Buddy in Detroit convinced me hex head bolts aren't always better than Torx

Been using hex head bolts for 20 years on engine work. Thought Torx was for amateurs. Then my buddy Jim who runs a transmission shop in Detroit showed me his stripped hex socket job on a rusty intake manifold. Said he wasted 3 hours because the bolt rounded off. Swapped to Torx on that same job and it broke free in 10 minutes. Made me think maybe I've been stubborn for no reason. Anyone else changed their mind on a fastener type after seeing it fail firsthand?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_holly5d ago

Jim's exactly right about the Torx thing. I had a 2005 Silverado with a rusted-on brake caliper bracket that ate three hex bits before I even got close to breaking the bolt loose. Threw a T50 Torx bit on there and it came off without a fight. I still keep hex for light duty stuff but for anything that's been sitting in Michigan salt for years, Torx is the only way to go.

graydavis5d ago

Man I had the SAME fight with a 2004 F-150 about four years back. Those factory hex bolts on the rear caliper brackets are basically made of butter once road salt hits them. I stripped three sockets before I gave up and drilled the head off. A T55 Torx bit with a breaker bar and some PB Blaster sat there for ten minutes then it broke free like it was new. Now I keep a full set of Torx impact bits in my truck box at all times. For anything brake related on a northern vehicle I dont even bother with hex anymore. Torx just bites deeper into the bolt head and that's what matters when you're fighting rust.