Planet 9

**bwass24** · #1 03-27-2009, 10:57 PM

In a general sense I like torx screws due to the very positive grip that the driver makes with the screw head. I think they are a true advancement in fastener technology and I'm happy that they are used my car. Today though I had a small, maddening problem that would not have happened if my car had slotted or philips screws.

In my quest to add even more carbon fiber parts to my car's interior I had to remove the black plastic surround for the steering column. There are three screws and a cable clamp (that's a story in itself) that hold the lower part in place. One of the screws is reasonably visible if you look up from the floor of the driver's side, so getting it out isn't too bad using your T10 driver. The other two screws though are about 2 inches deep in long round sleeves so the screws can mate with the upper cover.

So, one would think that the three screws might be the same size. That would be a reasonable thought since the screws are only holding a plastic trim piece together and the visible one has an equal amount of stress as the 2 invisible ones. If you thought that--like I did--you would be wrong. The visible screw is a T10 but the 2 invisible ones are T15.

So why is this a problem? Well, since you can't see the two T15 screws your instinct is to use your T10 torx screwdriver--that worked on the visible screw-- but that just won't work--although it's not obvious since you can't see what you're doing. Then, the only alternative is to try all of the torx screwdrivers in your tool box until you find the one that fits. Had the screws been philips, exact sizing would not have been such an issue.

Good points...Bad points

**PistolPete** · #2 03-27-2009, 11:15 PM

Dressing up the car for the big show tomorrow?

**bwass24** · #3 03-27-2009, 11:23 PM

Well...yes

Unfortunately the beautiful carbon fiber steering column surround that I got from our friends at DB-Carbon had the bottom part for a Cayman without cruise control. So, I sadly had to only install the upper part and use the boring black lower part until Daniel sends me the one I need.

At least I now know that I'll need the T15 torx driver when the right part arrives.

old dude · #4 03-28-2009, 06:38 PM

Originally Posted by bwass24

In a general sense I like torx screws due to the very positive grip that the driver makes with the screw head. I think they are a true advancement in fastener technology and I'm happy that they are used my car. Today though I had a small, maddening problem that would not have happened if my car had slotted or philips screws.

In my quest to add even more carbon fiber parts to my car's interior I had to remove the black plastic surround for the steering column. There are three screws and a cable clamp (that's a story in itself) that hold the lower part in place. One of the screws is reasonably visible if you look up from the floor of the driver's side, so getting it out isn't too bad using your T10 driver. The other two screws though are about 2 inches deep in long round sleeves so the screws can mate with the upper cover.

So, one would think that the three screws might be the same size. That would be a reasonable thought since the screws are only holding a plastic trim piece together and the visible one has an equal amount of stress as the 2 invisible ones. If you thought that--like I did--you would be wrong. The visible screw is a T10 but the 2 invisible ones are T15.

So why is this a problem? Well, since you can't see the two T15 screws your instinct is to use your T10 torx screwdriver--that worked on the visible screw-- but that just won't work--although it's not obvious since you can't see what you're doing. Then, the only alternative is to try all of the torx screwdrivers in your tool box until you find the one that fits. Had the screws been philips, exact sizing would not have been such an issue.

Good points...Bad points

***** Congrats....You've just learned that sometimes the Germans do things that make no sesse. I learned this in my 356 days.