[IBOOSTU]

hey guys im looking to buy myself a good tool sett so i can work on my car like replacing the skirts, oss design black out headlight , grills, just interior exterior work and possibly engine bay work can anyone guide me to a good set of tools? i dont have annytools for my cars im a carpenter/ also own trucking company so im pretty good with tools just want a set to complete it for my car , please show me whats good and link me with some great deals

[dasano18]

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Mec...MTS/203541462#

I bought this set 6 months ago. Since then ive dont quite a few jobs, head gasket, brakes, interior stuff and a lot more. Quality of the tools is pretty good and their all organized quite well. Not too heavy so u can carry it easily. Really good band for your buck if you ask me.

[PINeely]

Torque wrench!

Now that we've covered that, the most common sizes that you'll need are 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 14mm and 17mm. If you move up to suspension work you will also want a 19mm, 21mm and 22mm. A good short and deep socket of each of those, a few extensions and a 3/8" ratchet should cover most jobs. You'll also want a set each of hex-bit sockets and torx-bit sockets.

For some jobs you need special tools, for example the spark plugs are removed with a 14mm, 12-point, thin-wall socket. Amazon has these. If you were doing struts then you would also want spring compressors (same as any car). For most jobs though you won't need anything special.

[IBOOSTU]

Originally Posted by PINeely

Torque wrench!

Now that we've covered that, the most common sizes that you'll need are 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 14mm and 17mm. If you move up to suspension work you will also want a 19mm, 21mm and 22mm. A good short and deep socket of each of those, a few extensions and a 3/8" ratchet should cover most jobs. You'll also want a set each of hex-bit sockets and torx-bit sockets.

For some jobs you need special tools, for example the spark plugs are removed with a 14mm, 12-point, thin-wall socket. Amazon has these. If you were doing struts then you would also want spring compressors (same as any car). For most jobs though you won't need anything special.

thanks for your detailed reply i do appreciate it now maybe you know of any sets on amazon that has all these?

[Stohlen]

Buy craftsman tools so when you break one (and you will in all likelihood) you get a free replacement.

[PINeely]

Originally Posted by Stohlen

Buy craftsman tools so when you break one (and you will in all likelihood) you get a free replacement.

Meh, Craftsman is no longer USA made and Harbor Freight offers the same warranty. Their power tools are garbage though. Not taking a piss at Craftsman but there are better options these days IMO.

OP: I don't know of any set which contains all of those things but most can be had in a basic "mechanic's" set from any manufacturer. The ones which it doesn't include can be had separately.

[Stohlen]

Originally Posted by PINeely

Meh, Craftsman is no longer USA made

Nothing is made in the USA anymore. The big three build their cars in mexico and canada while Toyota develops and produce their vehicles 100% in the U.S. "Made in the USA" means nothing anymore.

[PINeely]

Believe me I know. The problem is that if you buy Craftsman you are still going to pay "made in USA" prices whereas some other brands are going to be more realistic in this regard.

[Stohlen]

Originally Posted by PINeely

Believe me I know. The problem is that if you buy Craftsman you are still going to pay "made in USA" prices whereas some other brands are going to be more realistic in this regard.

I see no difference:

Craftsman 309 Tech Set = $194.99

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-309-p...3&blockType=G3

Harbor Freight 301 Tech Set = $187.99

http://www.harborfreight.com/profess...kit-45951.html

Granted their not the exact same sets, but i'd rather have the craftsman. Sears vast number of locations mean more to me than $6.

[Casca]

Besides the usual basic automotive tool set, I found these to be useful;

Thin wrenches. Only used it for doing end links on sway bars so far, but you should use these and not pliers that may just mess things up. Right tool form the job and I am sure I will have more need for it.
http://www.amazon.com/Wrench-Metric-...=thin+wrenches


Pass through socket set. Can get a set at harbor freight for @$15 that covers all sizes you'll probably need. So far, think only needed for doing struts
http://www.amazon.com/BOSTITCH-BTMT7...through+socket

E-sockets, combos and torx....you'll need em. Don't try to use a regular socket in place of in e-socket. Sure, sometimes works fine...other times strip the fastener and turns a simple job into a nightmare.
http://www.amazon.com/Anytime-Tools-...words=e+socket
http://www.amazon.com/Neiko-10071A-P...ds=torx+socket
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Nice to have
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Good tool box that holds everything and kaizen foam with an exact cut out for each tool
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/350752790109?lpid=82

[PINeely]

Originally Posted by Stohlen

I see no difference:

Craftsman 309 Tech Set = $194.99

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-309-p...3&blockType=G3

Harbor Freight 301 Tech Set = $187.99

http://www.harborfreight.com/profess...kit-45951.html

Granted their not the exact same sets, but i'd rather have the craftsman. Sears vast number of locations mean more to me than $6.

Both of those sets are on sale. The regular price for the Craftsman set is $150 more than that of the HF set.

[Dog Face Pony Soldier]

www.snapon.com

[rick100]

Originally Posted by glennQNYC

www.snapon.com

after he is done buying snap on , he could ve probably bought another car

craftsman tools are fine. It's not like you are going to be using it daily on many cars, unless you are planning on being a mechanic and using your tools everyday , I just do not see the need for expensive tools.

[Stohlen]

Originally Posted by PINeely

Both of those sets are on sale. The regular price for the Craftsman set is $150 more than that of the HF set.

Craftsman is always on sale, their sets are never their "regular price". Regardless even if they are on sale, they are still the same price.

[Meeni]

Craftman (made in USA, bought last year) is much better quality than Harbor Freight or even Husky (or the Lowes brand bluegear or something). Craftman (made in Taiwan) is as good as Husky, Lowes, Gearwrench etc. These are good-enough quality and won't disapoint, generally.

Craftman (made in China) is poor quality and will destroy the brand confidence (same as Walmart, Harbor Freight etc). Expect it to bend and have rounded teeth quickly.

[ace10]

Craftsman is largely *not* made in USA any longer.

Buy a new combination box/open wrench and compare it to an older one you have in your toolbox. It's junk. Lightweight. Flexy. Rough casting.

And don't bother with their torque wrenches, either. No warranty. And poor tolerances.

These are the real deal. Owned by Snap On. They go through the same quality control. Half or one third the price.

http://www.cditorque.com/

[Dog Face Pony Soldier]

Originally Posted by rick100

after he is done buying snap on , he could ve probably bought another car

craftsman tools are fine. It's not like you are going to be using it daily on many cars, unless you are planning on being a mechanic and using your tools everyday , I just do not see the need for expensive tools.

OP stated a desire to invest in a good set of tools... Companies like Snap-On and Mac set the standard for precision, quality, and refinement. The other options like Craftsman are lower-end "value" tier products.
Budget and expectations will guide each to their own direction, but don't be fooled into thinking it's all the same stuff.

[RedDotRacer]

I bought a great tool set from Costco that was cheap and I've taken it with me to the track for years. It's been great.

[StickMon]

I've been really impressed with the Kobalt brand tools from Lowes.
Really cheap, and surprisingly high quality.
They look just as well made as my Craftsman tools from back in the 70's, when Craftsman made good tools.

I bought my car Precision Instruments Torque Wrenches for Christmas.
2FR600H
2FR100F

[ska///235i]

You can cheap out on some tools but few thing i wont...jack, jack stands, torque wrenches.

My jack and stands are OTC and my torque wrenches are Snap-on tools