Why is all the new hardware torx?
 

Over the last couple years I've had to replace missing or damaged hardware and almost always the old ones are metric hex and the replacements are torx.

So aside from having mixed hex and torx all over, is there some advantage to torx?

harder to strip?
New standard?

Yes to both.

The torx are a huge improvement over the hex. Larger/more contact surfaces and lesser likelihood of stripping.

They are easier to install at the factory using robots.

Mike missed one: to keep people like us (or maybe somewhat less dedicated folks) out of there. If lay people can't remove the bolts they can't fix - or mess up - the component in question. Dedicated folks like us will buy the tools. Then there's security Torx.......

Dan

Luckily I've amassed an extensive set of metric tools including torx.

Before committing to diy repairs on my w123, torx hardware would've been quite intimidating.

I thought it was just a bmw thing

if your talking about germans then its not torx. Torx is 6pt, germans use triple square fittings

I was hoping that the thread would not sink to " see they are evil and out to get you " like the " fight back " parts thread.

Torx has been around since the 60's. The advantage is higher torque capability and smaller footprint. This allows for bolts to be placed in tighter spaces.

Yes, there are security torx but it's use is limited to "this really should not come apart because adjustments will be affected ".

Not always, male torx bolts are common on 2000 up German cars. Regular metric sockets will work on male torx.

Just keep in mind that many of those "torx" fasteners are really XZN. In the past, you sometimes found combinations of phillips and pozidrive. The opportunities for the untooled to mangle fasteners are boundless.

I think the xzn is engine stuff

The hardware I got for the dash, and trans cooler brackets is definitely 6point torx

You made me chuckle - because, like all humor, there is a ton of truth in it!

BTW - We haven't been out on the road yet but so far the rad and fans seems to working spot-on. I ran it long enough for the left fan to kick on and off (not hot enough for the right fan to engage) and all worked perfectly. Groovy!

Those not in the know, this is a slight highjack - Mxfrank did the rad for the Volvo.

Dan

To keep in the spirit of Mxfrank's post, as long as I gots me a dremel tool with carbide bits, I can make those fasteners ANY shape I wants!:P

And don't forget the Japanese version of Phillips that use a different angle than USA Phillips. A Posi drive screw head is marked with radial lines between the slots.

XZN / Triple square has sharp corners , Torx has rounded corners. Bristol is a square cut spline drive.

It's just a money thing if you hold patients to a bolt design you reap the royalties. You do not support using another car company's patient unless forced too. Car manufacturers hold many patients bolt design included. At least that's what I was taught way back when.

Does anyone have patents to Philips, torx or hex...not sure about that. Torx has more surface area than traditional hex and can therefore can withstand higher torque without stripping.

Yes you just need to do a quick search to find out who holds those patents.