fordy Posted December 18, 2002 Share Posted December 18, 2002 Am about to fit new freestyle springs dampers next week on my de dion car. I noticed the top hex cap bolt on the front dampers requires a largish hex socket. I only had 8mm and 10mm available and it looked somewhere between the two, maybe 9mm. Am I correct or is it some imperial size? If it is 9mm anyone suggest where I can get one as the local Halfrauds don't do 9mm. Any other funny size tools i'll need for this job? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Sewell Posted December 18, 2002 Share Posted December 18, 2002 Knowing our beloved little cars are total bitzas, it is probably a 3/8" (approx 9.6mm). Low tech luddite - xflow and proud! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Posted December 18, 2002 Share Posted December 18, 2002 Graham is correct you have to buff a 3/8 down to 9mm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grim Reaper Posted December 18, 2002 Share Posted December 18, 2002 This is one area where a Metrinch socket set comes in handy..such a confusing mix of metric and imperial fasteners all over the car put paid to any plans I had to replace fasteners with Allen head bolts and (where possible/safe to) stainless steel nuts. Too much hassle trying to figure out what size/type/thread pitch each one was then ordering it only to find "they don't make them in that size/type/thread pitch in an allen head sir!". Bah! ☹️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Sewell Posted December 18, 2002 Share Posted December 18, 2002 I have yet to see any metrinch allen keys or hex drives though. Low tech luddite - xflow and proud! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YW Sin Posted December 18, 2002 Share Posted December 18, 2002 Why can't they just use box standard metric system and make a world a happier place to live??????? ~~~ standard 1.7 X-flow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxy Smith Posted December 18, 2002 Share Posted December 18, 2002 For the princely sum of £3.90 or so you can buy a roll of Draper Allen keys which have not only all the metrics from 2mm to 10mm in 0.5 increments to about 7mm or so but has also similar range of imperial sizes but also has believe it or not a 9mm key. Why 9mm allen keys are as rare as rocking horse poo I don't know but I scoured many a tool catalogue looking for such a thing only to find it at our local motor factors in the "cheap and nasty tools dept." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Board Posted December 18, 2002 Share Posted December 18, 2002 Fordy. Snap On make some. Either Allen Key with Hex/Ball at either end. Or, the preffered choice a 3/8 drive socket with 9mm Allen Key insert. Much quicker and stronger. Not that expensive.(Believe it or not when compared to other so called "Quality Tools") If you want I'll post price and part no? Rob. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grim Reaper Posted December 18, 2002 Share Posted December 18, 2002 Ah,sorry,read "Hex bolt" as a standard bolt not an allen key fitting....is the correct size a 9mm or 3/8"? I would say a 9mm would be a little small for a 3/8" fitting,likely to round it off. I seem to remember using an imperial size on the front damper mount. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooby dooby doo Posted December 19, 2002 Share Posted December 19, 2002 i think it just changed to 5/8". I bought a 3/8" especially in 2000 for my strip and rebuild. when bulding onto the new chassis this year it was way to small and I needed a 5/8"... Hmmm.. thats the bottom bolt of the damper.... ho - hum... HOOPY 500 kg R706KGU Edited by - hoopy on 19 Dec 2002 00:35:13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grim Reaper Posted December 19, 2002 Share Posted December 19, 2002 5/8"?? that is around 16mm?? I don't think the bottom bolt is that big (I seem to remember thinking that the bolt was a little slim for its intended use) Think it would be 3/8" on the bottom bolt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevefoster Posted December 19, 2002 Share Posted December 19, 2002 FRONT SUSPENSION Application Bolt Size Torque Setting Damper / upper wishbone mount 1/2" UNF x 3 1/2" 60 lb/ft Upper wishbone Forward mount 3/8" UNF x 2" 20 - 25 lb/ft Lower wishbone mounts 1/2" UNF x 4" 60 lb/ft Lower wishbone to damper 5/16" UNF x 2 3/4" 12 - 15 lb/ft upper ball joint M14 nyloc 30 - 35 lb/ft Lower wishbone to upright 1/2" Nyloc 40 lb/ft Anti-roll bar brackets 5/16" UNF x 1 1/2" 12 - 15 lb/ft anti-roll bar to upper link 1/2" Nyloc 20 lb/ft Hope this comes out in a spaced format. Not it doesn't B***** it! I does if you edit the post?! For post 96 spec De dion front. /Steve My racing pics, 7 DIY, race prep. Updated often here Photo's of the year here Hants (North) and Berkshire Area club site here Edited by - stevefoster on 19 Dec 2002 14:53:33 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grim Reaper Posted December 19, 2002 Share Posted December 19, 2002 There you go....not a metric bolt in sight 😬 What is the world coming to 🤔 (Ah, except for the M14 thingy on the front whatsit) See what I mean 😬 Edited by - Grim Reaper on 19 Dec 2002 22:16:35 Edited by - Grim Reaper on 19 Dec 2002 22:20:48 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puremalt Posted December 19, 2002 Share Posted December 19, 2002 Machine Mart do all the AF sizes, with a good online purchasing system too. Hence my location! Get it out, the weather's dry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordy Posted January 10, 2003 Author Share Posted January 10, 2003 I forgot I'd already asked this question in the past. A very comprehensive response. Thanks all. BTW I bought a set of imperial allen keys and the one that fitted was a 3/8 I think. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve-B Posted January 10, 2003 Share Posted January 10, 2003 since i used to live in texas if anyone ever gets in this bind, call or email me and i've got a full set of american tools here in ruislip, near uxbridge m40/m25 junction. will save you buying them. they sit in my shed......safely in a toolbox.....almost never used now but couldn't bear to part with them. sockets, box-end, open, allen, hex you name it i've got em... Steve Metalic Black SV-VHPD click here to see our pictures.... Edited by - w1scb on 10 Jan 2003 18:28:13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alias Posted January 10, 2003 Share Posted January 10, 2003 Foxy is right. For £4 you can buy about 8 Metric Hex keys and for another £4 you can buy about 8 Imperial Hex keys. The annoying thing is when one hex key in your set is missing and it's the one you need. One car - 1400 Supersport with 6 gears and clamshell wings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordy Posted January 11, 2003 Author Share Posted January 11, 2003 The front bottom damper mount won't come out. Serious abuse and it won't budge. Looks like it wasn't assembled with a bit of copper grease. Fortunately I'm replacing the bottom wishbones so although damper is now off the car. It is still attached to the old wishbone !!!! Took me 3 hours to get that far. Looks like a long job then..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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