dak911

Anyone have an alternative to the $35 solt socket, and that doesn't even protect the painted "hole" ?

Fin Fever

I got the soft socket, and then I put shrinkwrap around the outside of it to protect the rim.

Edgy01

Keep in mind that the original Soft Socket arrived on the Porsche scene back when the lug nuts where (1) nuts and (2) aluminum--neither is the case today.

The soft socket was designed to protect you from rounding off the soft aluminum nuts, and as a secondary effect, somewhat cushion your tool from contacting the expensive aluminum forged Fuchs wheels.

Today's lug nuts are bolts made of steel and what you need to protect are the wheels, not the bolts. I would do what Fin Fever did--simply put the right sized shrink-wrap on the end of the socket, heat it up, and then trim any excess that keeps you from seating the tool fully.

KNS

Lots of people (mechanics too) simply put a small zip lock baggie over the lug/bolt and slip the socket over that. The edges of the bag will also protect the surrounding bolt hole.

Don't waste your money on a "soft socket" (they've been known to break).

cnachris

This socket has worked well for me, (1/2" Drive 19 MM Thin Wall Impact Socket 6 Point (VPT619MM) ). I bought it from MAC Tools on line directly.

You can find it here although for some reason the picture of it is not showing.

http://www.mactools.com/ShopOnline/P...1/Default.aspx

Alan C.

A thin wall 6 point with 2 wraps of duck tape has worked well for me over the years.

okbarnett

you can buy sets on ebay

San Rensho

Plasti-Dip the socket.

KBS911

Duct tape, replaced regularly.

Marine Blue

I use blue painters tape for the outside. The plastic bag sounds like a great idea too.