1996 F250 Automatic 4wd powerstroke 7.3.

Getting ready to pull the transfer case to fix the front seal. The bolts holding the driveshaft u-joint to the transfer case output shaft are a 12-sided star arrangement. Torx are 6-sided. What kind of socket do I need to undo these puppies? Something I can get at Harbor Freight?

 

Torx should fit.............

 

They're just 12 point or "double hex" bolts. Any 12 point socket will fit them.

 

I found out they're called 'triple square' but all I can find are male sockets. These are bolt heads requiring a female tool. Also, they seem to come in metric sizes but I've no idea how they're measured (point to point or valley to valley). Anyone?

 

If they're what I think they are, then a 12mm 12 point wrench is what you need.

Same as the driveshaft flange on an 8.8 rear end.

 

You're making this too hard. They're 12 point "double hex", not triple square. Almost no one calls them double hex, they're basically universally referred to as 12 point bolts. There is nothing special about them - you more than likely own a few 12 point sockets or box-end wrenches since 12 point sockets work just fine on hex bolts.

Pretty much every Craftsman tool set made in the past 20 years comes with a bunch of 12 point sockets.