NO THIS IS NOT A THREAD OF SHIT YOU CAN BORROW FROM ME
...
it is however a thread pointing out useful automotive tools... post a pic and a little description why the certian item has the advantage over its couterparts... posting tools here without supporting evidence is a waste of time so please be consise! this can help us all!

Ill start off with two:

First, for testing automotive electrical circuits- the Power Probe III. The old test lamps with the bulb in them are way outdated these days, and while the basic LED units, and grounded test lamps are good this sucker mops the floor with them. I dont have one yet but I have used the PP1 and PP2 and a PP3 is on my short list of tools to buy. You can get them off ebay MUCH cheaper than the tool trucks.

http://www.powerprobe.com/



Second, in the department of impact swivel sockets- Matco/Cornwells in 3/8. This likely applies to other drive sizes as well, and I think one other brand, but these impact swivels are more slender than other makers and that means a lot in tight spaces.

Note the nice slender package on these Matco versions:


And the bulky collar on the Snap-on:



I can think of a few more...

[Edited on February 11, 2007 at 6:17 PM. Reason : oops pic]

[Edited on February 11, 2007 at 6:17 PM. Reason : oops again]

2/11/2007 6:16:15 PM

cool, can I borrow those

2/11/2007 6:24:12 PM

^second the impact swiwels + air ratchet/ 1/4 inch impact FTW

also swivel gear wrenches

also the most important tool of em all, a quality BFH

2/11/2007 6:25:25 PM

Using a nice drain pan and still making a mess? EVERY shop should have one of these, the Drip Slipper.

http://www.dripslipper.com




Its like 6in tall, on wheels, and covers all the real estate under the car you're working on. Trouble is it costs like $165. Apparantly you can get them from your Saftey-Kleen guy too but I dont know what they charge. Some online tool stores are getting $300 a pop, best price I have seen is from DAWG.

http://www.dawginc.com/secondary-spill-containment/oil-drain-drip-pan.php

2/11/2007 6:28:37 PM

flex head gear wrenches. hands down the BEST hand tool i own. they are a dream in tight places like upper bellhousing bolts, etc. they are pricy, but imo they payed for themselves with the first clutch job i did after buying them.

http://tinyurl.com/2un278

2/11/2007 6:31:48 PM

LISLE 43300 Pneumatic Fan Clutch Wrench Set

Use it with an air hammer, and it makes taking off fans REAL easy. I hate hammering on an adjustable wrench or regular fan clutch wrench for 10 minutes in futility. It takes longer to get this tool out put it away than it takes to remove a fan with it.



Youll need the 43380 32mm driving wrench for some VW/Audi and most BMWs though.

2/11/2007 6:36:42 PM

^^ For flex head gear wrenches, make sure you get the locking ones. Mine are Blackhawk but they look a LOT like the ones SK is making for Craftsman now.

For the upper bellhousing bolts you mentioned, the impact swivels I posted earlier and a 1/2-3/8 reducing impact extenSion is the ticket. I have a Snap-on 24in extention I just picked up on eBay, I need to get a 36in too.



[Edited on February 11, 2007 at 6:44 PM. Reason : pic]

2/11/2007 6:38:54 PM

flex head ratcheting wrenches.

and a clip/tack remover.

2/11/2007 6:46:23 PM

^^i actually like the non-locking ones better, but its just a matter of preference i guess

the new SK ones have this interesting pattern on the box end that will fit just about any kind of fastener, including male torx, square bolts and all the other funny looking stuff

[Edited on February 11, 2007 at 6:46 PM. Reason : .]

yo joel edit taht side-scrolling bullshit so the pics line up vertically

[Edited on February 11, 2007 at 6:47 PM. Reason : .]

2/11/2007 6:46:36 PM

igor you little bitch you beat me to it, i was gonna post it
(the BFH)

[Edited on February 11, 2007 at 6:48 PM. Reason : ]

2/11/2007 6:47:15 PM

^^^^if i'm working under a lift, i like and use that method. not always easy to do working on your back though. also, there's some vehicles where the two upper bolts are just dead in behind the firewall.

that fan clutch tool is a hot ticket. i need to invest in one. i too get sick of banging an adjustable or box wrench, bloody fingers/forearms from the blades, etc.

here's one of my favorite power tools: the venerable sawzall. right now, i've got a craftsman for cordless duties and an older milwaukee corded. both have served me well so far. i had a porter cable corded, but it was stolen. the weight on it was VERY light compared to others, which was nice.

on that same subject, you really can't beat a good complete cordless set. i picked up a 6 piece craftsman set for only about $200 a few months back. it's been worth it's weight in gold on my jobs and for the demolition derby.

2/11/2007 7:09:54 PM

^^^ whoops which one is sidescrolling? too late to edit the first post... brian will take care of it I hope.

Quote :

"the new SK ones have this interesting pattern on the box end that will fit just about any kind of fastener, including male torx, square bolts and all the other funny looking stuff "

post more details!

SiR Tools ST9015 Radio Master Kit. Covers everything from Fords to Porsche 996. I have one, I love it.

http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/sirst9015.html



ALSO for electrical work, they make the ST9025 wire terminal extractor kit in the same style, remove pins from connectors without destroying the shit.
http://www.etoolcart.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=8893



[Edited on February 11, 2007 at 7:14 PM. Reason : ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^]

2/11/2007 7:13:37 PM

^hey, you should post your/my awesome crank bolt tool.

2/11/2007 7:18:13 PM

weighs less than 4lbs and has 700ft-lbs of torque, and the exhaust doesnt blow dirt in your face like some IR guns

2/11/2007 7:27:43 PM

dremel

oh, and EVERY mechanic or wannabe should have at least one pair of these:

2/11/2007 7:30:13 PM

^^tr00 too get honda crankshaft bolts right off

2/11/2007 7:34:57 PM

the cordless impact is the best.

2/11/2007 7:47:54 PM

Ernst manufacturing socket keepers. a little expensive, but if you store all your tools in bags like I do, its a great way to keep all your 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" sockets and ratchets together and in one place. they're also labeled for sizes so everything is easy to find. here's the link to get them.

https://www.expeditionexchange.com/ernst/

Dynabrade dynaswivel. I use these on all my air tools. its like a universal joint that connects your hose to the tool and lets it hang free. Its good for getting the tool into tight spots and not having the hose bind up on you.



a good knife. I carry a Strider Smf (pictured) but anything thats sharp and will hold an edge works. its one of the things that is often overlooked in ones toolbox.

2/11/2007 10:34:15 PM

You know whats a good tool? a brain...

2/11/2007 10:36:49 PM

one of the telescoping magnets has proven quite useful for me lots of times. good for hard to reach dropped bolts, pulling washers that are hard to get to, etc.




[Edited on February 11, 2007 at 10:42 PM. Reason : .]

2/11/2007 10:39:45 PM

Quote :

"weighs less than 4lbs and has 700ft-lbs of torque, and the exhaust doesnt blow dirt in your face like some IR guns"

And I've STILL had Honda crank bolts that resisted its might.

My favorite tools are my 1/4" wiggle sockets and long extensions.

Impact grade swivels are indeed the heat, especially with the 1/2" to 3/8" impact extensions for the bellhousing bolts.

2/11/2007 10:54:20 PM

pffft.... i can break foreign car crank bolts lose with an evil eye

2/11/2007 10:57:13 PM

2/12/2007 5:19:27 PM

I also like those little torx bit sets, especially if you have a jeep wrangler, they're particularly handy.

2/12/2007 7:09:16 PM

^^ and one of these to go along with that

2/12/2007 11:57:57 PM

how come noone wants to follow the easy guidelines?

2/13/2007 2:28:33 PM

because it's tww. i'm surprised it's gone as well as it has so far.

2/13/2007 2:48:10 PM

good point

2/13/2007 2:49:40 PM

You wouldn't believe how many busted knuckles and 3rd degree burns these things have saved me from...

Because you know you're going to lose that damn spray straw the first time you use it

[Edited on March 2, 2010 at 8:41 PM. Reason : removed that stormceller bullshit -psi]

2/13/2007 3:48:19 PM

lol, i didn't know they sell those straw things seperate like that.

i've never been able to get used to wearing mechanix style or even latex gloves. something about not being able to feel what i'm working on bothers me and i feel like butterfingers.

2/13/2007 3:55:41 PM

same here, but for some stuff the gloves come in handy

2/13/2007 3:56:27 PM

i like the mechanics gloves that have the top half of the thumb, pointer finger and middle finger cut off so it's easier to feel.

2/13/2007 5:07:29 PM

2/13/2007 5:15:32 PM

DURR if your going latex, go with the best

http://www.microflex.com/products/catalog/dg.asp

2/13/2007 5:26:39 PM

2/13/2007 5:49:55 PM

^ another good one, ive had mine about 5 years and I love it

2/13/2007 6:11:10 PM

^^

I give.
WTF is that thing?

2/14/2007 8:26:25 AM

its for heater hose clamps

2/14/2007 8:55:10 AM

Rechargable LED drop light. Fuck replacing incandescent lightbulbs every 10 minutes when you trip over the cord.


[Edited on February 14, 2007 at 9:54 AM. Reason : pic]

2/14/2007 9:54:39 AM

All right, colter I give, tell me why I should by a Strider instead of three guns I could get for the same price. Are they really all that and a fat bag of chips? I've seen ads, heard thus and such about Mick Striders felony conviction, but never heard from an actual owner. What gives?

2/15/2007 11:17:45 PM

Looking for a good automotive use DVOM, affordable is good. I dont want to pay $250+ for a Fluke 88.

2/23/2007 10:21:51 AM

bttt

ordered my Power Probe III and test lead set today.

3/7/2007 9:14:33 PM

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?cat=
Electrical+Shop&pid=03493948000&vertical=TOOL&subcat=
Flashlights+%26+Lanterns&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes

safety glasses with LEDs on each side, they look cheesy but are very bright.

[Edited on March 18, 2007 at 7:17 PM. Reason : psi]

3/7/2007 9:33:19 PM

bttt

update on the latex gloves, snap-on carries some blue latex gloves now that are really strong, i think they are called double tuff or similar. not easily torn or ripped and very durable. you can reuse them 3 or 4 times easy.

3/18/2007 11:07:07 AM

nitrile, not latex

3/19/2007 9:03:46 AM

The double tuff ones are latex, and they're made by Diamond Grip. And they are DARK blue, not the light blue that most nitrile gloves are. We have them at Car Quest.

And in all sincerety, I prefer latex over nitrile because while nitrile has superior chemical resistance, it performs relatively poorly in shear. Get a pinhole started in nitrile, and you can peel the whole glove apart by farting wrong.

3/19/2007 11:55:12 AM

at least carb cleaner doesnt melt through it

3/19/2007 12:25:40 PM

tr00.

3/19/2007 12:37:15 PM

most of the stuff in the specialty tool section at Advance is pretty useful

3/19/2007 6:37:55 PM

So I may have been seduced by a Snap-on top/bottom box combo...

6/11/2007 2:18:25 PM