What Are Your Most Favorite Maintenance Tools?

[spasm3]

Who's making a 36" breaker bar in 1/2" drive other than Snappy/Bahco?

Klutch , from northern tool. Has a replaceable head, have not had to replace it yet.

EDIT: actually mine is 30", i thought it was 36.

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200668193_200668193

 

[D60]

I mean honestly, headlamp. It's kind of weird that for so many years people used handheld flashlights and only coal miners used headlamps. It's not like we needed some kind of technical revolution or something. We just all voluntarily sacrificed the use of one hand for like a century or so before we all finally got around to strapping lights to our heads, where they belonged from the beginning.

Think back 30 years ago, how many of you worked on a broken-down car with a friend holding a flashlight for you? In retrospect that's absurd!

Actually this has been extremely true for me as my eyes went downhill. Right now I need light, not necessarily magnification (my eye doctor assures me it'll get worse LOL)

I refuse to buy letter batteries but now I rock the Milwaukee 2115 which works for me because I'm invested in the RedLithium USB platform with other tools

 

[HangFire]

Extra short carbide left-hand twist drill bits, and a 90 degree shorty air drill.

 

[aquariuscsm]

A rag to dry my tears .

Me, I need a muzzle to quell all the cuss words that fly out of my mouth haha!

 

[D60]

Extra short carbide left-hand twist drill bits, and a 90 degree shorty air drill.

Sounds expensive, I despise using carbide twist bits in a hand drill. Somehow, my upper body doesn't provide the rigidity of my knee mills and carbide chips easily BUT, if it's something you must get out and this is the only way, it's worth trashing a few expensive bits....

 

[locomaster1969]

Harbor Freight oil extractor ( I have used it for years).
Oil filter sockets
6 inch C clamps
Braun magnetic slim bar folding rechargeable led light

 

[UncleDave]

Mityvac/ topside changer - It's saved me tons of time over the years.

Optimate 6 battery charger - it covers everything from 4 AH to 240AH batteries and has saved me tons of time and money.

1/4 inch Facom tool set. 25 years old works perfectly.

 

[HemiBenny]

Vice grips have never done much more than mangle things for me. They're just a step that adds frustration before moving on to something that works.

Vise grips are good for holding the "collar' of a rubber brake line while you fight to undo the line nut. Break a tie rod adjuster free with an 18" pipe wrench then use the vise grips to crank it around. They're also an impressively wrong tool for crimping wire connections.

Vise Grips. Those things are the world's most versatile tool imo.

I use them a lot to grab the back of used-up sway bar links to keep it from spinning when taking the nut off. Clamp them on and take the nut right off.

 

[JeffKeryk]

MityVac allows for no jacking, stands, mess. Swap filter evey 2nd service. Amazing.
Makita Impact and 80 ft lb torque stick. I finish lugs with Bonney 250# torque wrench. I ain't 24 anymore... Thanks @Trav for the recommendation...

Extra credit:

 

[wpod]

You're doing it all wrong! Instead of crying, visit the small refrigerator in the garage (to help you prepare for the work). Sometimes I never get past the prep stage and just put off the actual work till the next day...

While I understand and can appreciate that ,,,Alcohol in me induces instant projectile vomiting so I can't enjoy the escape form the evils of the machine. .

 

[RyanY]

While I understand and can appreciate that Alcohol induces instant projectile vomiting with me so I can't enjoy the escape form the evils of the machine. .

Oh no! I'm sorry to hear that. I always try to blend the work with play on the weekends, but hopefully you are able to enjoy the work in ways that don't include beverages.

 

[JeffKeryk]

While I understand and can appreciate that ,,,Alcohol in me induces instant projectile vomiting so I can't enjoy the escape form the evils of the machine. .

Alcohol in me produces jail cells and homelessness. And black eyes on occasion...

 

[Chris142]

My I.R.231 impact. Great for lugnuts and tight bolts. I can turn it down to #1 and use a tq stick as to not over tighten lug nuts when putting them back on.

 

[dlundblad]

My tool boxes full of tools are my favorite things to use.

 

[SubLGT]

Oil plug puller. Especially when the car is hot. Finger saver for sure in that case. My coworker bought one then everyone in the shop had one in the same week and same brand too so we all had to write our initials on ours lol . The only drain plugs it won’t work on is the plastic ones of course but of course being a Subaru tech I don’t run into that much.

How come you don't have a Subaru in your personal fleet of 8 vehicles?

 

[AutoMechanic]

How come you don't have a Subaru in your personal fleet of 8 vehicles?

Because we don’t need another vehicle lol and don’t have room. If buying a vehicle today my first choice would be Mitsubishi particularly the Mirage G4 or Outlander Sport. If going Subaru route, Subaru Crosstrek would be my first choice with the Outback being second Subaru choice.

 

[Trav]

They are all my favorite tools when I need them because I cant do the job without them. The Makita mid size cordless impacts get used a lot.

 

[Zaedock]

My wife says I AM a Tool.

 

[ollie]

My favorite tool is any tool that makes the job easier.

 

[CleanSump]

Small and medium straight slot and Philips screwdrivers. I use them more than any other tools.