Most helpful tools to own?

Post by **Choguy03** » 17 Nov 2011, 13:52

Yeah, but it is nice to just walk in to any Seats give them the broken one and you get a new one. It is a good deal and they are not that much more expensive. 283 pc set with tool box is $300.

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Post by **Ozark Lee** » 17 Nov 2011, 16:06

Along with everything else a 1/2" drive breakover bar and a 4 foot long steel pipe that will fit over the handle.

The older I get, the weaker I get, and the Archimedes effect gets truer but with a lever long enough I can make things happen.

...Lee

gilhuly · Post by **gilhuly** » 17 Nov 2011, 16:18

In addition to what's been mentioned Have a "cheater bar". Buy a 2 ft long piece of muffler pipe from the auto parts store to put over the end of your wrench to increasae leverage. Also get socket extensions in 1", 3", 6" and two 12". Get the ones with "wobbly" ends that allow a little flex. A full set of Torx bits is essential as has been mentioned.

Brake pad spreader https://www.amazon.com/Lisle-24300-Speed ... B0009OR8V6

Get yourself a set of long needle nose pliers in straight and 45 degree. Lots of vise grip pliers, large and small, regular and needle nose.

Dental pick (you'll thank me later)

Telescoping magnet

LED Headlamp www.opticsplanet.net/streamlight-septor-headlamps-61052.html

Rubber gloves

You can live without air tools for a while unless you really want to jump right in.

Post by **JimBee** » 17 Nov 2011, 18:56

+1 Harbor Freight is your friend, starting out. You won't find a price/quality better elsewhere. I've visited them many times while digging into different projects on my 850's.

Among the many great suggestions there are must have tools.

I will add:
this handy bit for changing the idler roller on an 850: http://www.harborfreight.com/3-piece-to ... 91255.html

these torx drivers for light work around your inner door panels or dash, hose clamps, etc:
http://www.harborfreight.com/8-piece-st ... 35187.html

and this set for use with a 1/4" extension to remove the hidden torx screw on your thermostat cap (which if you can't get it out, take your handy electric drill and a 5/16 sharp steel cutting bit and drill the head of that sucker. Then PB Blaster on the stud for a while and grab it with a vice grip or get two nuts on the threads and tighten them together, use a wrench to turn it out). http://www.harborfreight.com/8-piece-st ... 35187.html

this breaker bar (on sale this month) I used mine to remove head bolts with my 2 foot pipe extension. They loosened much easier than the last time I tried it with my 19" bar.
http://www.harborfreight.com/12-drive-2 ... 67933.html
Make sure your socket set has a 3/8" breaker bar, too, for getting in tight places like around the TB.

Vice grips— straight jaw and curved jaws to grasp a pipe or the boot side of the sway bar link.
and a couple of mini vice grips that you will rarely use but will be there when you need them.

Wire brush wheels with 1/4' spindle for your power drill to clean off threads of a bolt or stud before you hit it with PB Blaster.

Drifts (Harbor Freight sells a set) for removing pins that hold in your rear brake pads and other uses.

Brake fitting wrench: 3/8" x 7/16" What? SAE? That's what I thought when I shopped for it. The Carquest clerk clued me in and he was right. A mm size does not fit those brass hex fittings as well.

A cheap set of combination box-open end wrenches.

And finally (though I can think of a few others): HF's 10-15 mm ratchet wrenches (on sale often). Very handy for tight places.

(one nice but not necessary: the HF 3 piece folding torx, allen mm and allen SAE I think.)

dgamby · Post by **dgamby** » 17 Nov 2011, 20:23

Someone must have swiped my white gloves before I got the car!

Thanks for the great suggestions! I'm loving it. It is giving me lots to put on the Christmas and Birthday lists for the next few years! Also giving me some fun things to drool over.

If there are other particulars please feel free to add them. Thanks again.

SpeedyPete · Post by **SpeedyPete** » 17 Nov 2011, 20:43

Hey don't forget you need One Big Fu@#$%! Hammer and a beer for those frustrating moments.

dgamby · Post by **dgamby** » 17 Nov 2011, 20:49

Just be careful of the order you use each right? Hammer then beer?

Post by **wheelsup** » 17 Nov 2011, 21:41

My tool box for now to give you some ideas, best read from the bottom up starting with my first tool set. Ahh, the memories! Built this over the past few years working on my cars.

dgamby · Post by **dgamby** » 18 Nov 2011, 13:13

I think I would need a 20 year plan to catch up to you! That's a great collection of fun right there. I particularly appreciate the "persuader" drawer.

FCPEURO · Post by **FCPEURO** » 18 Nov 2011, 17:00

dgamby wrote:I think I would need a 20 year plan to catch up to you! That's a great collection of fun right there. I particularly appreciate the "persuader" drawer.

+1

I need to start with a garage, then work my way up to you. You have one heck of a nice set for tools.