3 square.....edjumakate me please
 

I thought I had a pretty good selection of sockets, Hex drivers, Torx you name it...last night I was reading about the water pump on a Boxster they mentioned a 3 Square socket ??

Is this a spline or what...just not sure...are there drivers and sockets (male and female) ??

Thanks
Dwight

I tried several metric and standard sockets until I found one that fit...I think that's what I did at least.

I think you are referring to triple square. It is a socket, kind of like a spline socket
Also known as E socket

Here are a few links

6 Piece 3/8 in. Drive E-Socket Set
17 Piece 1/4 in. & 3/8 in. Drive E-Socket and Star Bit Set
http://www.harborfreight.com/14-in-38-in-drive-external-impact-star-socket-set-7-pc-67898.html

also referred to as xzn or 12-point. available at pelican, but buy from the audi page not the Porsche page - much cheaper.

My Stepson
 

My Stepson laughs at me when it comes to tools. I Have mostly Kobalt and Craftsman . I have found Harbour Freight to be pretty dang good for something I may use 3 times in my life...he is a Master Mechanic for Toyota and has $200 grand in tools

Kobalt XTREME ACCESS
 

Would these work ?

I like Kobalt and get these anytime I like...the Harbour freight store is an hour away

no link Dwight

Kobalt XTREME ACCESS

Kobalt Xtreme Access Socket Sets Buying Guide | ToolGuyd

looks like they would work
Sounds pretty cool

"Universal Spline?

This simply means that one socket fits most fastener shapes. Normally, 6pt (hex) sockets only fit one type of fasteners. These universal spline sockets fit hex, square, spline, and external-Torx fasteners.

If you don’t know whether you need spline, E-Torx, or square-fastener compatibility, chances are that it’s not something you will need anytime soon.

Inch + Metric?

As you may know, inch and metric sizes are usually pretty dimensionally close to each other. These sockets are designed such that one size can fit both inch and metric fasteners sizes. The trade-off is that they don’t fit either fastener sizes perfectly. "

About what I thought
 

Thanks, I iwll just pick up a set from Harbor Freight next time I am over there

In would be concerned that the "universal" socket might not fit just right and round the corneers of the bolt.

Besides at HF, you get a free flashlight LOL

The E sockets are female 6 point TORX sockets, not female triple square sockets.

The triple square XZN bits are 12 point splines. Think taking a square spline and rotating it twice, hence "triple square". A good set for Boxsters is the Neiko Tools set, made in Taiwan (not China). It has a short M10 for the bellhousing bolt and a tamper-proof M16 for the 5 speed tranny drain plug.

IIUC Harbor Freight doesn't have any triple square bits at present.

Here is a primer on the subject.It gets bewildering with all the alternate names for the same item:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torx

I stand corrected, thanks

Very informative

This page as well. I had no idea there were that many different screw heads

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spline_drive

I bought them
 

Neiko 10 Piece XZN Triple Square Spline Bit Socket Set Quality S2 XZN Bits | eBay

Thanks for all the help

Dwight

Thanks for the link
 

It explained a lot. I am posting this image perhaps it will help some other folks;

http://i621.photobucket.com/albums/t...psbc67a755.jpg

Strange timming
 

While taking my seats today I find they are bolted in with 12mm Star Drive Bolts....I did not have a single star drive socket. I did have a small strip of the Kobalt Xtreme sockets....5 in a strip. I chose one that fit well and pulled the ratchet handle........Pop..Pop...Pop. I pulled the socket off and promptly put it back in the strip with it's 4 brothers and threw them in the trash. It rounded the points a little so after purchasing a proper 12mm Star Socket I had to drive it on to get it to hold. Kobalt Xtreme are worthless.

PS who ever posted about covering the door sills and surrounding areas with thick towels ....Thanks You...great advise and the seats are heavy and cumbersome and it would be very easy to scratch the car.

You just have all the luck

I used the E-sockets from HF to remove my seats

I broke two 10 mm sockets trying to get mine off before I bought the right tool for the job.

harbor freight sells a cheap kit of the torx-type sockets for about $12.. worked out great for seat removal. the 3 square socket is just a 12 point socket. be advised, when using a 12 point socket, get a good quality one! craftsman, snap on, mac, blue point, etc. the harder steels used and tighter tolerances are key to completing the job and will help prevent excessive blood loss (also save a lot of miles on the truck running to the parts store or dealership for replacement hardware).

kobalt is ok for household work, not auto mechanic work, the tools are pretty, but the fit is horrible and will round off corners of your bolts and nuts in a high torque application.

Why would an auto maker use such stupid headed bolts?

Is it some kind of proprietary royalty favor to an obscure inventor or what?

Surely they don't think that it will prevent the DIY'ers and generate more dealer business?

JB
Have a look at this link, it gives some insight to the different fasteners
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spline_drive

It actually is a bit interesting

for example, you can use a robertson (square drive) bit in a triple square bolt