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Subject:Re: wrench/socket (nut and bolt head) sizes
From:Scott Daniel - Turbovans
Date:Fri, 17 Jun 2011 16:51:36 -0700

yes 16mm on some power steering .......
like front engine four cylinder cars.   About the only place I've ever seen
a 16 used on vw's.

18 is totaly weird/rare.   You shouldn't need one of those.
22mm and 24mm are important sizes.

9mm ..won't find that anywhere except mercedes brake bleed valves, that I
know of.

scott
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ed Duntz" <eduntz@HOTMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, June 17, 2011 2:54 PM
Subject: wrench/socket (nut and bolt head) sizes

I've got a pretty good set of tools, including wrenches and sockets, to work
on my vehicles (three Vanagons, a Mexican air-cooled Beetle, and a
recently-given-to-me '88 Camry). I carry a set of tools with me that I
transfer to each vehicle as I drive it. I'm putting together two extra basic
sets so I don't have to move them from vehicle to vehicle.

I don't want to get sizes that I won't need. Some socket sets, and many
wrench sets, skip a few sizes in the range. Some leave out one size, some
another.

I should know this from working on my Vanagons over the years, but please
help me out here: what size nut and bolt head (and consequently, wrench and
socket size) can you say you definitely have and have not used on a Vanagon?
How about deep sockets or u-joints- any particular place you can say you've
definitely needed them? I know 10 mm, 13mm, 15mm, 17mm, and 19mm are ones
I've used. 36 mm for the front axle and 46 mm for the rear. What else?
What's the smallest that you've had to use? Anything bigger than 19mm except
for the axles? (I know there's one for the steering wheel- I've got it but
forget what size it is.)

CV joint bolts are 6 mm allen, or 8 mm triple square, depending on what's
there.

If anyone can post definite sizes they've used, or can say are not needed,
it would be appreciated. I've heard 16 mm on some a/c compressors. Is 18 mm
ever used?

Thanks,
Ed in CT