Choices for Automotive Hand Tools

There are hundreds of hand tools available to do any type of work in your car, from tools to remove a part or component, to adjust a system assembly and even to rebuild your engine. However, if you are not a dedicated or professional mechanic, you will only need a handful of them. Still, you need to have the basic tools you will need for the maintenance work you want to do. Over time, you can expand on this selection as your maintenance tasks widen.

Quality

Look for tools made from high strength alloy steel, which are lightweight, but strong says Martin Stockel in Auto Mechanics Fundamentals. They cost more than similar tools, but are built to last, and fit to a close specification to do the job right.

Screwdrivers

Get a good set of standard, Phillips, Reed and Prince screwdrivers of different sizes to let you work in wide and tight spaces. A strong screwdriver will even let you pry at some components and occasionally use with a hammer if necessary.

Wrenches

Box- and open-end combination wrenches are necessary. A 12-point box end wrench will give you a good grip on bolts and nuts. However, it is a good idea to have a set of 6-point box end wrenches available as well. They provide the best grip to remove rusted, extremely tight or partially damaged nuts and bolts. Other tools to include in this category are the adjustable and pipe wrench. These are available individually, but sets of three in different sizes are common and very useful.

Ratchet and Sockets

A ratchet gives you speed when removing nuts and bolts. They are used along with sockets, which, like standard box-end wrenches, come in 12 and 6 point and three common drive sizes for use with small, medium and large bolts. Also, extensions of different lengths are available for ratchets to use in hard to reach bolts or nuts, while providing the same work speed for most of the jobs.

Pliers

These handy tools also come in a variety of designs and sizes for a wide range of jobs. You will need a set of slip joint, rib joint, needle nose, cutting, vise grip and snap ring pliers. The more work you do on your car, the more need you will find for these pliers. Start with the most common and expand to other special pliers as you need them.

Torque Wrenches

Your car manufacturer provides instructions for tightening mounting bolts and nuts for almost any part or component on your vehicle. Whether you are replacing or just removing and mounting a water pump, idler pulley, starter motor or steering pump, mounting bolts should be tighten to the specified torque to avoid part or component damage. For these jobs, you will need a torque wrench.

Other Tools

Other handy tools to keep in mind are ball peen and brass hammers; chisels and punches; hacksaws, vises, C-clamps, pry bars, files, Allen wrenches and measuring tools. These are just a few of the basic tools you will need to do almost any type of mechanical work on your car. However, they are a good investment. You can spend a few hundred or a few thousand dollars on tools. However, remember that the more you use them, the more you save in auto maintenance and repair jobs.

References

• Auto Mechanics Fundamentals; Martin W. Stockel and Martin T. Stockel; 1982
• Modern Automotive Technology; James E. Duffy; 2003