Essential tools for self servicing

[Lostkat]

I'd recommend investing in a big hammer. That usually sorts things out if nothing else works

 

[Rilot]

Impact driver
Absolutely essential for older vehicles for removing stuck bolts.

 

[Lummox]

Good music player - not the one in the car.

 

[tigerstyle]

I've never bothered with an oil filter wrench. I just kept the cambelt off my old car when I changed it, wrap a loop around a stiff oil filter, squeeze it tight, twist and hey presto. Never had a problem.

marigold is the winner here, and then you get the bonus of confusing your mum why only one of them has gone missing?

 

[Berger]

Actually, it doesn't which is why it took me so long. I spent ages trying to force it back in, only to learn that you need to turn the piston as it is pushed in! There must be some sort of ratchet mechanism inside!

Thats exactly what i meant, you put the chisel flat accross the piston, inbetween the raised sections and then wind it in, as your using the length of the chisel you can get quite a bit of effort into it.

Has worked for me several times.

They are only really stiff if not greased fully ime when greased up they wind in and out fairly smoothly, the piston itself can corrode making it more difficult.

 

[agw_01]

Needlenose pliers are awesome for winding calipers.

 

[4T5]

50 tins of Duck Oil or WD40. Duck oil won't effect decent paintwork.
Wire brush.
Spanners = 1x10, 1x12, 2x13, 2x14, 2x17, 2x19 1x21, 1x24.
A 6 sided socket set not one of those multiple sided crappers.
Spark plug spanner with Rubber in it.
A Decent Wrench 1/4 + 1/2 drive.
An extension bar that will slot over the handle of the wrench & your spanners.
Jump leads.
Trolley jack & two house bricks for chocks.
battery charger + extension lead.
Hammers, 1 Copper, 1 Rubber, 1 Metal of a fair size.
Lead light.
Wire wool.
A centre punch.
A vice or g clamp.
Set of Allen keys.
Mole grips, 3 pairs from small panel pins to big moleys.
Pliers. Pointed & flat nosed.
Extra long magnetic screwdriver.
A few decent screw drivers.
Small torch.
latex gloves.
Plenty of rag.
Assorted Nuts/screw/bolts/washers.

 

[DannyW]

spark plug socket any half decent socket set usually has one and also copper grease the threads on the new plugs

whats this talk of winding back the caliper?? i just un-screwed the bleed nipple and pushed it back in then bled the system (needed bleeding anyway)

 

[mattpc]

Vinyl gloves for the no alergic reaction*




*
the cheap powdered gloves have been known to use bleached nut shells for the powder which is not good, and people can become intolerant to rubber after long exposure

Intersting. Personally I have found latex gloves fine and I have quite sensitive skin but hey..Depends on the gloves and the skin I guess.

 

[Muncher]

 

[Captain Kirk]

whats this talk of winding back the caliper?? i just un-screwed the bleed nipple and pushed it back in then bled the system (needed bleeding anyway)

You can't do this with modern (or just mine) cars. There is something in them that means the caliper won't just push back in, presumably so that the handbrake doesn't need to pull up about 4 miles to engage. You have to turn them as you push them back in. I presume this is only on the rears, but not sure.

 

[SiHH]

mmm strawberry ice cream

 

[DannyW]

there rubbish, its just a light!