3/8" Allen Key for the Torsion Bars

[BABIS]

Hello guys,

Can you advise me where to buy online a good quality 3/8" Allen Key socket needed for the torsion bar adjustment?

Many thanks

[David T]

Hello guys,

Can you advise me where to buy online a good quality 3/8" Allen Key socket needed for the torsion bar adjustment?

Many thanks

Snap On 3/8 allen by 1/2 " drive part # SA 128 You will also need a 1/2" extension and a breaker bar.

[Nicholas R]

This is definitely one that you dont want to skimp on. The DCF recently found this out at a tech day in April when an inferior hex key broke during a torsion bar adjustment.

Definitely get one that is a 1/2" drive (most use a 3/8" drive) and ensure it's high quality. The one below is what I'd recommend. Williams tools are synonymous with Snap-On. It would be difficult to find a better tool than this one:

Williams 35212 1/2-Inch Drive Hex Bit Socket, 3/8-Inch

https://www.amazon.com/Williams-35212-2-Inch-Socket-8-Inch/dp/B007YR9UXK
http://www.toolsdelivered.com/Williams-35212-Hand-Tools-Sockets-Drive-Tools-1-2-Inch-Drive-Chrome-SAE-Bit-Sockets
http://www.toolsdelivered.com/Williams-35212-Hand-Tools-Sockets-Drive-Tools-1-2-Inch-Drive-Chrome-SAE-Bit-Sockets

[DrJeff]

Nick... Doesn't the bit length need to be longer than 1 in? Mind has about a 6 in bit length so that the bracket can easily back off onto the hex while the hex is still in the torsion bar.

[David T]

Not only is it important to get good quality tools, you must be very careful when doing that adjustment. For instance, if the allen tool fits too loosely the head of the torsion bar may be damaged or cracked. While adjusting you must watch that the tool is fully seated all the way into the head of the bar. I like to put a piece of rubber between the rear hinge and the torsion bar so they can't touch and scratch the torsion bar. Good idea to leave a small piece there all the time even after you finish adjusting the bar. If anything goes wrong not only is there a big chance of personal injury, you can break the back glass so it is imperative you do this safely. To do it safely not only must you have the best tools you can get, you should have someone with some experience. You MUST also have a helper who understands how dangerous this procedure is and can follow instructions precisely. You must have anything you could need handy while doing this so you can get it done quickly, your helper can only hold the bar for so long. In some instances it can be very difficult to remove the anchor bracket. The splines get "stuck" or the head of the torsion bar expands. Use pencil marks so you know where you are and which spline you are moving to. Always adjust to a new strut, not a weak, old one. Adjust 1 spline at a time until you get experienced. Before adjusting check the roof box to make sure it is still attached to the fiberglass. Be careful, the Tee roof edges are VERY sharp and you can get cut very easily once you remove the rear plastic valence. Careful with that valence, it is NLA and breaks easily.

[Rich]

This baby takes care of that potential problem. Solidly built, too.

LINK: Proto x-long 1/2in. drive x 3/8in. hex (http://www.protoindustrial.com/en/industrial-tools/Proto/Hand-Sockets/Bit-Sockets/d6a042c1-c898-48b3-9d92-cc821fd4872d_Proto%c2%ae-1%7c2%22-Drive-Extra-Long-Hex-Bit-Sockets/J54413%7c8XL_Proto%c2%ae-1%7c2%22-Drive-Extra-Long-Hex-Bit-Socket---3%7c8%22/)


Nick... Doesn't the bit length need to be longer than 1 in? Mind has about a 6 in bit length so that the bracket can easily back off onto the hex while the hex is still in the torsion bar.

[Morpheus]

Nick... Doesn't the bit length need to be longer than 1 in? Mind has about a 6 in bit length so that the bracket can easily back off onto the hex while the hex is still in the torsion bar.

There is plenty of room to back off the bracket onto the socket that Nick listed above. We just did a successful torsion bar adjustment this past weekend with the bit that was listed with no issues whatsoever. Keep in mind that the hex portion only fits in about 1/2" or so and the torsion bar bracket is much larger than the circumference of the 1/2" drive socket and will not interfere at all with the adjustment.

[spikeygg]

Hello guys,

Can you advise me where to buy online a good quality 3/8" Allen Key socket needed for the torsion bar adjustment?

Many thanks

Extension set:
http://www.harborfreight.com/3-pc-super-long-extension-set-67975.html
don't be fooled like I was, only the long one is 3/8" drive. It wasn't an issue I really only needed one more 3/8" extension but I was surprised that the other two were 1/4" drive.

Long reach ball head allen wrench sockets:
http://www.harborfreight.com/7-pc-38-in-drive-sae-long-reach-ball-head-hex-socket-set-67885.html
The biggest one is 3/8" and worked like a charm.

I wouldn't do this operation without the jig by the way, if you try to your super-long extension may not be square to the torsion bar. If it slips out, you're screwed. I did this operation last week on my passenger door for the first time. When you release the tension the bar is only twisted about 30-40° but at that angle it's under some pretty strong torque. I was a little worried about using the harbor freight tools but they worked out great.

My wife and I used two 20% off coupons and I think we spent just over $20 for both sets of tools. I already had tons of extensions but none of them were over 12". The 24" in this harbor freight set worked great for passing through the wood jig to keep everything square.

46537

Good luck!
-Greg

[David T]

If you are looking for GOOD tools don't shop at Harbor Freight. It is all Chinese junk.

[spikeygg]

If you are looking for GOOD tools don't shop at Harbor Freight. It is all Chinese junk.

Yeah, I know a lot of people are strongly biased against Harbor Freight tools since most (if not all) of what they sell is made in China. I almost didn't make my post because I knew it would bring them out of the woodwork. I was just sharing my experience with actually doing the torsion bar job and using the exact tools I posted (see picture). I have had good luck with Harbor Freight hand tools and pneumatic tools (not so much with their powered stuff).

[Rich]

Setting aside junky vs quality tools just seconding the point that a 3/8in. square drive tool or extension is risky for this job, as noted here by Nicholas, now in bold. I think I see some references to using a 3/8in. square drive in other posts. Not the best.

On our doors you may need so much torque that only a 1/2in. drive setup will do.

Ask me how I know.

Again, we are talking about a 3/8in. allen key being torqued by a 1/2in. square drive setup.


This is definitely one that you dont want to skimp on. ....
Definitely get one that is a 1/2" drive (most use a 3/8" drive) and ensure it's high quality. The one below is what I'd recommend. Williams tools are synonymous with Snap-On. It would be difficult to find a better tool than this one:

Williams 35212 1/2-Inch Drive Hex Bit Socket, 3/8-Inch

https://www.amazon.com/Williams-35212-2-Inch-Socket-8-Inch/dp/B007YR9UXK
http://www.toolsdelivered.com/Williams-35212-Hand-Tools-Sockets-Drive-Tools-1-2-Inch-Drive-Chrome-SAE-Bit-Sockets
http://www.toolsdelivered.com/Williams-35212-Hand-Tools-Sockets-Drive-Tools-1-2-Inch-Drive-Chrome-SAE-Bit-Sockets

[DMC5180]

I highly recommend NOT using a ball end hex socket in this application. You need maximum tool surface contact. You also don't need extra long bits. A standard length hex socket will work just fine.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[David T]

Yeah, I know a lot of people are strongly biased against Harbor Freight tools since most (if not all) of what they sell is made in China. I almost didn't make my post because I knew it would bring them out of the woodwork. I was just sharing my experience with actually doing the torsion bar job and using the exact tools I posted (see picture). I have had good luck with Harbor Freight hand tools and pneumatic tools (not so much with their powered stuff).

Can you advise me where to buy online a good quality 3/8" Allen Key socket needed for the torsion bar adjustment?


The OP specifically asked for good quality tools. I have bought and will continue to buy from Harbor Freight BUT you must understand what you are going to use and where. For high stress and/or frequently used tools it does not pay to cheap out. H/F used to have a great reputation but that was before EVERYTHING was Chinese. Sometimes you have to resist the temptation of low prices and realize you get what you pay for. If you can't or won't pay for the "good stuff" most Delorean clubs either have or members lend the tools to adjust the doors. The DMA has an event once a year and does torsion bar adjustments for free for all members. One of the perks of membership. As for H/F's hand tools, they are OK till they break unexpectedly and it can cause serious injury. That may be alright tightening an ordinary bolt but in the case of the torsion bars the results can be a lot worse. As for 1/2 vs 3/8 drive, the problem there is the length of the extension. If you use a 3/8 extension that long you turn IT into a torsion bar! There is a reason the 1/2" drive is recommended! You also get a longer breaker bar when you go up to 1/2" and even with that you STILL have to put a pipe on it!

[81dmc]

I used a 3/8 drive hardened allen key set from autozone, but I did it with no extension and the louvers removed. Also, I used a craftsman breaker bar + a cheater pipe + a helper for that job.

IMHO, Harbor freight has been proven unreliable too many times for use on any car, let alone a DeLorean.

[Morpheus]

Can you advise me where to buy online a good quality 3/8" Allen Key socket needed for the torsion bar adjustment?


See post #3 in this thread. 1/2" Drive 3/8" Hex Socket made by Snap-On / Williams.

[Rich]

Can you advise me where to buy online a good quality 3/8" Allen Key socket needed for the torsion bar adjustment?

Also Post #6 for Proto 1/2" drive x 3/8" key. X-long.

If you want std length then Proto has this one: LINK (http://www.protoindustrial.com/en/industrial-tools/Proto/Impact-Sockets/Impact-Bit-Sockets/a0ef1057-bc09-4b50-8cab-2f0273a05643_Proto%c2%ae-1%7c2%22-Drive-Impact-Hex-Bit-Sockets/J74413%7c8_Proto%c2%ae-1%7c2%22-Drive-Hex-Bit-Impact-Socket---3%7c8%22/)

From either page the Buy Now button takes you to Proto retailer sites.

[Chris 16409]

My locally owned mom and pop hardware store sells Wright tools. I picked one up from them. I found them for sale on Amazon as well:

https://www.amazon.com/Wright-Tool-4212-8-Inch-2-Inch/dp/B005ENZ06C