Date:         Tue, 8 Jul 2003 11:39:09 -0700
Reply-To:     Tobin Copley <tobin.copley@UBC.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Tobin Copley <tobin.copley@UBC.CA>
Subject:      Re: Rear axle nut socket
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

George Thorburn writes:

> California Imports (cip1.com) has a 46mm nut removal tool for $10.95
> CDN and a 46mm x3/4"drive socket for $20.99 CDN in their catalog.  The
> nut removal tool is neat because it uses the more common 1/2" drive
> and can be struck with a hammer for those tough nuts.  They also list
> some other handy tools like the 12 point socket for CV joints and a
> 17mm socket for the transmition oil plugs.

  ----
I think a better solution is to use a strong 1/2" breaker bar and a
cheater
pipe.  I've never had a problem removing axle nuts given enough
leverage.  I
don't like the idea of hammering my wheel bearings.

As for the other tools, I've never bought a triple-square socket for CVs
from California Imports, but I have bought their 17mm hex socket for the
transmission plug.

Like everthing else I've ever bought from them, it was poorly made.  In
fact, it didn't even fit!  I had to spend 15 minutes with a grinder
grinding
down each face of the socket so it would fit.  And no, my fill plug was
not
plugged up with road dirt.  California Imports sells the largest
variety of
complete crap I've ever seen in my life, and they have a "screw you"
attitude when I've attempted to return obviously defective items.  Like
my
17.1mm hex socket.   Or my fun-house floppy snap-off side mirror.  Or my
1-2-3-0 (instead of 0-1-2-3) speed fan switch.  Oh, I could go on.  It's
really quite remarkable, and could even be entertaining, I suppose, but
I
have better things to do with my time.

If you want to buy from a Canadian shop, I can confidently suggest
Bow-Wow
parts (http://www.bowwow.ca/index.htm) which I've always found to be run
very professionally--which is a welcome contrast to California Imports.

T.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Tobin Copley        Vancouver, BC, Canada      49deg 23'N-123deg 19'W

'82 Westfalia 1.6L NA diesel ("Stinky")
'97 son Russell                               =============
'99 daughter Margaret                        /_| |_L| |__|:| clatter
                          SPEED KILLS!       {.            .| clatter!
                     Drive a Vanagon diesel   ~-()-==----()-~