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sae or metric hex more common in automotive?

9K views 19 replies 12 participants last post by  cullencombs 
#1 ·
I don't see a lot of hex bolts but have gotten a sae socket set but am not sure if I should have gotten metric. I guess whatever is most common is the right choice. Any response appreciated.
 
#2 ·
Depends on what you are working on ....and the age of the vehicle.....Most seem to be metric these days, up here in Canada anyways......The older American stuff we tend to play with are mostly SAE.....There was a while in the 70s, when you didnt know what wrenches to bring out, those cars had both..... :confused:
 
#4 ·
poncho62 said:
The older American stuff we tend to play with are mostly SAE.....There was a while in the 70s, when you didnt know what wrenches to bring out, those cars had both..... :confused:
My 1996 c-2500 is like that. Pain in the butt.

tech69 said:
I don't see a lot of hex bolts but have gotten a sae socket set but am not sure if I should have gotten metric. I guess whatever is most common is the right choice. Any response appreciated.
Was checking for noises in the rearend area of a friend's Magnum R/T last night. The drainplug was a h14 Hex if I remember correctly. That IRS was seriously tucked under the car. Completely OT - but I was also blown away by how plastic fantastic the underside of that car is, even compared to my brothers 96 mustang. It's a tight fit under there for being such a big car.
 
#6 ·
Something of a pet gripe of mine is a 7 MM hex drive fastener is fairly common on cars/trucks, brake calipers on many models for example use them, but for some reason most sets skip the 7 MM size and jump from 6 MM to 8 MM sizes! :mad: I had three sets, a folding set, a "T" handle set and a socket set and none of them had a 7 MM.
 
#7 ·
You need what you need.
I have a few Datsun 521 trucks as a project. The engine is metric. The body is SAE. The pipe fittings on the engine are BSP (British Standard Pipe) Brake line flare nuts are 3/8-24, and there brake line is 3/16.

With most cars, you need both. With more modern cars, you will also need TORX or other odd type sockets/ or drivers. And then when you get the TORX drivers, you will find you need the security TORX drivers.
 
#16 ·
What I learned is 1/2" will fit a metric 13mm head tight, but a 13mm wrench will not work on a 1/2".. Also keep a few el-cheepo tools around. some of them are odd sizes, if the head is spun out or rusted smaller, many of these odd size sockets and wrenches will work better..

I have 2 sets of SAE wrenches in my toolbox and 1 set of metric wrenches, and a large mix of sockets
 
#18 ·
I thought you guys were talking about the Allen type so my comment about the 7 MM probably did not make much sense, my bad.


As far as interchangeable sockets/wrenches of the commonly used sizes for automobile work there are three that are so close they are directly interchangeable, 8 MM and 5/16", 11 MM and 7/16" and 19 MM and 3/4".
 
#19 ·
I have two SAE sockets in my box, a 1/4" and 5/16", that is IT. Those are the only two sizes I come across some domestics having that there is no direct metric equivlent. Working on cars newer than 1977 I see no reason what so ever for me to have SAE tools in my box, no kidding, I have them all at home where I am working on old cars.

I have really tried to thin my box out of all tools I don't REALLY need and it is very nice. I have a small bottom box (small by the other guys standards) and ONLY the tools I use every day (of course I am in the office now so those are different tools. :D) I see no reason to have a bunch of SAE tools, outdated clip tools that have been replaced by better ones, broken tools, etc. I have ONLY what I use every day, PERIOD.

Besides on the super rare occasion that I need something that I don't have someone else with on of those "Condominium" tool boxes big enough to live in will have one I can borrow. :mwink:

Brian
 
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