Headbolt Socket Possibility

[NorthWet]

If you have done a headgasket and need to retorque an EA82 head, it would be nice to have the special socket that makes it so you don't have to remove the cam-carrier. The usual way to do this is to take a socket and grind and cut on it until it fill fit in the tight space. Well...

 

I was at Sears the other day looking for some sockets to mutilate for this purpose, and came across something that might work just fine. It is a shallow 6-point 17mm socket with integral u-joint (3/8ths inch drive). I test fitted it on an EA82 head and it seemed to reach all of the bolt heads without any noticeable angularity of the u-joint.

 

Part#9 43208

Desc: "3/8 In dr. Flex 17mm socket"

List price: US$8.49

 

The only concern that I would have with it would be that u-joint angularity would have to be compensated for somewhat when setting the torque wrench, but it doesn't look like it would be significant.

 

I have not checked to see if this would work on the EA81 head nuts, but I suspect it would. Looks like it could be useful in other situations, too.

 

 

OZ/NZ friends (and any other non-US folk): How are the socket-drive sizes specified in your areas? Ours are all "English"/SAE (1/4", 3/8", 1/2"). Do use the same "convention" or do you have metric drive sizes?

 

(This post taken from a response I gave in:

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=60372&page=2

)

[Phizinza]

I have not checked to see if this would work on the EA81 head nuts, but I suspect it would. Looks like it could be useful in other situations, too.

There is only one nut that I couldn't get a socket on. So I just used a open ended spanner. I done one of the nuts up with the torque wrench, then tried the open ended on it to feel how tight it was, then done up the other nut to that tightness. I haven't and any problems with it yet (done that method like 4 times now.)

 

As for socket drive size... We use the same 1/4", 3/8", 1/2", 3/4", and my fav 1"

 

But a socket that fits right up would be good. And sounds needed for the EA82 (haven't had a good look inside of one yet...) Good find.