21mm VS. 11/16

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Kathleen2 @ Mar 23 2007, 06:43 PM) [snapback]411287[/snapback]</div>

back in early 2004 we here on PC found this out. Seem to be that only Snap-On 11/16's don't work. I tried 6 different 11/16's and found the only one was Snap-On and it was one of their famous "flank drive" sockets. As their patent protection has runout on that design and several other manufactures are now using that design it's possible that some of them don't fit as well. My thougth is if it takes off the lug nuts it's done it's job. If you want to protect the chrome on the lug nuts use a special socket that has the UHMW nylon liners.

 

Is it really 11/16 or is it 13/16?

11/16 inch = 17.46 mm

13/16 inch = 20.64 mm

I think the reason that a 13/16 socket may fit better is because of the respective tolerances of both the wheel nut and the socket. A 21 mm socket is probably a little larger than 21mm across the flats (and a 13/16 is also a little larger than 13/16) while a 21mm wheel nut is probably a little smaller across the flats. If they were both perfect at 21mm exactly, you would have an interference fit between them and wouldn't be able to get the socket on the nut.

 

I should have caught it as well. 13/16's it is.

 

My 21mm socket works on 19 of the 20 lug nuts I have. I tried a 13/16 and it wouldn't fit either, but I found an old 13/16 sparkplug socket and it worked just fine on the offending lug nut. Apparently quality control was on vacation when that lug nut was made. Like somebody else said, whatever works. Just don't round off the hex or you'll have some real problems.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(subarutoo @ Mar 27 2007, 09:53 PM) [snapback]413398[/snapback]</div>

nowadays you can get hardened reverse fluted impact sockets that are designed to remove keylock lug nuts without the key. They just cut into the nut and undo it. They were designed for lug nut removal but I use them for all bolts and nuts that are rounded off.

 

Craftsman 13/16" works for me.

I wonder if Toyota did this intentionally so as to be able to use either an SAE or metric socket to get the lugnuts off.

Given Toyota's usual depth of researching 'everything' and their level of quality control, it wouldn't surprise me in the least. In fact, I can't feature Toyota allowing lugnuts that weren't within a very tight specification being allowed to be used.

 

Since I'm sitting here at work with nothing particularly useful to do (but don't tell my boss, ok), I decided to make some measurements:

I have a Husky Brand 13/16 Open Ended Wrench (we don't have a 13/16 socket at work) so I measured the opening with our Dial Calipers (Starrett Model 120A, calibrated until 11/07, accurate to +/- .001 inch).

Remember, 13/16 inch= .8125 inch = 20.64 mm

The Husky wrench opening actually measures .821 inch = 20.85 mm

Next, I measured 3 different lug nuts on my vehicle (I would have measured all, but there is a logistical issue with possible discovery by the boss, see above).

Within my capability to measure, they were all the same, .820 inch = 20.83 mm

Lastly, I measured the wrench that Toyota provides for emergency use, .834 inch = 21.18 mm

So, at least for my vehicle and tools, my assumption holds true:

The wheel nuts are slightly smaller than 21 mm, the 13/16 wrench is slightly larger than 13/16 and the 21 mm wrench is also slightly larger than 21 mm.

The clearance between the wheel nut and Toyota wrench is .007 inch (.17mm) per side, but is only .0005 inch (.01mm) per side with the 13/16 wrench.

I tried the 13/16 wrench and it indeed fits with very little play compared to the Toyota 21 mm wrench.

 

I know this is off topic, but I didn't read the whole thread when I first saw it. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to remove an 11/16 socket from my wheel lug? I thought it was hard going on, but taking it off has proven even more difficult.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(NoMoShocks @ Mar 28 2007, 09:23 PM) [snapback]413964[/snapback]</div>

Dip the whole wheel (wheel nuts and all) in Liquid Nitrogen, then quickly heat the socket with an Acetylene Torch. Should pop right off.

 

you will need a bolt with the same thread as the lug nut, take the lug nut off the car, clamp the socket in a vise and screw the bolt in the lug nut and with a hammer and punch slowly tap the bolt head till it comes out of the socket. Secret is to keep rotating the whole unit so that you don't just jam the nut in the socket by tapping it to one side only. There are other ways such as a cutoff wheel in a die grinder and split the socket. Carefully without cutting into the lug nut. But the first way should get it off easily. Unless you pounded it on with a hammer!