CV Joint Bolts...

[Chris the Eagle]

I was trying to remove the CV bolts from the transmission this last weekend, but I could not find a hex drive that fit.  I know it has to be metric, but I am unsure of the correct tool to use.  Appreciate any help.  Thanks

[Bookwus]

Hiya Chris,

This gets a little tricky.  First off you have to determine if you do have Allen head bolts.  If they are, then they are 6mm Allens.  But you might well have triple squares.  So you need to get a close up and careful look and make sure of what you have.  To do so, you'll have tpo clean those bolt heads and that's exactly what you should be doing anyway.  Before you stick an Allen or triple square socket inthose things they have to be scrupulously clean.  Any dirt in the bolt heads can cause the darn things to strip out. 

[volkenstein]

Chris,
       X2 for Mikes advice. DO NOT force fit a hex key in there. You will ruin the tri square (8mm Tri Square, VWFLAPS flog them) if they are fitted and then you may be nailed to the tree of woe....

The little rotters collect dirt inside and the tri square bit really must go ALL the way in, so sparkly clean in any case. You may find to your horror that you could have a mix of hex or tri square, you just never know.


Regards
Sean

[Chris the Eagle]

Well, after looking at them closely, I do believe they are the tri-square type.  Where would one find a tri-square 8mm? 

[Bookwus]

Hiya Chris,

As Sean mentioned, most any VW-foreign car kinda FLAPS will have these sockets.  If you don't have such a store in your area you can get them online.  Take a look.........

http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=ACC%2DC10%2D7011

And be sure to take notice of the Sticky in the VW Parts Forum, SOURCES FOR AUTOSTICK PARTS.  Dave (Hercdriver) has done a really nice job of compiling sources and links for those online folks selling items of AS interest.

[68autobug]

Hiya Chris,

This gets a little tricky.  First off you have to determine if you do have Allen head bolts.  If they are, then they are 6mm Allens.  But you might well have triple squares.  So you need to get a close up and careful look and make sure of what you have.  To do so, you'll have tpo clean those bolt heads and that's exactly what you should be doing anyway.  Before you stick an Allen or triple square socket inthose things they have to be scrupulously clean.  Any dirt in the bolt heads can cause the darn things to strip out. 

Hi Guys,
All mine were the tri square type bolts, and bought a socket to take them off etc...
My Son had a mixture of both... so He cut them all off with a grinder
and replaced them with high tensile allen keyed bolts...
His would have been filled with gunk too...

Mine are nice and clean and painted as usual...

I  have an allen headed socket for the other type too..
I also reused the special washers under the heads of the bolts too...
I think I may have reused allen key type bolts from spares I had..

You need good quality allen keys too or the socket..
as You can bend or break cheap allen keys off
or damage the the end of the allen key so it rounds off the bolt head..

cheers

LEE