A Torx® socket is used to remove six-pointed star head Torx® fasteners, which reduce the number of stripped and damaged fasteners found on finished production vehicles. It’s important to use the appropriately sized tool to prevent damage to the fastener or tool. Damaged sockets can be repaired with a metal file, and it’s important to inspect tools for damage to prevent damage to fasteners.
A Torx® socket is a tool used to remove Torx® type fasteners. These fasteners differ from the common hex nut and bolt in that the Torx® fastener has a six-pointed star head that must be used with a Torx® socket. In the same way that an Allen bolt uses a specialized hex tool to fit inside the bolt head, the Torx® socket fits snugly into the head of the Torx® fastener to allow tightening and loosening without strain scratching or rounding the fastener so that the wrench no longer fits in the head of the fastener. It is vital to use the appropriately sized tool when removing a Torx® faster, as it is possible to insert a smaller tool inside the head of a fastener, which will result in the removal of the bolt head.
Many automakers switched from hex bolts and nuts to Torx®-type fasteners in the mid-1980s to reduce the number of stripped and damaged fasteners found on finished production vehicles. By using the new fasteners in conjunction with the Torx® socket, the amount of damaged fasteners found on new build vehicles has been dramatically reduced. In high-performance automotive shops, the use of the Torx® socket and new fastener provided much more accurate torque application to critical high-performance engine components such as the main bearing caps and head bolts.
It’s not impossible to remove a fastener while using a Torx® socket, although it’s a rare occurrence in most applications. The typical cause of a fastener removal when using a Torx® socket is the use of an incorrectly sized tool for the fastener or improper application of the tool. Placing a socket only partially on or within the fastener will sometimes result in a torn fastener and damaged tool. Placing the tool completely on or inside the fastener usually results in many cycles of using a fastener without causing any damage to the fastener or tool.
If the edges of the Torx® socket bend or twist slightly from excessive force exerted on the tool, a few strokes with a quality metal file will usually straighten them back to their original shape and configuration. Using a damaged Torx® socket on a new fastener can occasionally damage the fastener. By maintaining the tools and inspecting the condition of the six pointed star, any damage will be detected and the broken tool can be replaced before damaging any fasteners.
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