Recently, I wanted to clean up some 9/16-18 threads on my TR3 front
suspension (upper ball joints to be precise); but the tap & die set I've
been using for many years only goes up to 1/2-20. Turns out a standard
9/16-18 die also takes a bigger handle than my set includes, so the die & a
handle started getting kind of expensive for just chasing one thread.
So, I tried this set instead:
http://www.mcmaster.com/#2667A12
So far, I have been very pleased with it; one of those things I wish I'd
bought years ago. The dies are the same size as standard nuts, so you can
turn them with the same socket or wrench, and they will fit anywhere that a
nut would. Much easier to use in close quarters (like the studs that hold
the shock to the spring pan). They also work much better on interrupted
threads (like the front spindles and the pins that hold the rear springs to
the frame), because they have 6 teeth instead of the standard 3.
They seem to form the threads more than cut them; the instructions note that
they cannot be used for cutting new threads (which is an advantage when you
are trying to clean up existing threads). However, they do take a little
more force to turn than a standard cutting die. The instructions also
recommend using cutting oil, which is a very good idea IMO.
MMC also offers the same set for coarse threads:
http://www.mcmaster.com/#2667A11
Randall
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