Why?

[wyosteve]

Changed my batteries yesterday and ran into an idiotic engineering design, imo! The nuts to loosen the battery clamps on the driver's side were 10 mm. On the passenger side, the same clamp nuts were 8 mm! What a PIA. Why would they use 2 different size nuts for the same clamps?

 

[Jim W]

BECAUSE!

You need to remember how assembly lines work and how the automotive engineering teams work! There are ususally two assembly line workers at almost have installation station, one on the left and one on the right hand side. So, different tooling and parts on each side of the assembly line. I also believe they have different packing engineers for each side of the vehicle. At least GM did that, when I was at Caterpillar, the company was starting to hire some automotive engineers. One worked across from me, he was astonished that Cat did not have engineers just work on one component area like GM did. He stated when he was at GM all he did was design the RH wheel assembly which include the brake components and wheel BRG's, nothing else.

 

[nukegm]

and someone got paid for that decision.... its no comparison, but i have old subarus. currently a 95. a slight exaggeration, but you can work on a lot of the car with just a 10 mm and a 12 mm. its a joy, compared to my 86 chevy plow truck ( which is metric and standard ) cheers comrades!

 

[Wiredawg]

It struck me as funny when I popped mine off to apply dielectric grease, but really didn't give it anymore thought than that.

 

[Topzide]

Next time you're there, change out to match and problem solved! Toyota had similar setups, you'd be under dash with a Phillips and then run across a Torx to get where you needed too! Sometimes you felt like they were designed NOT to be worked on.

 

[petersonj]

I think this is what happened. Many years ago the owners of the Big Three got together to make a decision as to whether or not to change over to the metric system. One of them said, "Yes, let's do it - it will simplify everything!" Another said, "Whoa! It will be too confusing and it would be very expensive to retool." After months of debating, the third one said, "Why not do both? That way we would have only half of the retooling cost and that would be worth it just to make it confusing!" They unanimously agreed.

The nuts to loosen the battery clamps on the driver's side were 10 mm. On the passenger side, the same clamp nuts were 8 mm! What a PIA. Why would they use 2 different size nuts for the same clamps?

They just needed to liven things up a bit to make it more sporting.

- John

 

[gtwitch]

I worked my way through college as mechanic on the line in the 60s at GM and after my 3rd Corvair to R&R engine, I learned to just empty most of my tool box on the floor behind the car ( as at that time we had no hoists or lifts to work under) because you were going to need most every tool that you had in your box to get the engine out of a Corvair!! That and the Vega were the two cars that GM should be really hanging their "Design Heads" down about!!
gtwitch in wyoming

 

[bcbender]

Try working on a mid 90's Ford... Engine is metric, drive train is std., body somewhere in the middle with both metric, std, torx.. etc (who ever in Purch. got a good deal on hardware ) Hey maybe they just want us to stay limber with all those trips back and forth to the tool box.

 

[gtwitch]

petersonj , I think you are right and that may have finally (at least FCA trucks) have reached the metric side but it was a good move for Snap On and Mac Tools sales. However my 99 Dodge Cummins is still about half and half SAE/Metric!! So Far MY 17 RAM is better.
gtwitch in wyoming

 

[JLEONARD]

I worked as a design engineer for almost 40 years making steering intermediate shafts. Every drawing and part has been metric for probably the last 35.
Then our company converted everything to SAE. That's where many mistakes were made. Conversions suck.

 

[SnoKing]

I think this is what happened. Many years ago the owners of the Big Three got together to make a decision as to whether or not to change over to the metric system. One of them said, "Yes, let's do it - it will simplify everything!" Another said, "Whoa! It will be too confusing and it would be very expensive to retool." After months of debating, the third one said, "Why not do both? That way we would have only half of the retooling cost and that would be worth it just to make it confusing!" They unanimously agreed.



They just needed to liven things up a bit to make it more sporting.

- John

 

[Wiredawg]

Friends,

Thought I'd throw some humor mixed with reality in here: My 96 Ram 1500 was about half metric, half standard. Well, about the same time Metwrench came out and I used it for a long time on non-critical fasteners. It worked fine and I still have it.

Just an old recollection of working mixed sizing systems.

Cheers, Ron

 

[BSeyler]

My bride just got license for her new Bronco. Front plate screws are 5/16” hex/straight slotted. The rears are Phillips screws.

 

[Jim W]

My bride just got license for her new Bronco. Front plate screws are 5/16” hex/straight slotted. The rears are Phillips screws.

That is an antitheft measure, so the thieves can't steal both licensee plates with just one device!