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Steve M. Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2013 Posts: 6798 Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
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Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2022 7:57 am Post subject: Unbelievable! ...a 16mm nut and bolt! |
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Thought they didn't exist along with the useless 18mm wrench in my kit. _________________ This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.
There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them. |
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Cusser Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2006 Posts: 31270 Location: Hot Arizona
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Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2022 8:24 am Post subject: Re: Unbelievable! ...a 16mm nut and bolt! |
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That may have been "borrowed" from another vehicle !!!
Some vehicles (somewhat-modern USA and "Japanese", wherever made) do use stuff that requires 16mm, 18mm, and 20mm wrench sizes. I remember that the fuel filter on our 1994 Suburban had 16mm and 20mm flats on its under-vehicle steel fuel filter; I used two Vise-Grips as NONE of my SAE or metric wrenches would fit, and later bought 16, 18, and 20 as my wrench sets didn't have those sizes. I surmised that GM used those sizes on purpose to try to wangle folks in to dealer for such high-cost service, maybe claiming it was "for safety".
For my 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, I couldn't figure out why my 24mm and 15/16" sockets were loose on differential/transmission drain/fill plugs. I later realized while working on its front end that a 23mm socket was needed, picked that up at the store. Of course, I already had 21mm, 22mm, 24mm, 27mm sockets....
My original combination wrench set (1971, JC Penney, lifetime warranty) came with a 9mm wrench, and I bet I've used that 2 times or less in 50 years..... _________________ 1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297 |
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Glenn Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001 Posts: 76760 Location: Sneaking up behind you
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Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2022 8:33 am Post subject: Re: Unbelievable! ...a 16mm nut and bolt! |
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I have a 16mm socket that's 50 years old... never used. _________________ Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare |
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FarmerBill Samba Member
Joined: July 25, 2017 Posts: 762 Location: New England
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Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2022 9:29 am Post subject: Re: Unbelievable! ...a 16mm nut and bolt! |
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Cusser wrote: |
My original combination wrench set (1971, JC Penney, lifetime warranty) came with a 9mm wrench, and I bet I've used that 2 times or less in 50 years..... |
Saab and Suzuki love 9mm, I have multiple 9mm wrenches in my tool box because of all the Saabs I owned through the 90s and 00s. Haven't needed them in years now. |
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Abscate Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 22568 Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2022 12:12 pm Post subject: Re: Unbelievable! ...a 16mm nut and bolt! |
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BMW like 16 and 18 mm hex hardware _________________ .ssS! |
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TDCTDI Samba Advocatus Diaboli
Joined: August 31, 2013 Posts: 12815 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2022 2:21 pm Post subject: Re: Unbelievable! ...a 16mm nut and bolt! |
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99 + up VW & Audi use 16mm & 18mm nuts & bolts in lots of places. _________________ Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.
GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!
An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.
Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it. |
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modok Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2009 Posts: 26743 Location: Colorado Springs
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Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2022 8:49 pm Post subject: Re: Unbelievable! ...a 16mm nut and bolt! |
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when it comes to bolt heads..... 16 and 5/8 are functionally interchangeable.
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Iowa Mark Samba Member
Joined: May 06, 2004 Posts: 1071
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Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2022 8:28 am Post subject: Re: Unbelievable! ...a 16mm nut and bolt! |
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Years ago I was at a Sears store and bought an open end /box end set of wrenches on sale for my tool box at work. Typical 1/4 to 7/8 set. Got to work and found there was no 11/16. Back at Sears I was told that 11/16 was for 7/16 bolts that were phased out and it was no longer used. The conversation got very one sided after that. |
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raygreenwood Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2008 Posts: 21474 Location: Oklahoma City
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Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2022 9:15 am Post subject: Re: Unbelievable! ...a 16mm nut and bolt! |
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I bet cusser is correct. Bolt was probably b9rrowed.
Also as noted.....on VW/Audi watercooled over the past 20+ years...16mm and 18mm are two of the most common size bolt heads especially on suspension. I just replaced the entire rear suspension arms and bushings as a set and did the clutch 3 weeks ago on my 2012 Golf. Aside from a pair of 21mm bolts on the outer ends of the lower control arms and a pair of 13mm bolts.....virtually all bolts were either 16mm or 18mm. Ray |
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16CVs Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2004 Posts: 4020 Location: Redwood City, California
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Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2022 10:57 pm Post subject: Re: Unbelievable! ...a 16mm nut and bolt! |
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16mm are very common for wiper nuts on Fords and some imports as well. _________________ 1987 Syncro Westfalia Triple knob (bastard)
1989 Syncro Tristar Triple knob "Swedish"
2013 Jetta Hybrid a true "Zwitter"
Samba member # 14980
Call anytime number 650 722 4914 .
Keep Your van running and upkept tastefully for the love of the hobby.
Don't let your van end up in an "abortions" thread. |
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Cusser Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2006 Posts: 31270 Location: Hot Arizona
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Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2022 8:17 am Post subject: Re: Unbelievable! ...a 16mm nut and bolt! |
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Don't tell anyone - but my 2004 Nissan Frontier (purchased in 2011) had no alternator pivot bolt at all (explained why previous owner had issues with shops about belt sizes) - found that out a year after getting it. I could only find 10mm thread bolts up to 120mm long locally, and I needed a 130mm long bolt.
So I went to Ace Hardware and purchased a 3/8" thread bolt 5" or 5.5" long and matching nut, and I use that instead. So one can see how this happens.... _________________ 1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297 |
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raygreenwood Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2008 Posts: 21474 Location: Oklahoma City
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Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2022 7:36 am Post subject: Re: Unbelievable! ...a 16mm nut and bolt! |
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Cusser wrote: |
Don't tell anyone - but my 2004 Nissan Frontier (purchased in 2011) had no alternator pivot bolt at all (explained why previous owner had issues with shops about belt sizes) - found that out a year after getting it. I could only find 10mm thread bolts up to 120mm long locally, and I needed a 130mm long bolt.
So I went to Ace Hardware and purchased a 3/8" thread bolt 5" or 5.5" long and matching nut, and I use that instead. So one can see how this happens.... |
yes.....and I will probably be borrowing and using a fair selection of WC bolts for various places on the undercarriage of my 412 as it gets closer to rolling again.
Why?.....because aside from the 16mm or 18mm heads, they come in a HUGE range of lengths, come in the most popular/needed 10mm and 12mm threads, are very high grade.....and are available for a reasonable price down the street at the VW dealer. Plus....and this is where ai got started with it.....they have excellent eccentric bolts in the right thread with nearly perfect length....in stock....for a good price. Ray |
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TDCTDI Samba Advocatus Diaboli
Joined: August 31, 2013 Posts: 12815 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2022 9:27 am Post subject: Re: Unbelievable! ...a 16mm nut and bolt! |
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raygreenwood wrote: |
Cusser wrote: |
Don't tell anyone - but my 2004 Nissan Frontier (purchased in 2011) had no alternator pivot bolt at all (explained why previous owner had issues with shops about belt sizes) - found that out a year after getting it. I could only find 10mm thread bolts up to 120mm long locally, and I needed a 130mm long bolt.
So I went to Ace Hardware and purchased a 3/8" thread bolt 5" or 5.5" long and matching nut, and I use that instead. So one can see how this happens.... |
yes.....and I will probably be borrowing and using a fair selection of WC bolts for various places on the undercarriage of my 412 as it gets closer to rolling again.
Why?.....because aside from the 16mm or 18mm heads, they come in a HUGE range of lengths, come in the most popular/needed 10mm and 12mm threads, are very high grade.....and are available for a reasonable price down the street at the VW dealer. Plus....and this is where ai got started with it.....they have excellent eccentric bolts in the right thread with nearly perfect length....in stock....for a good price. Ray |
Except for that part where VW considers most of those bolts to be TTY & therefore single use only. _________________ Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.
GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!
An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.
Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it. |
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bandi Samba Member
Joined: August 24, 2005 Posts: 1063 Location: Campbellford, Ontario, Canada
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Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2022 6:28 pm Post subject: Re: Unbelievable! ...a 16mm nut and bolt! |
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I use 16 and 18 a LOT on modern VWs... still haven't used that 20 mm socket in my 20 some odd years as a mechanic, other than smashing it onto swollen chrome Chrysler lug nuts! _________________ '60 Canadian Standard, '64 Bug, another '64 Bug, '66 Bug, '69 Sunroof Bug, '69 GT3 Bug, '71 Super, '72 Super, '73 Canadian Custom, '74 Love Bug, '83 Mexi Bug, '85 Cabrio, '94 Mexi Bug, '99 New Beetle, '02 New Beetle Turbo S, '03 New Beetle VR6. And some Fieros. |
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SGKent Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007 Posts: 41031 Location: Citrus Heights CA (Near Sacramento)
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Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2022 11:06 pm Post subject: Re: Unbelievable! ...a 16mm nut and bolt! |
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Steve M. wrote: |
Thought they didn't exist along with the useless 18mm wrench in my kit. |
probably just a rounded off 17mm _________________ “Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin |
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61SNRF Samba Member
Joined: March 29, 2009 Posts: 4657 Location: Whittier 90602
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Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2023 6:34 pm Post subject: Re: Unbelievable! ...a 16mm nut and bolt! |
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bandi wrote: |
I use 16 and 18 a LOT on modern VWs... still haven't used that 20 mm socket in my 20 some odd years as a mechanic, other than smashing it onto swollen chrome Chrysler lug nuts! |
Have you ever changed the rear engine/trans craddle mounts on that '74 Love Bug? If so you would know the big M18 frame fork bolts have a 20mm hex head
Still have the 20mm impact socket I bought in ~1981, used it once or twice for those and it's been collecting dust ever since!
As for the 16mm hex heads on 10M bolts, from what I've seen in the auto industry the trend is to shave weight everywhere they can.
Volvo didn't stop at 16mm when they reduced the size of the motor mount nuts in ~88, they went from 17mm right to 15mm.
Same for M8, those are now 12mm, M6 has gone from 10mm to 8mm hex heads, M5 is now 7mm hex instead of 8mm.
I beleive this is also a big reason why VW and many other German cars went to internal 12 point spline drive. Less fastener=less weight. _________________ -Bruce
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. |
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cdennisg Samba Member
Joined: November 02, 2004 Posts: 20233 Location: Sandpoint, ID
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Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2023 10:28 am Post subject: Re: Unbelievable! ...a 16mm nut and bolt! |
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First and only time I have used an 18mm socket is for old Honda motorcycle spark plugs. _________________ nothing |
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Cusser Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2006 Posts: 31270 Location: Hot Arizona
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Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2023 11:10 am Post subject: Re: Unbelievable! ...a 16mm nut and bolt! |
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cdennisg wrote: |
First and only time I have used an 18mm socket is for old Honda motorcycle spark plugs. |
18mm hardware has become more common on vehicles in the last decade. _________________ 1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297 |
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cdennisg Samba Member
Joined: November 02, 2004 Posts: 20233 Location: Sandpoint, ID
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Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2023 12:12 pm Post subject: Re: Unbelievable! ...a 16mm nut and bolt! |
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Cusser wrote: |
cdennisg wrote: |
First and only time I have used an 18mm socket is for old Honda motorcycle spark plugs. |
18mm hardware has become more common on vehicles in the last decade. |
That is exactly the reason I have not used my 16 or 18 on anything. The newest vehicle in the fleet is an 08 Toyota with low miles. As such, I rarely need to work on it. _________________ nothing |
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SGKent Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007 Posts: 41031 Location: Citrus Heights CA (Near Sacramento)
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Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2023 1:21 pm Post subject: Re: Unbelievable! ...a 16mm nut and bolt! |
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I have an 18mm socket that is 40 years old. It was needed on a friend's Maserati. Nothing else has ever required an 18mm. I have run across 16mm on a few things, and 15mm too. Not common though. _________________ “Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin |
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