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    The most common specialty screw bits & drives in the Automotive & Diesel Industry

    I have heard mechanicscomplain that the tool companies are responsible for them having to buy another set of over priced specialty bits. In regards to this, the tool companies may think that the automotive industry is coming up with another way to keep the owner or independent garage from working on their own car/truck. Sometimes in my own opinion I think that someone let the 'just out of college' engineer show off a little. No matter who is right, they are in the vehicles that need to be fixed so we have to figure out how to get them out and not destroy them in the process.
    specialty bits for automotive and diesel
    Unfortunately this is not a new problem. I do a lot of restoration work on vehicles and tractors that were made before the great depression. They loved square drives. Not bad if it is 3/8” or ½”  - just use an extension. For the odd balls, I found this old tool years ago, or you can make a bit with a damaged extension and a grinder. Unfortunately if you buy these already made off the tool truck, expect to miss  your next house payment.
    hex drive

    For years the most common specialty drive was the Hex. It was either a slotted, Phillips or Hex. They come in both SAE and Metric. Nothing too exciting.

     
    torx bit
    I remember when I first ran into my first Torx bit. This was my first indication that someone at GM was a total ( can’t really say what I want). This became a standard bit for years. Then someone figured out how to make everyone’s life miserable again and put a pin in the middle and called it Tamper Proof Torx.  Everyone else saw it as "great - now more bits to buy."
    triple square socket bit
     This is a triple square socket. It is used in high torque situations. It is often confused with the double hex drive. The triple square is also known as the XZN. If you look at the top of the bit, it is three squares placed at a 30 degree rotation.
    double hex drive

    This is a Double Hex Drive. It has two coaxial offset hexes - not as easy to see with the naked eye. I usually follow - look at the top - can I lay three boxes across the face. Yes - triple square, not double hex drive.

    pentacle drive

    This is the pentacle drive. So much for it - if looks like a duck.. quacks like a duck. You have to count the points. This is often confused with a Torx.

    rive drive

    This is the ribe drive. It can not really be mistaken for anything else besides a bit you do not have in your tool box.

    mortorq drive

    This is a mortorq. This is being used in more and more interiors.

    torx plus bit

    This last socket is the Torx Plus. It is just like the torx but a little larger and beefier. You can not remove these with a standard torx but hopefully the extra material will keep the bits from breaking as often. When I talked with our in house automotive expert, he asked if I wanted the top bits or wanted to write a book. I am still looking for that spline bit but was told it was used in aviation. I do not want to begin to open that can of worms, plus it might get me on some kind of watch list (again). If I have anything wrong please let me know.

    On a parting note... one of my biggest fears is that if anything ever happens to me, that my wife will sell my crap for what I told her I paid for it.

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