Tools for working on the car

[SlyReaper]

I know almost nothing about how cars work, but I want to learn. I'm told the easiest way to do that is to get your hands dirty and figure it out as you go along. For that, I'll need tools.

If I want to repair common and fairly-easily-fixed faults myself, what tools will I need? All I own at the moment are a hammer, a power drill, duck tape, and WD40. And a Haynes manual. First order of the day will be to replace some rubber mounting bushes on the alternator, which have rotted with age. I already have the replacement part, but to get the work done, I'd just rather invest in some tools than throw it at a garage. Any suggestions?

 

[GeX]

halfords pro spanner / socket set.
torque wrench
set of axle stands and a trolley jack

 

[IamMed]

as above, plus a decent set of screw drivers.

Wire brushes will also come in handy.

For most jobs that will do, however you will find jobs that require you buying additional tools and eventually you end up haveing loads

I have 5 socket sets now and still find jobs where I'm missing a size or can't get access to

 

[Glaucus]

Halfords pro, lifetime guarentee.

Cheap tools will sheer of, Even sockets and ring spanners break on teh cheap stuff.

And an angle grinder. There will always be rusted bolts you just can't shift, oh and an electric drill and a (what's it called) a re threader.

 

[Berger]

Halfords pro, lifetime guarentee.

Cheap tools will sheer of, Even sockets and ring spanners break on teh cheap stuff.

And an angle grinder. There will always be rusted bolts you just can't shift, oh and an electric drill and a (what's it called) a re threader.

Tap and die.

 

[IamMed]

Halfords pro, lifetime guarentee.

Cheap tools will sheer of, Even sockets and ring spanners break on teh cheap stuff.

And an angle grinder. There will always be rusted bolts you just can't shift, oh and an electric drill and a (what's it called) a re threader.

Die and tap set?

Edit: Damnit too slow!

 

[PhillyDee]

You might find screw and stud extractors handy too! Also knwon as E-Z Outs.

 

[IamMed]

Torque screwdriver bit set as well, also hex keys.

 

[sigma]

Penetrating spray (forgot the exact name) will be better than WD40 for undoing rusty bolts.

Mole grips come in handy too, pipe wrenches are worthwhile as well.

Might be worth doing a search as I'm sure this type of thread has been posted before.

 

[Oxide™]

Is this any good or can better for cheaper be found?

EDIT: what about this and this please guys.

apologies on hijack but need advice from people in the know

 

[M0T]

Butane Torch, I can't stress how usefull this is on suspension etc.

Edit: Clarke also sell a 12v car battery impact wrench for undoing wheel nuts. I wouldn't use it to do anything up but it is very very useful for undoing siezed bolts (and is pretty cheap). http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cir13c-1-2in-impact-wrench-kit-12v

 

[ganesh]

Is this any good or can better for cheaper be found?

EDIT: what about this and this please guys.

apologies on hijack but need advice from people in the know

The 150 piece halfords professional set is very good and has a lifetime warranty on all tools. I have it as do a few others on this forum, they often have it on sale for £99, so i suppose you could wait if you're not in a rush.

 

[kaiowas]

All I own at the moment are a hammer, a power drill, duck tape, and WD40. And a Haynes manual.

Looks like you're just missing some tie wraps to me. And maybe a bigger hammer just to be on the safe side

 

[iaind]

Sounds like you're already perfectly equipped if the car is an old mondeo

 

[SlyReaper]

It's an old astra. Please don't murder me.

Thanks for the suggestions, guys. That 150 piece ratchet set looks like it could do the trick of disassembling the bits between me and my alternator mountings.

Is there anything which can unseize a seized-up tensioner? The folk at a garage I visited recently said it had seized up and would cost 200 quid to fix. Not sure if they were trying to scam me.

 

[GeX]

new set of bearings maybe? tbh i'd take it somewhere and get it refurbed, or go to your local motor factors and get a new one (buy new i mean a recon, and they'll take your old one in part ex normally)

 

[shauncr91]

Hammer

 

[SlyReaper]

new set of bearings maybe? tbh i'd take it somewhere and get it refurbed, or go to your local motor factors and get a new one (buy new i mean a recon, and they'll take your old one in part ex normally)

Hehe I post that I own an astra, and the very next post contains a recommendation to get a different car.

 

[GeX]

i meant a new alternator - not a new car, drive what you want!

 

[PardonTheWait]

This is where I get so glad my dad's who he is. Always been handy, used to exclusively work on his own cars so he's accrued a pretty good toolset over time. Used to do a fair bit on his race cars as well, so even weird stuff like spring compressors we have kicking around. He hardly DIYs anything on cars these days, but the tools are still around.