Date:         Mon, 31 Aug 1998 23:34:07 -0600
Reply-To:     JCLC Thomasson <jthom@NUCLEUS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         JCLC Thomasson <jthom@NUCLEUS.COM>
Subject:      CV Joint Bolts - Why are they 12 point? ARRGH!
Comments: To: vanagon@vanagon.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

ARRRGH!  If I'm not stripping them taking them out, I'm strippin' em putting
them in.  Why are the CV joint bolts multi point when the hex that fits is
of course 6 sided?  Is there a tool other than a hex to get the job done?
Different procedure?  I try to be as straight and deep as possible.

It usually happens when I've gotten them all tight and then for the final
torqueing with the wrench.......I'm almost at the click ....... and "strip"
and around it goes!  After a few expletives I then I get mentally prepared
for the hacksaw when it comes time to remove them (hopefully in a few
years!).  I should have guessed they would be trouble when I found almost
all of them stripped after dealer service just before I bought the van (All
new boots! But they didn't tell me it would take hours to remove them!).

Is anyone else frustrated by these flimsy yet important  12 point bolts?

Jim T (with the grease still on my hands!)
'85 Westfalia