Favorite, most useful tools in your box

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: dparm
10mm socket. I swear to God, I could disable 80% of any vehicle on the road today with that.


Disable???

I was going to say 13mm, but I'll take 10 as a good size.

 

[mobilaltima]

Originally Posted By: dparm
10mm socket. I swear to God, I could disable 80% of any vehicle on the road today with that.



one of the most common sizes today for sure! I dont see why people hate metric on vehicles, i can pretty much look at any metric bolt and grab the right socket/wrench when working on a vehicle, SAE is a different story. I love metric, not so much a fan of SAE, except when working on a detroit diesel, can be completely taken apart with 5 different sockets lol. Im only 22, so I didnt grow up when everything was built to last and SAE lol.

 

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: dparm
10mm socket. I swear to God, I could disable 80% of any vehicle on the road today with that.


Disable???

I was going to say 13mm, but I'll take 10 as a good size.

Usually Japanese cars don't have any 13mm fasteners. There are a few 12mm fasteners, and a huge number of 14mm fasteners.

But Japanese cars certainly have a good number of 10mm fasteners.

 

[kschachn]

8mm, 10mm, 12mm and 17mm. You are correct, no 13mm.

My BMW on the other hand has everything from 7mm to 23mm in 1mm increments. They even like to mix sizes on what appear to be similar bolts. You are always switching sockets or reaching for some other size.

Originally Posted By: artificialist
Usually Japanese cars don't have any 13mm fasteners. There are a few 12mm fasteners, and a huge number of 14mm fasteners.

But Japanese cars certainly have a good number of 10mm fasteners.

 

[jrustles]

Originally Posted By: kschachn
8mm, 10mm, 12mm and 17mm. You are correct, no 13mm.


Yup, these sizes, plus 14, 19, 21, 23, 24mm and you can do nearly anything on a Japanese vehicle. Of course retail "piece" kits usually come with metric/imperial duplicates (ie 13mm & 1/2") and st00pid metric sizes like 13mm 15mm, 16mm which are totally useless to me.

 

[y_p_w]

Craftsman 6" extension bar with quick release for 3/8" drive. I can use this with a spark plug socket (with rubber sleeve) and it will pull out the socket without separating. Before I got this one I would try and pull out the socket with a standard extension bar (or even 2 3" ones since it was all I had at the time), and the extension would leave the socket behind. I tried all sorts of things like wiggling the bar gently, but once it separated I had to push it back in and try again. This makes the job extremely easy. Once the plug is in there it comes out on the first try.

 

[Kira]

Hello, "Just" (5 or 7 years now) got turned onto regular gear wrenches.

Stubby gear wrenches (weren't expecting that one, were ya?)

French made Sears cable radiator clamp pliers. A must have.
NOTE: My frugal pal says, "I use channel locks. I save my money". I answer, "Profanity You, you profanity, stupid, pedantic fool!" Those hose clamp pliers are the BEST! Save much time. Reuse the spring clamps.

12" long nose pliers both straight and off set.

Electric meter (Fluke 77 or my cheapie), test light, OBD reader (ScanGauge I and a smaller cheapie)

Long pieces of stainless steel which stiffen windshield wiper blades. Trust me, remove them while you can. The industry has begun eliminating them for solid plastic structures.

 

[05LGTLtd]

3" wobble extension for 3/8" sockets.

Also picked up a knurled wheel extension a little while ago, and have been digging that too:

Lowes 3/8" extension

 

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: Kira
Hello, "Just" (5 or 7 years now) got turned onto regular gear wrenches.

Stubby gear wrenches (weren't expecting that one, were ya?)

French made Sears cable radiator clamp pliers. A must have.
NOTE: My frugal pal says, "I use channel locks. I save my money". I answer, "Profanity You, you profanity, stupid, pedantic fool!" Those hose clamp pliers are the BEST! Save much time. Reuse the spring clamps.

Those radiator clamp pliers are essential because auto makers put hose clamps in stupid places, making it impossible to use ordinary pliers.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

It's not in my toolbox, but my Kwiklift is the best shop investment I've made. I can pretty much sit up under most vehicles and don't have to rely on plastic ramps or jacks for most work (unless I remove a wheel).

Even when it's down I can pull any car onto it and change the oil. When the Kwiklift isn't in use I park the Durango on it, so it doesn't waste space in the shop.

Almost any time I work on a tractor or vehicle it's on the lift.

 

[kb27]

My list would be:

1. Hex shank 1/4" cordless impact drill
2. Right angle cordless impact drill
3. Wobble extensions, standard and deep sockets
4. Magnetic tray
5. Magnetic pickup with LED light + retriever claw, 3-in-1 tool
6. Magnetic nut setters

These are the tools I couldn't do without in my business.

 

[Traction]

I have more tools than I will ever need, but my favorite is the Klein 10 in 1 screwdriver. Great grip and so useful. 1/4, 5/16 hex, hollow ground flat blades that don't slip, very tight fitting phillip bits, plus torx, and square drive. Handiest screwdriver I've ever used, so much that I have six. One in the house, every vehicle, the shop, and have bought many for xmas gifts. And you can pull the extensions out and chuck them in the drill.