torx or spline socket, head bolts

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Fri 26 Mar 2004 16:05
torx or spline socket, head bolts - Drew20

at 145k I need to change the head gasket on my mk2 Golf and I need a tool to do this as I don't have any torx or spline sockets at the mo.

Does anyone know what size(s) I would need for the cylinder head bolts?
and what is the difference between torx and spline?

thanks
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Fri 26 Mar 2004 16:12
torx or spline socket, head bolts - gttrd
Torx have only 6 pointed sides where splines have a lot more
Not sure what size u will need though

usually u would just buy a set and that should have what u require
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Fri 26 Mar 2004 19:06
torx or spline socket, head bolts - Dynamic Dave
Rather than buying a torx socket to do the job, see if your local car accessory centre (Not Halfords though, AFAIA) will hire you one. Both of the local centre\'s near me often hire out *specialist* tools that you don\'t require the use of everyday.
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Sat 27 Mar 2004 08:20
torx or spline socket, head bolts - DL
Buy a set - these should be readily available in tool shops for under £20.
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Sat 27 Mar 2004 09:38
torx or spline socket, head bolts - Sooty Tailpipes
I bought a set off ebay made by Franklin tools, it was about £17. These were male.
I thne needed female ones (like you do) and bought a set of female and male together for a bit more £22? from my local motor factors, these too were Franklin in an orange and black box.
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Sat 27 Mar 2004 18:22
torx or spline socket, head bolts - Dizzy {P}
I don't know which type of fastener is used on the Golf engine. I have come across five types of cylinder head fasteners on different (non-VW) engines. These are:

External hexagon head, either bolts or studs/nuts.
Internal hexagon head (aka capscrews or Allen screws).
Splines (12 splines I think).
Tri-square (six sharpish triangular points).
External Torx (six fairly rounded points).

The first two are seldom if ever used for passenger car cylinder heads these days, so far as I know.
The splined type are very good but very expensive to make. They are made to a military specification.
Tri-square was, I think, used on 1980s Vauxhall/Opels.
External Torx is almost as strong as splined and tri-square and very much cheaper to make.

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Sat 27 Mar 2004 18:38
torx or spline socket, head bolts - DL
I've got a Franklin tools catalogue; it looks pretty decent stuff to me.
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Sun 28 Mar 2004 00:28
torx or spline socket, head bolts - Ian D
I did the cylinder head on my 1986 golf gti last year and bought the required tool from a local motor shop - it was a draper tool (can't remember size/torq etc) but it was only about £9 for a set of 2 sizes.

If not Euro car parts I think sell them

Ian
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