Working on your car

[EvenStar]

What tools do you guys use to install or remove parts from your car [in engine, body kits, wheels, interior, etc.]? Which is the best place to buy these tools? I just need a full tool kit. I could bring my car to the shop, but thats way too expensive for labor.

[ThatGuy]

Do some research on your car.
Get a Factory Service Manual.
Figure out what it is you'd like to accomplish with your car. Then research what tools are required to do that work.
Next step is to find a store that sells those tools.
Go to the store.
Buy the tools.

[OdessaS13]

go to sears and look around. What do you mean by full tool kit?
get a hydraulic jack, some jackstand and basic craftsman set should be sufficient for you since you asking this. breaker bars also comes in handy for suspension work

[EvenStar]

go to sears and look around. What do you mean by full tool kit?
get a hydraulic jack, some jackstand and basic craftsman set should be sufficient for you since you asking this. breaker bars also comes in handy for suspension work

Like one of those huge tool boxes or drawer-like where you can move them around and each drawer has a different tool and size.

[MELLO*SOS]

edit: do you have any idea what those cost? What is your budget....


Start here, pick a set of tools: (http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/subcat.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&keyword=&sbf=&sbv=&sbt=&fromSearch=&compare=&Filter=&prodCount=&poid_0=&poid_1=&poid_2=&poid_3=&poid_4=&poid_5=&poid_6=&poid_7=&poid_8=&poid_9=&poid_10=&poid_11=&gridindicator=false&page=&sortOption=PRICE_HIGH_TO_LOW&viewItems=80&vertical=TOOL&cat=Tool+Sets&subcat=Mechanics+Tool+Sets&subcategoryid=-1073870837&catID=&pageNum=&displayTarget=Subcategory&beginValue=&endValue=)

Then

go here and find a box to put them all in (http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/subcat.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&keyword=&sbf=&sbv=&sbt=&fromSearch=&compare=&Filter=&prodCount=&poid_0=&poid_1=&poid_2=&poid_3=&poid_4=&poid_5=&poid_6=&poid_7=&poid_8=&poid_9=&poid_10=&poid_11=&gridindicator=false&page=&sortOption=PRICE_HIGH_TO_LOW&viewItems=80&vertical=TOOL&cat=Storage%2C+Chests+%26+Cabinets&subcat=Chests+%26+Cabinets&subcategoryid=-1074030528&catID=&pageNum=&displayTarget=Subcategory&beginValue=&endValue=)

GL.

I say you buy a good ratchet & socket set and go from there, buy tools as you need them.

BTW HarborFreight (http://www.harborfreight.com) has lots of "mixed quality" tools, and all their stuff is (suspiciously) reasonably priced.

[OdessaS13]

/\ werd

yeah those tool boxes arent exactly cheap either. What ThatGuy said, figure out what you want to do with the car. There is a big differnece in how many tools you will need depending on if your going to be taking apart your engine or doing mild tune ups and suspension work. Start out with a basic 100+ pc. craftsman set and expand as needed

[sncs14]

Buy tools in sets unless it's an expensive specialty item.
As thatguy and the others said. Use the FSM to tell you which tools you need for the job.

[koukidough]

just buy the 255 piece sears craftsman tool box, 4 jack stands, 1 hydraulic jack, breaker bar, needle nose pliers, dremel tool. Thats all you'll ever need. I did my whole swap with just those tools. If you plan on doing a swap add in a engine hoist.

[ManoNegra]

Harbor Freight, poor mechanics best friend.

[alexchanman]

hmmmmmi use my dads garage with air guns.

[dct223]

craftsman... cheap, decent quality, lifetime warrenty...

[theicecreamdan]

work at a dealership that has cool techs.

[Ghettokracker71]

I geuss in this sence I'm really lucky...my dad lives about 10 minutes away with a shitton of tools,as does my grandfather who also has ALOT of tools.

My personal collection is very small...a craftsman mechanics kit(not sure of how many peices? Its nice,metric and SAE sockets and shit) and some other wrench sets and what not..

[ranisron]

bunch of metric based sockets and deep sockets...

I hate working on my cars these days... I wish the undercarriage for my 240SX is as clean as my Altima.

[FRpilot]

maybe you can go to those places where you can clean your own car. lift it up. steam and pressure wash the undercarriage

[Ricks15]

Im just ghetto i have a shit load of sockets and other crappy tools mixed that ive either stole from co workers or just collected over the years in a plastic box. It works for me HaaHaa all unorganized but it works out for me.

[turbospeedmuffin]

After doing many jobs on various cars, big jobs and small, you realize that only a very small amount of these huge tool sets get used. Buying these huge 100-200 piece sets is not a good idea, it's a waste of money.

the vast majority (95+%) of all jobs can accomplished with sockets (Both 3/8'' and 1/2'' drivers are a good idea), and double-ended box wrenches of the following sizes:

10mm, 12mm, 14mm, 17mm, 19mm, 21mm

occasionally you will need something smaller or larger, for things like axle bolts or large banjo bolts or something. Don't forget a few socket extensions in varying lengths, both 3/8'' and 1/2''.

These are the tools you will use for almost everything. Outside of that, I've got a whole gaggle of tools, some of which include things like screwdrivers, assortment of pliers, dremel tools, sawz-all, 2 jacks (one heavy duty, one light duty), and 4 jack stands.

I've wasted quite a bit of money buying tool sets where most of the sockets and wrenches still look new from never being used...

[theicecreamdan]

I've used almost every socket, and every wrench in any tool kit I've bought.

sockets (deep shallow 6pt 12 pt), ratchets (flex head, long short), swivels, extensions, 1/4" stuff isnt really necesary, but it comes in really handy in some areas.

double sided wrenches 8 10 12 13 14 17 19 20 21 23 at least. 24 25 on a few things. 2+ on a few of the sizes.
screwdrivers impact driver (not impact gun), pocket sized standard screwdriver can come in handy on ANY job.

get craftsman on anything you MIGHT think about possibly breaking. It sure is nice to bring back broken tools and come home with a new one. and after you have all those tools, save up for a big compressor and get some airtools. If you still have the itch, move up to snap-on, matco etc. and if you're still having fun and wanting to do more, get a welder and stuff to do metal work etc... everybody's tool path starts in the same spot more or less, how far you want to take it and what turns you take are up to you and you're goals. EVERYbody should at least have a little wal-mart mechanic kit.

[turbospeedmuffin]

I've used almost every socket, and every wrench in any tool kit I've bought.



where are you using these sockets and wrenches ?

speaking strictly from the metric side, sockets/box wrenches like my 11, 13, 15, 16, 18 etc., NEVER get used.

If you go buy a big set, you are literally buying at least two times as many tools as you need to work on Japanese cars.

[sncs14]

where are you using these sockets and wrenches ?

speaking strictly from the metric side, sockets/box wrenches like my 11, 13, 15, 16, 18 etc., NEVER get used.

If you go buy a big set, you are literally buying at least two times as many tools as you need to work on Japanese cars.

It depends how much work you do on your car. Also, tools have been found to be useful for more that working on cars. Like the old cliche says, "I'd rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it"

[Team Rootbeer]

get a good metric set of gearwrenches also, the ones with the head that swings to like 90degrees both directions, they helped me get in some really tight spots......and are good for getting shit off that would take a while w/ a regular wrench

[TheSquidd]

http://www.jrbicycles.com/ZipTies.jpg

+

http://www.thetiledoctor.com/ewebeditpro/items/sledgehammer.jpg

+

http://www.toolpeddler.com/images/w38911.JPG

=


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/dakotakid/Truck%20stuff/DSCF0022.jpg

[MELLO*SOS]

^^^ Hahaha that's great!

[sncs14]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/dakotakid/Truck%20stuff/DSCF0022.jpg

hehe New Trunk Monkey