I am about to replace the heads on my 93 Audi 90q.

I think I have everything except the sockets for the head bolts.

I bought new ones and I think I found the right socket.

This appears to be the #10 polydrive tool.

Knowing that life is never easy, I took the valve covers off to see what the existing head bolts look like. Of course they are different.


Does anyone know off the top of their head what socket I need?

thanks!

 

Is it an external torx e14?

 

Haven't found the size, but appears to be called "reverse torx sockets" here:

https://www.audiworld.com/forums/sho...75&postcount=3

12v.org lists triple-square, so perhaps there are three variations?

 

Forewarned is four-armed! Here's what I found. All these are listed separately on the Samstag site. Some one with more experience than I please confirm that I've captured this correctly, thanks.

<b>1st photo:</b> <u>"Torx socket"</u> "Especially For Audi 80 V6 with anti-locking system. 91mm long."
shown: (Hazet) HZ 2581-E14 Cylinder Head Socket. 1/2" dr, Torx size E14;

note above item's shorter length as opposed to the longer:

not shown (Hazet) HZ 2580-E14 Cylinder Head Socket. 1/2" dr, Torx size E14. For Audi V6 engines. 190mm long.;

<b>2nd:</b> <u>"Ribe"</u> - has six square edged splines, note differences when compared to Polydrive (last photo); "found on aftermarket head-bolts" apparently.
shown: HAZET 2579-9 RIBE type socket;

<b>3rd:</b> <u>"Triple-square" or "XZN"</u> size 10, has 12 points;
shown: just a clear clear photo of a XZN type tip; &

<b>4th:</b> <u>"Polydrive"</u> M10 size. Has six splines.
shown: Matra T10070 factory Polydrive socket.

Archived posts detail folks difficulties with slipping wrenches and stripped bolt-heads. They mention that they flatten the ends of the tool (remove chamfer) to get more tooth engagement, similar to what you might do to the end of an Allen key.

Perhaps the tool can be also be too long in some locations.

photos and quoted text courtesy of Samstag Tools and Metal Nerd Tools.

 

Thanks for the help!

I contacted AutohausAZ and they tell me the head bolts I bought are to be used with the polydrive socket.

I am pretty sure that the E14 Torx will work on my existing bolts.

I found that at Autozone today.

I hope to disassemble everything today, spend a day cleaning and examining everything and reassemble early next week!

 

While we are on the subject, I have seen several posts mentioning different brands of head bolts and that some are NOT stretch bolts and can be retorqued. How about one of you experienced guys giving use the definitive word on this so we don't have to reinvent the wheel. I'm probably doing the same job this summer, Grill.

 

The existing head bolts are indeed e14 external torx.

I got the first set out just before dark.