What's the purpose of Torx bolts?

[JStieger]

I was removing my front driveshaft this morning and the bolts holding the driveshaft flange to the pinion flange are 8mmx1. 25 bolts with button head Torx (#40). I didn't quite get a straight shot to one of the bolts and started to strip one of the Torx stars a bit, but then I jacked up the front end and turned the driveshaft a bit to get the straight shot and all is OK. I am planning on replacing these bolts with hex heads or button head cap screws with a recess for an allen key so I can easily replace a driveshaft in the sticks if need be. Note that the bolts holding the driveshaft to the transfer case flange are regular hex head!



So what's the purpose of a Torx head versus allen key head versus hex head? Is the Torx head able to handle more "wrenching pressure"? Or does DC put them there to prevent people from actually wrenching on their own vehicles in order to boost dealer service profits?



-Thanks!-

 

[EEdmondson]

Makes you buy more tools. Everybody likes having lots of tools.

 

[zstroken]

Easier for line up for assembly

 

[WDixon27]

to annoy aggravate and generally p**s off whoever encounters it, thank god they don't put those square drive turds on cars (that i've seen)

 

[JStieger]

Easier for line up for assembly

Assembly as in assembly line only because when I didn't get the straight shot to it I started stripping the mf'er?

to annoy aggravate and generally p**s off whoever encounters it, thank god they don't put those square drive turds on cars (that i've seen)

tell us how you really feel! :-laf I really appreciate your honesty because that is how I felt this morning too!

 

[WDixon27]

a quality torx bit makes them better to deal with but they still suck, i like my snap on bits, the biggest pain is they usually use torx in restricted areas where a 3/8 drive torx socket puts the bit at a angle and you up the creek, i get custom sizes assembled in 1/4 drive format by my tool guy. i work on euro cars for a living and deal with this crap daily, you'd swear they do somethings on purpose to make you miserable, try a 850/70 series volvo

 

[EMD Diesel Power]

Easier for initial assembly and it is also used as a *locking* security device on some items. I mean, just how many non-mechanics have torx bits in thier roadside kits???

 

[DieselTweaker]

torx are a PIA I hate them there diffrent times torx,,, torx plus,, and tamper prof, oh and inverted torx too altho they arent to bad...



WHO EVER THOUGHT OF TORX,,, I'D LIKE TO MEET THEM AND TELL THEM WERE TO SHOVE THERE TORX!!!!

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

When clearance is tight, a button head can help. Torx takes a lot more torque before stripping than Allen.

 

[TJSHOTROD]

I read somewhere that the guy who invented them had family that worked for G. M. and got them to start using them to get it him started.

 

[DBogo]

when i get bord some day i am going to invent my own drive system

 

[WDixon27]

when i get bord some day i am going to invent my own drive system

it's gotta be really annoying to continue the proud tradition of pita bolts, i am thinking oval or triangle :-laf

 

[Hohn]

Why not use a perfect circle?

 

[JStieger]

it's gotta be really annoying to continue the proud tradition of pita bolts, i am thinking oval or triangle :-laf

Here's my design - a modified Torx bit so to speak. I'm calling it the #$%^&@ bit. As in, "please pass me the darn #$%^&@ bit!" Note the unique spiral locking mechanism combined with the westerly pointing anti-rotator tip. :-laf :-laf

 

[WDixon27]

Why not use a perfect circle?

that's what you turn them into anyway

 

[Mundgyver]

You guys laugh at the Torex and wonder about the guy that came up with it. Think about this, the guy that invented the pattern that we see in the little road reflectors held the Patent for 17 years. During that time he received a royalty of 1 penny per road reflector produced. This included little round ones on the signs, the pattern was also used in the road surface reflectors on the interstates in California and other reflective devices where the pattern was used.



1 cent per. In 17 years of production, how may billions of these things were made. His family lives pretty well. I suspect it is the same way with the Torex that we either love or hate.



So who has the next invention that going to make millions

 

[JStieger]

You guys laugh at the Torex and wonder about the guy that came up with it. Think about this, the guy that invented the pattern that we see in the little road reflectors held the Patent for 17 years. During that time he received a royalty of 1 penny per road reflector produced. This included little round ones on the signs, the pattern was also used in the road surface reflectors on the interstates in California and other reflective devices where the pattern was used.

That's a lot of $$ :--) What happened after 17 years? Died or patent ran out?

 

[Mundgyver]

17 years if I am not mistaken is the normal length of a Patent Right. So if you can come up with a wiz-bang-widget for something, you have 17 years to make your money and if produced like the reflectors were, you will be set.

 

[nickleinonen]

Why not use a perfect circle?

well, dodge was kind enough to use an inverted perfect circle drive on the bolts holding the spring pack together on the 3rd gen trucks

thank god they don't put those square drive turds on cars

i'd rather see them that the NFG phillips screw heads. they are 100% useless IMHO. the robertson ■ screw head is a 100% better in design than the phillips screw head [which is a 100% better than the good for nothing slot type]

 

[RustyJC]

The square head drives are common on RVs and are far better than some of the alternatives - Phillips comes to mind immediately!



Rusty