Central England
Car
Mercedes-Benz W124
hi
just doing a driveshaft on my '88 230TE, offered up an 8mm Allen key, seemed to fit but couldn't get it to drive, on closer examination its like a 12-point star - this is 'TORX drive' , right? Only seen tiny ones on electronics before! Need to buy one to get the shafts out, but not sure how to size it, if it's nearly 8mm Allen, do I need '8mm TORX'?
Are there many of these on the car? Wondering about getting a set, or just one to do the driveshaft...


cheers!
balge
 
a TORX set is a good addition to any toolkit. quite a lot in the engine bay is TORX on my 124.

I'd get a set.
 
I'd not heard of those before either. Wiki search shows a plethora of screw types. Triple square near bottom of page with drivetrain as a listed application!

List of screw drives - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 
XZN Bits are just yet another name for Splines-- 12 points -- which are still used on some Volkswagens, Audis and Opels. In fact there are quite a few applications listed in my Laser Catalogue. even for headbolts on some mercedes vans. I do not get asked for them very often though. Torx is always a more common purchase.
They were always used on the Ford Pinto engine for headbolts and the camshaft IIRC.
 
balge

It will be better to buy one correct size BUT the very best quality; because they are very very tight in there and the cheap tool will just twist/distort/break.
 
balge

It will be better to buy one correct size BUT the very best quality; because they are very very tight in there and the cheap tool will just twist/distort/break.

Yes, that makes sense, the reason I need the bit is because the Allen key wouldn't move it, and I suppose with such fine 'points' the bit has to be pretty accurate...which counts out cheapo stuff from the outset!

Just spotted some of these on the cylinder head, and as I may need to re-torque it can anyone give the size for those too?
edit - looks like its 10mm 12-point, is that the same type?

Its better than school for learning stuff here! :rock:

cheers!
balge
 
Last edited:
I've got sets of spline , Torx and hex drive bits - all of which are available from Halfords in their professional ranges and of good quality . The cheaper ones they offer are just rubbish which as already said either don't fit properly and damage the bolts or end up distorting or breaking themselves .
 
Just to tidy up, got a set of spline drives from Halfords, pretty decent kit actually and the driveshaft is now off.

Thanks for all the help!

cheers
balge
 
balge

It will be better to buy one correct size BUT the very best quality; because they are very very tight in there and the cheap tool will just twist/distort/break.

+1
I bought a cheap set when replacing the driveshafts on my Porsche. I managed to do the job, just. By the time i had the new shafts in and torqued up the bolts the spline bit was totally wrecked and useless.
 

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