Hi,

Looking at buying a Torx, Hex, Spline bit set and wondered if I'd ever need female Torx sockets for it?

Could anyone advise?

Not averse to advice on Torx, Hex, Spline sets if anyone has any ideas.

i have snap on 1/4" torx , allen splines which are pretty awsome also larger torx , allen and splines in 3/8 , 1/2 which are halfords advanced... both seem long lasting and have pretty good life time guarantees.

As for the female torx ive never seen any on the fabia but some cars do use them corsa D has a few so they may come in usefull in the future

Thanks Holmsie

Also, while I'm asking, some of the sets include short and long bits (30mm and 70mm). Is there any point in the long bits? Surely you could just put a long reach 10mm socket on the short bits, or am I missing something?

longer bits are for tight holes where the bit holder wont fit

You'll come across examples where you need all sorts sooner or later. If you're sensible and buy as you go, you'll get a lifetime of use out of tools and you don't need to pay top whack for personal use or get things you won't use. Halfraud's professional kit is half price at least once a year and is actually reasonable value when it is. Draper Vortex is another personal favorite when it comes to sets.

If it were me i'd get a reasonable quality 1/2" standard/deep socket/ratchet set with extensions, a breaker bar and a torque wrench, a reasonable quality spanner set and a 3/8" torx/hex set with 3/8" to 1/2" convertor should see you able to tackle most jobs. E torx isn't necessarily required in the same way flat 6 sided flat sockets aren't buy if you're regularly working on cars that use those fittings you'll be better off spending a few quid sooner rather than later. Nothing worse than rounding a head on something on Sunday afternoon that needs to be in working condition on Monday.

I've never seen female Torx on the Fabia (or Octavia for that matter). But those spline bolts are everywhere.

Does no harm having female Torx......as Holmesie says, they're everywhere on Vauxhall cars.

I've spent well over £1000 on my halfords tools, Love them! Use them everyday a work so they get some abuse and nothing has broke.

I'll post some pictures tomorrow from work.

I've spent well over £1000 on my halfords tools, Love them! Use them everyday a work so they get some abuse and nothing has broke.

I'll post some pictures tomorrow from work.

i use some at work too and they do take alot of abuse with the exception on the precision ratchets. i that died almost instantly but was exchanged with no quibbles. cant fault them on customer service, unlike the snap on van man

Snap On warranty is legendary ... for claiming the tools have been damaged by improper use and saying 'no'.

Halfords advanced ftw lol although i do really like my snap on tools the dealer is just a b*** end

Thanks for all the replies :wonder:

Ok, girlfriend (it's her Fabia) has decided to buy;

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sealey-AK219-TRX-Star-Spline-Drive/dp/B000O5X26A/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/pro23-33-pce-38in-drive-socket-set

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cht204-38in-drive-reversible-torque-wre

did look at http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_818471_langId_-1_categoryId_255215

but the extra sockets and Spark Plug 'spanners' in the Clarke set swung it (plus Flat Drive) but it was a tough decision as no Lifetime guarantee on the ratchet.

Any comments/warnings welcome lol!

not many manufactures offer a good warrenty on ratchets due to moving parts wear n tear etc ....

sealey stuff is pretty good i have some of there gear

if you can ever get hold of a halfords trade card they are absolutely amazing for this sort of stuff ....

i recently bought a 3/8 torque wrench instore price of £74.99 and with trade card discount it was reduced to £39.99

Heres one of my Halfords draws, I worked out last night i've spent over £2000 on halfords tools and a few snap on impact guns, Think i own pretty much every tool they sell and own the 6ft tool box with 3 box's and 16 draws. AS you can see none of them are damaged/broken or missing! I rate them very highly.

im in the same situation and believe i own pretty much every tool they sell too if i see something new i generally buy it through sadness and continuing my collection .... Glad to see yours is all clean tidy and in order although mines the industrial too1 chest and cabinet so do i win

Ah thats it! im taking pictures of my other draws tomorrow!

My toolbox is totally an OCD toolbox, Everything is in order and everything has its place

and no because you cant get the middle toolbox for the black ones :p

But yeah, i do prefur the industrial box's!

Edit: Sorry went back for another look ARe those stubby spanners halfords advanced as well?

lol that is one huuggeee down side i must admit mine is almost full lol really really wish they did a middle box for it but the locking mechanism on the side of the draw is awesome it locks perfect everytime unlike the clarke ones where you shut the lid and soon as you move the box a draw opens ....

But yeah either way halfords boxes in my opinion are the best on the market and currently the only manufacturer that if you get the professional and industrial box still offer the lifetime warranty

Tool pr0n!

Ah thats it! im taking pictures of my other draws tomorrow!

My toolbox is totally an OCD toolbox, Everything is in order and everything has its place

and no because you cant get the middle toolbox for the black ones :p

But yeah, i do prefur the industrial box's!

Edit: Sorry went back for another look ARe those stubby spanners halfords advanced as well?

sorry but no lol stubbies and brake pipe spanners are snap on found them totally useless and just took up valuble tool box space at work so they came home lol

I'm another fan of halfrauds stuff, got the industrial boxes and the socket and spanner sets in the moulded trays, that fit the drawers, as well as a few other things. Just bought a couple of Carolus Torque wrenches, thought I'd give them a try, German made and accurate to 3% not as pricey as snap on. Might look into some more of their gear at some point.

I'm another fan of halfrauds stuff, got the industrial boxes and the socket and spanner sets in the moulded trays, that fit the drawers, as well as a few other things. Just bought a couple of Carolus Torque wrenches, thought I'd give them a try, German made and accurate to 3% not as pricey as snap on. Might look into some more of their gear at some point.

if you can get hold of a trade card i also like halfords torque wrenches .. the trade card reduces them from £75 to £40

I took more pictures today but worked late so haven't been on the laptop to upload them yet!

One thing I haven't bought was the torque wrenches, always used the other guys snap on one... Always thought for the price (yeah I use the trade card) it wouldn't be worth having my own but that is a good saving! Almost half price really...

oh dear lol ill have to photo my work tool box and my home one if its a competition :p lol both fully ocd .... yeah both me and the woman at the check out was like really ?? £ 35 off??

I've been looking at this 1/4" Halfords Socket Set reduced from £50 to £25;

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_177537_langId_-1_categoryId_255215#tab1

My question is, in providing a Torx T40 to be mated to a 1/4" drive, are Halfords saying this should undo anything fastened with a T40 without braking the ratchet e.g. a sump plug on a Fabia? It just seems like a small drive size to me, to go undoing something like a sump plug with.

Similarly, are they saying I should be able to undo a 13mm Hex brake caliper bolt with this set?

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductMobileDisplay?catalogId=10151&storeId=10001&productId=862421&categoryId=255215&langId=-1

It's got a decent discount at the moment. If you know anyone with a trade card this will be stupidly cheap.

1/4 is to small to undo a lot of sump plugs etc, I've done hundreds now and on occasion have had to use a power bar! (While kissing my arss goodbye)

But like to think I've got a good feel for them now.

However for my first few month of work I used the halfords 1/4 drive ratchet and the blue torx set (100 piece I think for around £11.99 it's a small fold out tray, love them) ..... to undo caliper slider bolts. Now I use the 3/8 ratchet and halfords hex set on the rail.

As for using the trade card for that set, unfortunately!! If you go to buy that set on trade, you would pay around £92. If you go as a member of the public you can get it for £80, this is because trade has set prices, which arnt always lower than the sale prices they have on, £120 off is bloody damn good though! I actually own that 150 piece set and rate it very well. Note, it doesn't come with the 7mm hex you need to undo calipers, it comes with a small collection of 6, 8 and 10mm.