Essential Car Tools and Value for Money Car Tools in your garage

[deejayburnout]

no tool box can be with out this

[kalniel]

A good foot pump is handy - important to get one with an accurate pressure gage, as correct tyre pressures make a huge difference to safety, fuel economy and tread wear. Thus it's not really for inflating your tyres, as checking/adjusting pressures particularly as the temperature changes - if nothing else then check each season.

This one was well reviewed in Autoexpress a while back I think:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/s...egoryId_255241
£15

[kalniel]

Another one is PVC tape - it's cheap, tough, and insulating. I've used it both for minor body work and wires.


Source - anywhere. Cost - less than a quid.

[abaxas]

With the relevant adapters, no screw or bolt is impossible to remove

[Knoxville]

My coveted Bacho socket set probably rules the roost, pricey but they really are precision engineered tools at their best. Amazon have some fairly good deals on them at the moment too!



Followed closely by this wildly helpful piece of kit -



What else.... Magnetic tipped screwdrivers are just essential, it boggles my mind when people opt for anything else. A proper trolley jack is a must as well and axle stands to help keep everything stable, never scrimp on them because they're what keeps the car up there where it needs to be, instead of on top of you.

Two items that are also a must for me but might not be instantly recognisable are -

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-52616.../dp/B0001K9V3Q

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gunson-G4125.../dp/B002XF1VW6

[GoNz0]

you all forgot the most important tool after you finish the job.

[Tonka777]

THE most useful thing to have, especially in the car is a box of these;



You might look a bit weird, but the night you have to change a flat tyre on your way to that party, whilst wearing your best white shirt, you will will thank me!

[Tonka777]

Another useful item to have is;

[Tonka777]

Few more, after a rummage in the shed;

Never bend your screwdrivers, or damage the tips again!



And if you have dodgy knees, or a rough floor surface,



Also, don't forget to save those old t-shirts and bed sheets for rags, you can never have enough old rags lying around IMO!

[TeePee]

Sometimes, moments are your friend:



Actually the tool I'm loving right now is one of these:



Does that count?

[Zak33]

I know this next one is odd... but I assure you it's value

I bought the cheapest camping foam sleep mat I could get.. to lie under my car, crouch by my car on etc.

it's been used loads.... the cheap ones DO mark and scuff.. but they scrub clean ok with a hose and hang to dry. Mine is always in the boot of the car, and has elastic loops to keep it rolled.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

£7 delivered

It got drenched with dirty coolant two weeks ago... has been used in the layby to kneel on in rain to change a spare wheel and been used as a heat shield on the screen on the one hot day we've had.

Ugly.... wrong purpose... genius

[Phage]

[bledd]

Great combo for the small/fiddly bolts.



72 tooth ratchet, I've got it in 3/8 size too. Easy to grip and lightweight

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/pr...clarke+ratchet
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/pr...tric-socket-se


-------------


Also, cheap torque wrench £20

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/pr...-torque+wrench

1/2 drive



Great quality despite the price.

---------

-I much prefer using 6 sided sockets coupled with a ratchet that has 72 teeth. Far less likely to round off any bolts.

--------

£10 breaker bar 1/2"

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/pr...RC-breaker+bar



Oil filter chain

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/s...egoryId_255216



So handy because you can attach extensions to it for really tight filters.

[finlay666]

Brake piston windback tool

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRAKE-CALI...item2a2e3b0d27

Needed it on 3 cars now to wind back the pistons changing pads, saves a load of time and efford and risking damaging any rubber housings

[Funkstar]

I don't really have much in the way of car tools, despite having recently replaced the clutch, front disks and rear brake drum internals on our Multipla.

However my father in law has just about everything you can imagine, as well as a Halfords trade card.

I think one of his best buys was the 5 tonne jack he found in Cosco a couple of years back.

At some point I will need to start accumulating my own garage tools.

[Zak33]

this thread is improving by the day

thank you all for participating.... because each of us has our own favourite tools AND places to buy them.

Machine mart..good example of me forgetting a good useful place.

Now... Jump Leads.. this is NOT an internet purchase.. they vary TOO much

So.. go to your local car spare multiverse... and ask to see the big guns. Because.. for about £22 to £25 you get BEASTS...

you're looking for full metal terminal gripper clamps.. ie not plastic ones with metal teeth. OK.. they WILL have rubber grips slid over them.. but make sure the entire clamp for each end of each cable is metal.

then.. look at the thickness of the copper cable joined to the metal clamp.. NOT the thickness of the plastic sleeve of the cable. I've seen 10 mm thick ones with only about 2mm of cable.. the rest is plastic.

GO ask to see them... and unroll them.. check for good length (sometimes you can't jump start two cars bonnet to bonnet... get length) and good terminal grips and thick well connected cable.

these puppies will last you a VERY Long time.