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[YZ250]

Why do the German car manufacturers insist on using XZN/Triple Square bolts on places that don't require high torque? I can understand it on cylinder heads etc but come on, is it really necessary to use them on belly pans. 
I believe I need an 8mm XZN/Triple Square bit but haven't got one in my tool box so thought I'd pop out and buy one. Should be simple enough but oh no, " have you tried eBay or have you tried Amazon". I don't want to try eBay or Amazon, I want it NOW. Googling hasn't really helped, it just comes up with .....err eBay or Amazon.    Shame I'm not at work this week, I could have borrowed one. 
Any suggestions where I might be able to pop in to a real store and buy one.     Thought I'd ask on here as I know how you all love to discuss the German vehicles.     

[Doctor Gollum]

A decent factors should be able to supply...

https://whiterosetools.com/products/sealey-42-piece-trx-star-spline-hex-bit-set-3-8-and-1-2-drive

 

[dave the builder]

machine mart £22 draper set
plenty of shops scattered about 

[Andy B]

I had the same problem when I wanted a 9mm Allen key for the rear brakes on my R Class (I already had a 7mm from years back for the fronts) I tried a few proper motorfactors & drew a blank

[YZ250]

A decent factors should be able to supply...

https://whiterosetools.com/products/sealey-42-piece-trx-star-spline-hex-bit-set-3-8-and-1-2-drive

 

Thanks for that Al. We seem to be lacking motor factors around here, with the exception of euro car parts ten miles away. In saying that I don't mind travelling if someone has one on the shelf. Have to be careful as spline is 60 degrees between spline and triple square is 90 degrees, although they look the same'ish. 

machine mart £22 draper set
plenty of shops scattered about 

Thanks,  I'd looked at machine mart, nearest to me is Swindon or Luton I believe. 

[YZ250]

I had the same problem when I wanted a 9mm Allen key for the rear brakes on my R Class (I already had a 7mm from years back for the fronts) I tried a few proper motorfactors & drew a blank

And did you not order a couple from the Snap-On or RS catalogue, in the interest of the company department kit obviously. 

[biggriffin]

I had the same problem when I wanted a 9mm Allen key for the rear brakes on my R Class (I already had a 7mm from years back for the fronts) I tried a few proper motorfactors & drew a blank

9mm is what fords use on focus, fiesta etc front calipers.

[Andy B]

I had the same problem when I wanted a 9mm Allen key for the rear brakes on my R Class (I already had a 7mm from years back for the fronts) I tried a few proper motorfactors & drew a blank

9mm is what fords use on focus, fiesta etc front calipers.

Was that not 7mm?  It was originally bought for my brother's MKIII Escort's brakes.

Like this one .... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/7-mm-Brake-Caliper-Key-275-Long-Hex-Allen-Key-with-Handle/291497510668?hash=item43de9b070c:g:YukAAOSwwPtTv-3e

[biggriffin]

I had the same problem when I wanted a 9mm Allen key for the rear brakes on my R Class (I already had a 7mm from years back for the fronts) I tried a few proper motorfactors & drew a blank

9mm is what fords use on focus, fiesta etc front calipers.

Was that not 7mm?  It was originally bought for my brother's MKIII Escort's brakes.

Like this one .... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/7-mm-Brake-Caliper-Key-275-Long-Hex-Allen-Key-with-Handle/291497510668?hash=item43de9b070c:g:YukAAOSwwPtTv-3e

  Ar that's correct, got one of them in me tool box..     Just remember always having to hunt for such a Stoopid size key.

[Andy B]

....
  Ar that's correct, got one of them in me tool box..     Just remember always having to hunt for such a Stoopid size key.

I felt smug when I knew where the 7mm Allen key was ... not sure how I acquired it from my brother  ... but then discovered front & rear caliper sliders were different. Arghh!

[biggriffin]

....
  Ar that's correct, got one of them in me tool box..     Just remember always having to hunt for such a Stoopid size key.

I felt smug when I knew where the 7mm Allen key was ... not sure how I acquired it from my brother  ... but then discovered front & rear caliper sliders were different. Arghh!

 Good marketing by Ford, as how many of them Allen bolts snapped, rendering the caliper useless,  as they never copperslip the threads, 

[YZ250]

I had the same problem when I wanted a 9mm Allen key for the rear brakes on my R Class (I already had a 7mm from years back for the fronts) I tried a few proper motorfactors & drew a blank

Whilst perusing for the XZN bit I came across a few threads on other forums which were complaining about the Mercedes rear Caliper slider being 9mm. It's almost like "let's come up with a size that nobody normally uses", ... Yeh that's had them nasty job robbing DIY'ers up the arse. 
Tried the next town today but either no luck or couldn't park anywhere near the tool shacks. Machine Mart would be my best bet but we don't have one anywhere near to us. Nearest one is 33 miles away. Looks like an online order coming up, which means I've got to wait. 

[biggriffin]

I had the same problem when I wanted a 9mm Allen key for the rear brakes on my R Class (I already had a 7mm from years back for the fronts) I tried a few proper motorfactors & drew a blank

Whilst perusing for the XZN bit I came across a few threads on other forums which were complaining about the Mercedes rear Caliper slider being 9mm. It's almost like "let's come up with a size that nobody normally uses", ... Yeh that's had them nasty job robbing DIY'ers up the arse. 
Tried the next town today but either no luck or couldn't park anywhere near the tool shacks. Machine Mart would be my best bet but we don't have one anywhere near to us. Nearest one is 33 miles away. Looks like an online order coming up, which means I've got to wait. 

 Look for a tool van near a garage, eg snap on, mag or such, might have one, Halfords did a set from 5mm up to 10mm, that had all the odds in. Might be worth a try.

[YZ250]

Look for a tool van near a garage, eg snap on, mag or such, might have one, Halfords did a set from 5mm up to 10mm, that had all the odds in. Might be worth a try.

Cheers. I went to Halfords this morning, they do the spline bits in the 200 piece socket set but not as individual replacements. I think they were normal spline and not triple square though. If the weather clears up and I decide to work on it I can always pop around my mates garage up the road, slacken them off and then carry on at home. That way I won't be held up. 

[Andy B]

I had the same problem when I wanted a 9mm Allen key for the rear brakes on my R Class (I already had a 7mm from years back for the fronts) I tried a few proper motorfactors & drew a blank

Whilst perusing for the XZN bit I came across a few threads on other forums which were complaining about the Mercedes rear Caliper slider being 9mm. It's almost like "let's come up with a size that nobody normally uses", ... Yeh that's had them nasty job robbing DIY'ers up the arse. 
Tried the next town today but either no luck or couldn't park anywhere near the tool shacks. Machine Mart would be my best bet but we don't have one anywhere near to us. Nearest one is 33 miles away. Looks like an online order coming up, which means I've got to wait. 

I've buckets full of various Allen keys 20 odd mm to 1mm ..... but had to order the 9mm (which obviously came with another 7mm)