what size socket?

[tdavis]

Alrighty, I went to try and replace my busted axle this afternoon, and found out I don't have the right socket for the job.

I need to remove the ABS sensor. What size socket is needed for this? I know it's a 12pt, thinwall, but what is it? Metric? SAE? What I thought would work didn't.

 

[Diff Whack Daddy]

Tom, I used a 6mm 6 point just the other day on the end of a 1/4inch extension. A couple of light love taps w/ a regular hammer seats it on there enough to back it out. By the way, don't try to remove the sensor itself, you'll just destroy it and they are 46 bucks each. Once you pull out the 2 bolts in the back, the little steel block will come off and that is enough to pull the spindle.

 

[tdavis]

Yuck. That's not good.

I'm for finding the right socket..

Off to the auto parts store I guess.

 

[mattadams]

I was thinking it was 7mm 12point for some reason? As I recall we had to look all over for one, Sears didn't stock one regular but they had one in the back or something? I'll look when I get home. I believe thats one of those bolts that they were thinking "maybe people just won't want to do their own brakes and they'll go to ford for service"

 

[Diff Whack Daddy]

My God Tom, you act like I stuck a pair of vice grips on it and stripped the damn thing. You can't even tell that it was on there. I meant love taps, not beat the crap out of it.

 

[tdavis]

How did you get a pair of vise grips in there Mac?

Just kidding.

Sheez. I don't want to "love" tap a socket onto these bolts. Can't I at least keep one part of the truck in the correct shape?

I did try finding a socket that would fit tonight - no luck. Talk about a ***** - there are *no* 12pt metric sockets with 1/4" drive!

Sheez!

Time to call the diff shop..

 

[GJarrett]

Tom, for someone who couldn't wait to whip out his SawZall on a new Eddie Bauer, you sure are sounding finnicky.

 

[Diff Whack Daddy]

Speaking of front axles and the such, check out this and let me know what you think http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=22489

 

[tdavis]

Gerald, remember, it was a *bust* up front air dam/bumper cover.

Mac - I have no clue what's wrong. Sounds like they don't have the right axle on the right side... (the shafts with u-joints)

 

[Gofast]

Socket Size

Tom is was a 6 mm or 5.5 mm 12 pt socket. I could not locate one anywhere. After removing them with "Love Taps" I replaced both bolts with Allen Head bolts.

Again I could not find the correct socket in a 12pt anywhere. Sears,Autobone,Wholesale tools, Never could get the MAc tool guy to pull over though.

Good Luck

 

[mattadams]

ok I stand corrected, it should be 6mm. So you say you can't find a 6mm 12-point. Well maybe we can find approximately a 12-point standard equivalent. Here's my limited math knowledge.
6 mm = .236 inches
.236 is less then 1/4" (which for me is 4/16"), but more then 3/16"
That's a tiny bolt! Maybe you could find one either 1/4" or 3/16" and it might be close enough to work?