cv bolt removal tool

[24flys]

hey guys,

do you know what size the cv bolt removal tool is. is it 12mm, 10mm, or 8mm, etc. i'm looking to find one here locally but i'm not sure what size it is. let me know if anyone knows,

thanks

scotty

[SteveStromberg]

8mm 12 point.
but the PO could have used 8mm hex bolt if the 12 point got buggered up.
Try cleaning the crud out before inserting tool.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Not just any 12-point, either. It's called a "triple square"--the outer corners are 90 degrees. If you use a 12-point Allen socket or a regular Allen socket, which has 60-degree corners, you stand a much greater chance of stripping the head of the bolt. You can locate the correct tool here at Pelican, or from your local Snap-On tool truck, or at any VW Bug specialty store. In the latter, just ask for the "CV joint wrench"--they use the same bolts as we do!

Very definitely clean the crud out of the heads of the bolts, and check to see if they are standard Allen head or triple-square. Some cars are mixed-and-matched, too, so check all of the bolts.

Finally, I suggest seating the tool in the head of the bolt, then tapping on the outer end of the tail with a hammer to make sure the tool is seated really well! That is another step to help ensure you don't strip the bolt head.

--DD

[Conrad W Peden]

Lastly, if they have been replaced by allen head bolts make sure they are the appropriate grade. I broke two , by PO. Cant remember if they were grade 8 or not.

[sean_V8_914]

the allen "feels" like it will work. do your self the favor, resist that temptaion. Dave knows the deal

[ratwell]

Originally posted by Conrad W Peden
Lastly, if they have been replaced by allen head bolts make sure they are the appropriate grade. I broke two , by PO. Cant remember if they were grade 8 or not.

10.9

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

If I recall the different grading systems correctly, that is "about" equivalent to US Grade 8 hardware.

--DD

[ratwell]

The bolt has metric threads so it needs to say 10.9 on it.

[mr-dwight]

Advance auto supply sells a set of cv bolt bits for about $12. It's woth every penny.

[wrongpew]

Autozone also has the set.

[watsonrx13]

8mm 12-point star tool, purchased at NAPA, $8.95.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Is that the right one? With the 90-degree corners? "Serrated Wrench" is, umm, less than entirely descriptive.

--DD

[aylanco]

Got mine from a Snap-on truck. $22 (yikes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) but it IS the right one and comes with a socket attached for better leverage. If I don't strip anything it will be worth every penny!

[sean_V8_914]

***dont forget to scrap ALL the muck, grease, dirt....out of teh socket***
. failure to clean this well prevents the tool from completly engaging teh teeth in the bolt head...and zip-strip goes teh bolt hole. If you kill one you can use a cut-off wheel to grind a screw driver slot in teh head as an alternate removal method

[Joe Ricard]

Originally posted by Dave at Pelican Parts
Is that the right one? With the 90-degree corners? "Serrated Wrench" is, umm, less than entirely descriptive.

--DD

Yup Rob got the right one. I have the exact model and it works perfectly.

[bd1308]

how can a 12 point anything have 90 degree corners? pics anyone? i thought the sum of the angles had to equal 360 degrees?

[jkeyzer]

Hey guys, before you spend $500 on a 12 point square tool, most bug shops have them for about $1.99. I'm not kidding. Yes they are not snap on quality but if you seat them correctly they will work for a long time.

[aylanco]

Originally posted by Joe Ricard
Yup Rob got the right one. I have the exact model and it works perfectly.

Oh well, I hope my $13.05 socket does its job!

[aylanco]

Originally posted by jkeyzer
Hey guys, before you spend $500 on a 12 point square tool, most bug shops have them for about $1.99. I'm not kidding. Yes they are not snap on quality but if you seat them correctly they will work for a long time.

Scratch that last post! I hope my $20.01 socket really does its job

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Originally posted by bd1308
how can a 12 point anything have 90 degree corners? pics anyone? i thought the sum of the angles had to equal 360 degrees?

Nope--only in a convex shape. Concave shapes can sum to much larger angles.

Try this exercise. Cut out three square pieces of paper, all the same size. Stack them on top of each other. Rotate the top two clockwise by 30 degrees (one-third of the 90 degrees of a right angle). Now rotate the top one by another 30 degrees.

If you trace the outside edge of the shape made by all three pieces of paper, you will have a "triple square" shape, which is the shape of the recess in the stock CV joint bolts.


...VW Bug shops can be good sources of tools and parts for our cars. (911s too.) You can stop in at one and get "the CV joint socket" and "the transmission socket", and you'll wind up with the M8 triple-square for our CV joints and the 17mm Allen socket for our transmission drain and fill plugs. The Bug and the early 911 use the same fasteners as us.

N.B., the M8 triple square bolts are also used to hold the fan onto the fan hub of some 914s. Others use conventional (external hex) bolts.

--DD