about to remove the rear calipers on my VW and there's a thin wrench (there's a term for this other than just simply called a thin wrench) that is just like a regular open end wrench but thin enough to squeeze into a tight space to hold the caliper bolt in place. A socket won't work because the bolt to be held is not accessible at the ends.

(Note the picture shows a regular wrench but in my case, the last time I did it a regular wrench was too thick to fit in there.

Tried Home Depot, NAPA, Sears, Advance Auto parts, nothing even close ... what are these wrenches called and where do I get them before this weekend when I planned to change out my pads and flush the lines?

Any help is appreciated, thks

 

I would try snap-on.
U.S. Snap-on Tools Customer Service by phone* call our toll free number at 877-762-7664
Monday - Friday,
6:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Central Time
*U.S. Customers only

 

Would a cone wrench work?

 

Not exactly the tool you are asking about, but thin and metric is a standard bicycle tool for adjusting axle bearings. Hold the inner cone and lock the outer not onto it. A big bike shop might have some for sale, if not, I'd head to my grinder if nothing else shows up. I have a whole collection of modified tools for specific applications.

Bud

guyold, you are just faster than I am.

 

thin metric wrenches from Northern Tool + Equipment

 

I typically wouldn't do it with one of the wrenches from my good sets, but have a half dozen or so for special applications like that, where I just bought an individual wrench, and, in this case, would grind the sides down to fit. Yeah, you might run into a few others down the road, but don't necessarily need a whole set, so adapting individual ones has worked for me. And because they are for special applications, not used every day, you don't need to match what you have, nor even worry so much about quality.

 

Snap-on is above my pay grade, Northern said the set should arrive by this weekend so i ordered the Northern set, thks everyone

 

I have a couple of snap-on tools, found them on the side of the road, probably left under the hood when serviced. Nice tools, but the only way I'll ever own more is more road kill.

Bud

 

My mother bought a set of cheap double open-end wrenches after her divorce 40 years ago. Probably cost $1 at local hardware store. There have been many times I wish I had such a short, thin wrench but I guess any store--even Harbor Freight--would be embarrassed to stock such a "crummy" set.