basic car tools

bungaro79

have a giftvoucher to spend and going to get some basic tools as i want to be able to do the basics in my car. what kind of stuff should i be buying?? there are some different tool sets in argos and halfords from about €50 up but thinking some of them are quantity over quality?!
cheers in advance!

biko

I have a wrench set from Aldi that never let me down.

Get these, will sort most problems out:

Gumbo

Trolley jack and Axle Stands.

Anan1

Socket set & spanners would be first on my list.

Hagar

If you buy from Argos check out the set. I had to bring one back twice because one spanner size was duplicated and another size was missing as a result. Probably less likely to happen on better quality items, the set I bought was a real cheapie but has paid for itself many times over.

Anan1

TK Maxx often have very good offers on Kamasa tool sets, which are pretty good quality.

Voodoomelon

This kit is bloody brilliant and is fantastic quality for the price:

http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_157387_langId_-1_categoryId_212410

peasant

As above, a semi-decent socket set, some spanners and screwdrivers and then there would be these little helpers:
vice grips


oil filter wrench (cheapo will do)






oh, and don't forget this:



btw ...don't waste your money on adjustable spanners. They may be fine for plumbing and bodging. On a car, all they ever do is nicely round off the nuts so you'll never get them off.

Also on the nuts in a socket set, make sure not to buy the kind on the left (they also help greatly in rounding off nuts and bolts) but the kind on the right

Guy:Incognito

peasant wrote: »

oh, and don't forget this:

A woman to lend a hand?

mickdw

decent set of sockets with spark plug socket,
set of spanners but 2 of each size spanner is ideal.
Oil filter wrench,
various shape pliers
Hex keys
Various screwdrivers
Multimeter

dirtydiesel

The gentle persuader is a most have and a decent wheel brace

bungaro79

great stuff, thanks for all the replies!

Atlantic Dawn

peasant wrote: »

Also on the nuts in a socket set, make sure not to buy the kind on the left (they also help greatly in rounding off nuts and bolts) but the kind on the right

You sure on that? I have a set with all sockets like those on the left and it has every possible size, I find once you have the right fitting one that they give a far better grip than the socket on the right, much more secure and less chance of slippage and rounding. I know some of the cheaper sets come with only every 2nd or 3rd size of that type on the left, those are lethal if you are trying sizes too big.

pajero12

peasant wrote: »

As above, a semi-decent socket set, some spanners and screwdrivers and then there would be these little helpers:
vice grips


oil filter wrench (cheapo will do)






oh, and don't forget this:



btw ...don't waste your money on adjustable spanners. They may be fine for plumbing and bodging. On a car, all they ever do is nicely round off the nuts so you'll never get them off.

Also on the nuts in a socket set, make sure not to buy the kind on the left (they also help greatly in rounding off nuts and bolts) but the kind on the right

Id say thats because your using the wrong size...the proper socket is way better than those other yokes

corktina

duct tape and cable ties is all your need...oh and an AA card....





(actually agree with all above items....

peasant

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

You sure on that? I have a set with all sockets like those on the left and it has every possible size, I find once you have the right fitting one that they give a far better grip than the socket on the right, much more secure and less chance of slippage and rounding. I know some of the cheaper sets come with only every 2nd or 3rd size of that type on the left, those are lethal if you are trying sizes too big.

nope ...the star shaped socket is needed for these kind of bolts
http://www.vk-bmw-shop.de/images/vielzahnschraubekardanwelle.jpg (large pic!)

but it has found its way into standard tool sets beause it fits on a normal hexagon nut/bolt in many more positions ...so it's easier to use for the lazy.

But it doesn't grip your standard hexagon as well as a standard socket and if you're working on one that won't open, you'll have it rounded in no time.

A proper hexagon socket of good quality looks like this:

with thick side walls and radiused corners. Well worth spending a bit extra to get good quality


EDIT
to explain further: The pic below is for a special kind of socket, but it helps to explain the basic principle.
Look at the picture for the square bolt, there you will se clearly that the socket only engages with the corners of the nut/bolt.

The same applies to a hexagon nut. Those star shaped sockets only grip at the corners of the nut/bolt, whereas a proper hexagon socket grips at the long sides.
That way you can convey much more force without rounding the nut/bolt.

That's what makes the difference at the end of the day ...a stubborn nut/bolt that opens after some gentle persuasion or a nut/bolt that rounds off, forcing you to spend the whole day on just getting the bugger out somehow, possibly doing a not inconsiderable amount of collateral damage along the way

challengemaster

I swear, keep a roll of duct tape in the car at all times. MOST USEFUL TOOL EVER.

Run_to_da_hills

Teng tools and Genuine Irwin Vicegrips.

Expensive but you will have them a long time provided they don't get nicked.

Compromise on cheap supermarket stuff if you like skinning your knuckles. :eek:

guil

i got a sealey 1/2 inch socket set in 2004, cost me €130 and not one piece has broke or bein damaged, i even snapped the head off anonther extension bar on top of my own

its got lots of use and has never let me down

Blue850

Metrinch

I've a set of these sockets and spanners for 10 years, grips the flat of a nut not the corner's so less chance of slipping.

btw if you have aftermarket alloys fitted, check if the wheelbrace supplied with the car will still fit, my brother discovered his wouldn't on his Celica after he got a puncture, luckily he was only 10 minutes from home when it happened and a thinner walled socket I had fitted.

Car Mad

A good set of jump leads or a decent booster pack one tool everyone should have in there car, the amount of people i have come across who have dead batterys due to leaving lights on etc and no way of starting the car simple but how many people have a set when needed:cool:

jimmyw

corktina wrote: »

duct tape and cable ties is all your need...oh and an AA card....





(actually agree with all above items....

Everything above, and yes I agree with the cable ties. One of the best things ever to be invented.You could keep a whole car together with these.