Working on your own cars at home can save you a ton of money if you know what you’re doing, and it’s satisfying, too. Plus, you can always make sure your cars are well-maintained if you’re doing the maintenance yourself. If you’re ready to start working on cars at home, make sure you have these basic tools to get started.
Socket Set with Ratchet Extender
You can’t work on any kind of motor, no matter how small, without a socket set. A socket set should include a ratchet handle and a number of sockets – the bigger the set, the more nuts and bolts you’ll be able to tackle. In addition to the basic socket set, you should buy a ratchet extender, to give you more leverage when breaking free stubborn bolts. You may also want a bent-handle ratchet and a finger ratchet to help you get into difficult places.
Torque Wrench
Many nuts and bolts in a car need to be tightened to the appropriate torque, and you’ll need a torque wrench to achieve this. A part can wear out faster if the nuts and bolts are over-tightened, or it can fall off altogether if the nuts and bolts aren’t tight enough. A torque wrench helps you get all your nuts and bolts just right.
Impact Wrench
An impact wrench provides powerful turning capabilities. It’s the ideal tool for breaking stubborn nuts and bolts free. A cordless electric model is going to be easiest to use, but you can also buy impact wrenches powered by compressed air.
Pulley Puller
A pulley puller is necessary for removing pulleys, gears, bearings, and a range of other automotive parts that are pressed into place on the factory floor and therefore can’t be removed by hand. They’re great for grabbing and holding onto round parts, as well. Because pulley pullers are specialized for different automotive parts, you may need to buy a pulley puller set or get a new pulley puller for each type of job.
Hex Bolster Screwdrivers
Hex bolster screwdrivers are like regular screwdrivers, but they have a hex bolster at the bottom of the screwdriver shaft, where the shaft connects to the handle. This allows you to turn the screwdriver with a wrench while applying pressure with your other hand to keep the screwdriver seated in the screw.
Pliers
Any mechanics tools need a good set of pliers, including spark plug pliers, vise grip pliers, linesman pliers, slip joint pliers and needle-nose pliers. You should consider buying out-of-sight pliers, in which the grabbing parts are angled to one side, allowing you to see what you’re gripping without your hands getting in the way.
Work Lights
Powerful work lights are essential in every garage. A good automotive work light should be flexible enough that you can put it anywhere you need to put it in order to shed light on your car’s innards. Look for a work light with strong magnets that allow you to place it wherever you need it to go. You may also want a battery-powered or rechargeable light, instead of one that plugs in, so you can put the light anywhere without worrying about a power source.
Oil Changing Equipment
Oil changes will be one of the most common maintenance tasks you’ll perform on your car, so you need the right equipment to do them. You’ll need a flexible funnel and a drain pan for changing oil. You may also want to get a creeper to make it easier to slide under your car – and get back out from under it again. A creeper keeps you from having to lie on the ground or floor, and it can protect your back from injury if you’re working under your car for a long time.
Floor Jack and Jack Stands
If you’re going to be under your car doing work on it, you don’t want to rely on the emergency jack that came with your car. You need a floor jack and jack stands to keep your car safely propped up while you’re working. Make sure your floor jack is rated for the weight of your vehicle. If you work on many different vehicles, a valuable tools is to get a heavy-duty floor jack and jack stands.
Automotive Hook Set
In today’s heavily computerized cars, there are lots of small, delicate, fiddly connections that you shouldn’t attack with a pair of needle-nosed pliers. You need an automotive hook set to disconnect and reconnect those tiny electrical connections without damaging them.
If you’re planning to work on your own car, make sure you have the right tools. The work will go easier, and you’ll enjoy it more, too.
