Buyingthe 3/4" Flex handle will solve the scratching ofthe wheel wells, but
then so would  a short 3/4" extension(if one an inch longe even exists!).

DM&FS
----- Original Message -----
From: "Sean B." <SBirkner@WESTFIELD.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, July 31, 2001 1:32 PM
Subject: 46mm Socket = 1 13/16" SAE

> I went to Sears in search of the same thing. Using a conversion chart (I
> asked a salesman there if they had one), I was able to find an exact SAE
> equivalent 3/4" drive socket. IIRC the socket you want to get is a 1 13/16
> socket (which converts to 46.038mm). When I did that job I purchased a 3/4
> drive breaker bar from Sears as well as a 5ft length of pipe from a
> hardware store to slip over the breaker bar handle (pipe dia will be
> determined by the diameter of the breaker bar handle) and get the required
> torque leverage.
>
> When you have 5ft of steel pipe working with you it's amazingly easy to
> loosen a nut that was torques on to 345 (IIRC) ft. lbs. :)
>
> One other tip. When using this method, I found it best to still have 2
> people. One to hold the pipe/breaker bar/socket on the nut and protect the
> wheel well lip, and the other to actually apply the force to the end of
the
> pipe.
>
> Sean B.
> '90 V'gon, "Happy Bus", pseudo Wolfy
> Torrance, CA
> http://vgonman.vwtrek.com