A couple of years ago I went into Advance Auto and was looking for another bolt like the one I had in my hand, I didn't know what size it was and the girl behind the counter pulled out one of these in the link and told me what size and thread pitch it was. I said to her, do you sell these, she said no. I found them online and ordered the big set that covers Metric and SAE bolt and nut size. I thought someone would find this helpful. There are different versions you can buy but this is the one I bought. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06ZYD4SS8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06__o00_s00? ie=UTF8&psc=1
I have carefully used my SAE tap & die set to verify threads. I have not had to work with metric much on my old tractor.
Wow that's a great one! I use a Hillman 990500 hardware checker. It's not as nice but much cheaper; good enough for homeowner/DIY. (note that Amazon wants about triple what they cost in local stores)
I have this kit off of eBay; Grade 10.9 Metric J.I.S. Flange Bolt & JIS Flange Nut Assortment Kit - 401 PCS! | eBay Every Toyota car owner who works on his or her car should have one. Try looking for the "flange washer head M6.1.0x30mm bolt" that holds the coil onto the head. It's in the kit. Metric ISO M10.9 grade means that it's strong enough to be used anywhere in the car. Toyota, unlike other manufacturers, adheres to the J.I.S. (Japan Industrial Standard) that uses small hex heads like 12mm hex on M8x1.25 bolts and 12mm hex on M10x1.25 bolts. My dealer friend said that he saved used bolts, until I showed him my kit. Now, he buys the kits as spares, even though he can order OEM bolts. But, he has to wait overnight to get them. He prefers not to have to keep a customer's vehicle overnight just because he does not have just one bolt.
I have never built up a supply of metric bolts and nuts except for the really small sizes I use in my RC hobby. I have a lot of nice tools I will never use.
Mine was a radiator fin comb. I was working on my car one day and pulled off the grill. What I saw was a condenser with an large areas of bent aluminum cooling fins. I never realized how much damage can occur from all those stone hits over the years.
I'm not so sure why ... but this thread reminds me of a really brutal Toyota that I had to work on occasionally. It was a V6 Avalon. The coil nuts were 6mm. The middle cylinder on the back side was really nasty. I don't have the thin spritely arms of an 80-lb Japanese mechanic. I used a magnetic socket plugged with grease to make sure I didn't drop and lose that nut. On top of that ... it's even worse than that here next ... The freakin' cam gear sprockets are torqued down to 350 ft⋅lbf. What in the wide wide world of sports were they thinking??!! Were they trying to outstupidly over-engineer something more than the German engineers? Anyway ... that's that story.
But so many missed chances to tell your customers you're getting overnight parts from Japan! Ever work on a Ferrari 355 (I ask because quite a few people have since they dipped into the mid-30s)? That same service would have probably required an engine-out. Some owners have gotten the procedure down to an exact science after doing it so often.
