My first tool set

[eljefino]

For Cavalier wheel bearings get a darn good torx socket with warranty; they rust in impossibly tight. I wind up just getting a whole spindle from the j/y.

You'll also want a 3/8" allen if you do front brakes. I prefer sockets over the L-bent doohickeys but either works. Front brakes are incredibly easy on these cars.

Go to the dollar store and get some of that rubbery shelf paper stuff and line the screwdriver compartment with it. Heck, wrap all the screwdrivers. They seem like they'd rattle and get stuck everywhere. If you jam the hinge on that plastic box, it won't seal tight and the sockets will start falling out.

Resist the urge, as long as possible, to just chuck all the sockets in willy nilly to "sort out later" when you're done with an exhausting job.

Some GM alternators, while we're on the subject, have some english fasteners and some metric. Have fun! Your battery posts are 5/16", not 8mm.

 

[97tbird]

cool - some years ago, my MIL also got me a very similar tool set as a B'day present.

 

[Nick R]

The stuff won't fall out, the case has a cool flap/cover for one side so none of the stuff falls out of place. I'll get some of those things you recommended, I checked and it came with a ton of Allen wrenches, but nothing as big as a 3/8ths. I forgot to mention I also got a set of 3 craftsman professional adjustable wrenches, and a LED Mag-Lite. So I figure, I'll get some pliers, hammer, allen wrenches, vise grips for now, and maybe something else. We'll see. Thanks guys.

 

[Kestas]

Good purchase. After working with lousy hand-me-down cheapie tools, I bought my first tool set - a 300-piece Craftsman set. Looking back 20 years later, I wouldn't have done it any differently.

One thing that has helped me wrenching over the years is the conversion list below. I keep a copy taped in my toolbox. Sometimes you're working on a hex fastener where you don't know if it's standard or metric. If you grab the wrong socket, you can immediately look up the nearest size, up or down.

inches - - mm

3/16 - - 4.8
7/32 - - 5.6
1/4 - - 6.4
9/32 - - 7.1
5/16 - - 7.9
11/32 - - 8.7
3/8 - - 9.5
7/16 - - 11.1
1/2 - - 12.7
9/16 - - 14.3
5/8 - - 15.9
11/16 - - 17.5
3/4 - - 19.1
13/16 - - 20.6
7/8 - - 22.2
15/16 - - 23.8
1 - - 25.4

 

[Nick R]

Thanks for that Kestas =)

 

[mjoekingz28]

How are you enjoying the set? Mainly, is the case of good quality and does it secure all your tools well?


My dad got a 187 piece from Sears a while back and I could only find it on their website and when I went to order it they tell me it was discontinued.. It did skip a socket here and there but it went all the way to 32mm only skipping I think 5 or 6 sockets (23, 26, 27, 29, 31mm). They even had it listed as personalized and the case is amazing and you carry it just like a briefcase...Anyway


The one you have is the next best IMO and there is a 169 piece that is nice. I remember seeing the 204 for $99 during Christmas but didnt get it becaause I was holding out for the 187. But now that Im ready to buy it is $129 and am just waiting for it to go back to $99, then I'll pick it up. I think it is normally $199. I don't need it right away, I just like to hoard inexpensive tools like I've been doing with oil.