The tech article "how to redo your brakes" has the wrong tool listed. A 10mm hex wrench will be too big. You need a 3/8 inch hex wrech.

 

10mm is the closest metric size to 3/8", and since it's only like 2 hundredths of an inch off it probably works.

 

I tried over 30 thirdgens and it will not fit on ANY. I ground it slighty smaller with a sander and it still wouldn't hammer in.
Autozone or anyplace sells a 3/8 for $2

 

Damn. Well I guess 3/8" it is. I just use a socket bit that I got at a pawn shop for free, not sure what size it is but I guess I know now.

 

It definately is a 3/8", and when you consider the dirt and grease that ends up in there, something that is slightly bigger that would otherwise work, probably won't in this case. At least it isn't that piece of crap T-60 torx that they use on the "W" body cars that seizes up like crazy!

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Working on:
'84 Z28 LG4 305 with 200,000 original miles!
Added dual elec fans.
145 MPH IROC Speedo
Building 430 HP 350 (ZZ430)
using primarily GMPP parts.
Short block sitting on a stand.

Starting to look like the Kicker poster child!

ASE Certified Master Tech

 

Ha! Out of all the metric/standard sizes that are close enough to use either wrench, 10mm is the worst. I suppose you could use 10mm on a 3/8 but if it's 10mm then neither 3/8 or 7/16 will do. If you need to buy any metric tools, you must have a 10mm.

One metric size that never seems to be included in any basic kit is 18mm. There is no standard equivilant for it. Power steering lines on the GM steering box are 18mm and nothing else will fit.

I think the tech article should just be re-written to suggest a 3/8 or 10mm depending on what is required.

It's not the the T-60 seizes up, it's that the factory torques them to 400 pounds.

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87 IROC-Z Pro ET Bracket Race Car
383 stroker (carbed) with double hump cast iron heads and pump gas
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87 IROC bracket car, 91 454SS daily driver, 95 Homebuilt Harley

 

I have to use a 10mm for mine. I might have lots of crud build up though.

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85T/A 305/QJ work in progress.

 

Well, I actually think it's the aluminum spacer that causes the problem on the T60, but I just hit it with the impact, and sometimes have to heat them, and they come out.

Skip, that is weird, because isn't 10mm bigger then 3/8"? 10mm comes out to .394", where 3/8 is .375". Oh well, I guess it's just a trivial thing!

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Working on:
'84 Z28 LG4 305 with 200,000 original miles!
Added dual elec fans.
145 MPH IROC Speedo
Building 430 HP 350 (ZZ430)
using primarily GMPP parts.
Short block sitting on a stand.

Starting to look like the Kicker poster child!

ASE Certified Master Tech

 

I also use a 3/8" hex on my front & rear calipers... never had a 10mm one to try.

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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

The first time I re-did my brakes I bought a 10mm wrench as the article suggested, and guess what? It didn't fit. I went back and I noticed a brake caliper wrench for GMs. Sure enough, it turned out to be a 3/8" wrench. It fit perfectly too. No crud or grease build-up that was blocking the 10mm wrench - it was just a tad too big.

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'88 IROC 305 TPI
Crappy 700R4 slushbox
Gutted airboxes
180 degree T-stat
Advanced base TPS voltage
Relocated IAT sensor
Momo steering wheel (gotta luv it)
Ram-air setup coming soon
Flowmaster muffler (puke)
Taylor SpiroPro wires
Accel cap and rotor
Ported plenum
Kills: '94 Z28, Olds Aurora V8, bunch of Mustangs, T-birds, ricers, and others who assumed a 12 year-old car would be too slow.

 

Yep, 10mm is larger than 3/8 so that's probably why it works for me...sorta...It's also probably the reason I just rounded off the points of my fitting too...

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85T/A 305/QJ work in progress.

 

humph ........ american cars with metric bolts..............wtf....... im as confused as a baby in a topless bar...

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1991 RS LO3
mods: 14" chrome air cleaner, straight-piped after cat exhaust with one chrome dual tip on the left side.
future mods: headers, removing smog equipment, and as many cheap mods as i can find
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BACK IN 10 SECONDS

 

Yeah, why do American car companies use metric and standard hardware? I say they should use metric all out