Head bolt socket (1 Viewer)

[David Rodgers]

I’m doing a head gasket job the truck currently. 318000 miles, head has never been pulled before. I’m ready to pull the head bolts tomorrow.
I bought a couple of craftsman 12mm 12 point sockets today.

A friend of mine that is helping me lift the head tomorrow is worried that the socket will break and round off the head bolt.

He advised me to get an impact socket. However, the impact socket is too thick to fit down the head to the bolt.

what do you guys think?

Do I need to keep searching for an impact socket that is thin enough to fit?

 

[Grandlooser]

Just use the normal socket.

 

[David Rodgers]

Are you 100% sure... this thing has me scared to death.

 

[Grandlooser]

Impact sockets are for impacting. Nobody recommends impacting the head bolts off.

 

[David Rodgers]

I wasn’t going to use an impact gun, I’m just afraid that a socket will break as I pull it with a breaker bar. I’ve seen a few videos of people pulling the bolts with no problem.

The manual says to use a SST and I didn’t know if that tool has a hardened socket on it.

I think that I’m just scared of it for no reason, but I wanted to give myself the best chance.

thanks for any input

 

[scottryana]

A decent chrome socket should be totally fine.

 

[David Rodgers]

How about a Lowe’s craftsman socket? Should I buy a better brand/manufacturer? Thanks guys.

 

[george_tlc]

6pt socket would reduce chance of rounding the head. I don't use 12pt for anything that requires decent heaving on.

cheers,
george.

 

[David Rodgers]

6pt socket would reduce chance of rounding the head. I don't use 12pt for anything that requires decent heaving on.

cheers,
george.

On the 80, the head bolts are 12 point bolts. Can’t use a 6 point on it. I’m using a 12 mm 12 point on a 1/2 inch drive and a 4 foot breaker bar.

 

[David Rodgers]

 

[-Spike-]

Never heard of anyone breaking a socket on a head bolt. On any vehicle. Use the damn socket.

 

[scottryana]

You are right on track. The most torque you should see on a head bolt is going to be like 90ft/lbs a regular socket should be fine.

On the 80, the head bolts are 12 point bolts. Can’t use a 6 point on it. I’m using a 12 mm 12 point on a 1/2 inch drive and a 4 foot breaker bar.

 

[David Rodgers]

Are you sure...just kidding. I’m going to pull those things tomorrow. I gotta wake up with my super powers with me and yank those damn bolts out...I can do it

 

[wapitimud]

I went out and bought a 1/2" drive 12-pt 14mm chrome Proto socket for the job, as I didn't have one. You'll want to do the same. Pretty hard to round them off with that. I use a breaker bar of course to break the torque, following the sequence in the manual.

You don't want to use a cheap socket for anything that important, don't use a smaller drive than 1/2", don't using a ratchet at all to break the torque. Breaker bar, small extension if you have to.

 

[David Rodgers]

It’s 12mm bolts correct?

 

[wapitimud]

It was 1HZ engine on mine. 12mm was correct, sorry not 14mm.

 

[richardlillard1]

I’d have to check, but I’m pretty sure the last FIVE heads we’ve pulled off were done with a Crapman 12point chrome socket. We use a 1/2 to 3/8 adapter and a 2” 3/8 extension with a 1/2 breaker bar. Just tall enough to reach over spark plug tubes, just short enough to get in behind cylinder six.

Or maybe it’s a snap on socket.

 

[wapitimud]

3/8" drive then, craftsman or HF socket you say? No gloves or eye protection. I also like to live dangerously.

That new Proto socket was the best $12 I ever spent. Even smells new.

 

[flintknapper]

Are you sure...just kidding. I’m going to pull those things tomorrow. I gotta wake up with my super powers with me and yank those damn bolts out...I can do it

You'll be fine with any decent quality socket. You won't break the socket and the head bolts are quite hard...so don't worry about rounding off the head of one. I did mine recently (316K miles, head had never been off).

Be sure to clean the threads in the block before torquing the head back on. It takes a thread cleaning tap M11 x 1.25 pitch.

 

[richardlillard1]

I’d have to check, but I’m pretty sure the last FIVE heads we’ve pulled off were done with a Crapman 12point chrome socket. We use a 1/2 to 3/8 adapter and a 2” 3/8 extension with a 1/2 breaker bar. Just tall enough to reach over spark plug tubes, just short enough to get in behind cylinder six.

Or maybe it’s a snap on socket.

It’s a snap on socket. But there’s a craftsman and Cornwell on either side of it for that rail.