I am in the midst of my MM service. I managed to drop my steering rack with my existing tools, but the 17mm short socket Dwayne uses in his MM write up would be very handy during this service, as well as a number of other jobs I need to tackle. I stopped by Sears today but when asked about the short socket no one had every heard of them. Also had a look online (amazon, ebay, etc.) using the key words in the write up - still no luck.

Any idea where I can get my hands on a set of these "short sockets"? Or have better search terms to identify them online?

Thanks,
Dave

 

just grind it down to the desired size.

 

What's the "short socket" used for?

 

"Wrench sockets" at Sears:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...00010000100600


Never seen outside the confines of their website, and out of stock for at least a year now.

 

In the write up the short socket is used to counter hold the 17mm bolts that secure the steering rack and lower plate.

 

yup, that's exactly it. Bummer they no longer seem to stock the item. Will have to keep an eye out on eBay etc.

Much appreciated!
Dave

 

If you can't fit a standard 17mm shorty in there, get a number 5 allen key and use it as a wedge to stop the bolt from turning.

 

What about the "Gearwrench" pass-thru sockets? I haven't used them but they are the same idea, and good for tight places.

Sears linky: http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...o=2&blockType=

 

I use them all the time, but for higher torque bolts I don't use the gear wrenches, for fear of breaking them.

 

Not gonna be of much help here but, while at Sears, did you sniff the screwdrivers ???

Someone was bound to ask....


jon 84 auto

 

Just bind it with the appropriate allen wrench. Don Carter and Sean showed me that trick...

 

I like Sean used an Allen wrench wedged to between head and the plate wall.

I don't recall why, but for some reason I could not get any sort of real wrench on it... no opened end, boxed end or even a flex head gear wrench.

I too am guilt of sniffing my screw drivers last night... not sure why I can this uncontrollable urge.

 

I have used an "allen" brand short socket. you could always try to find the Mac truck guy. Bet he has one. Of course it will be $40 but then you'll have it.

 

This is the tool I use for those bolts. Socket end sits nicely on the head, small impact driver on the bottom. Zip-zam-zowie and they are all off in seconds.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item....re&dir=catalog

There are probably less expensive versions, but these are the ones that seem to best fit my hands and the bolts on my car at the same time.

 

Snap-On, Mac, KD have all had them at one time.
They also make a tool that has a drive to go into a regular socket that you can put a wrench on.