If you plan on fixing your own vehicles or working on any sort of vehicles you’ll need to need some basic automotive tools. The question is what are the basic tools it takes to fix cars? Where do you start building your basic automotive tool set? Are there specific brands you should buy or does it matter? All of these questions come into play when you start looking at the basic automotive tools you need to fix cars.
Your Basic Sets to Start With
If you have no tools, yet want to start working on vehicles. It’s hard to figure out what to buy first. Without feeling the need to spend thousands of dollars right off the bat. Start with the very basic automotive tool sets. Add specific sets as you need them to do each job. While buying single sockets, or wrenches seem like a cheaper option, buy whole sets until you have a good basic set of tools. Before you start buying single wrenches or special sockets.
Basic Socket Sets
To start you will need at least one socket set, understanding that the more sockets you have the easier a job becomes. Your best option is to buy a whole set that includes 1/2″, 3/8″ and 1/4″ sockets and ratchets in metric sizes to begin with.
If money is an issue, start with a 3/8″ drive metric set. 3/8″ sockets and ratchets can get a majority of the work you’ll do on cars. With tight nuts and bolts the 3/8″ size may take more effort to loosen. While you may not have enough room to get the bigger ratchet into some places.
Eventually you’ll want to have sockets from 5.5 mm to 19 mm with a 21 mm, 22 mm, and 24 mm. In 1/2″, 3/8″ and 1/4″ ratchet sizes. Make sure that when buying a metric set that it includes all the sizes. Some of the cheaper sets skip sizes like 16 mm, 17 mm, 18 mm. Make your set has these sizes, they have become very popular in recent years.
There are two more options when buying sockets, you can get deep-well sockets or standard, along with 6 point or 12 point. Deep-well sockets are very usual, and normally my go to socket to grab. The only time I grab a normal or shallow socket is when there isn’t room for a deep-well socket. The difference between 6 point and 12 point, is pretty simple. A 6 point socket only has six points that match the six points on all hex nuts. The 12 point has 12 points so it is easier to put on a hex nut. Buy 6 point sockets, they have less chance of rounding off the points on a hex nut.
Wrenches
The next thing you’ll need is a set of combination wrenches. Harbor Freight sells a set of metric and standard long reach wrenches that are great for the price. You will want to buy both standard and metric with these sets, as they leave out odd sizes. Over the years you’ll end up with multiple wrench sets. Including ratcheting, flex head, stubby, and flare wrenches. Always remember the closed end of the wrench is for breaking nuts and bolts loose, the open end is for turning loosened nuts and bolts. Don’t try to break loose stuck bolt with the open end. You will round off the hex or break your wrench.
Screwdrivers
The next thing you’ll want to have in your basic automotive tools is three different sets of screwdrivers. You’ll want a set of flat-head screw drivers but most of the time you’ll use them for prying things. The next set will be a set of Phillips head screw drivers in #1,#2, and #3 sizes. The last set you’ll want is a good set of Torx drivers. These are also called star drivers. If you are trying to get the biggest bang for your buck I’d suggest a ratcheting screwdriver set.
Allen and Torx
More and more vehicles are going to Allen head bolts, and Torx screws to hold things together. Don’t go buy the L-shaped Allen wrenches. They will be a waste of your money. What you will want is Allen sockets, and drivers. Buy a simple set of Allen head sockets and anything smaller than what came in your set of sockets buy as Allen drivers. Avoid the T-handles ones. It’s best to get bits that fit in your ratcheting screwdriver.
Pliers
The more you get into working on cars the more pairs of pliers you’ll end up buying. To start with basic automotive tools you’ll want about 5 pairs of pliers. Start with slips joint, needle nose, and channel lock. Along with a couple sizes of Vise-Grip pliers. Most of the time if you are reaching for pliers something isn’t going right, you’ll be happy that you have them when you need them.
Hammers
For your basic automotive tools you’ll need 2 hammers. You can forget the need for the BFH. You only need a simple 5-6 LBS dead blow hammer, and 24-32 oz ball-peen hammer. As you work on more cars you’ll find the need to for bigger hammers, going as far as maybe needing a sledge hammer. You will also find the need for smaller hammers on occasion.
Where to Buy Tools?
You can buy your tools just about anywhere. It’s really about quality and price when it comes to buying tools. A socket is more or less a socket, but you will want quality ratchets, along with wrenches and other tools. Your best bet is buy tools that have lifetime warranties. These companies usually make a higher quality tool because they can’t afford to be replacing it all the time.
This means places like Lowes, and their Kobalt tools or Craftsman tools. Harbor Freight has also started offering Pittsburgh tools with lifetime warranty. You can definitely buy Snap-On or Matco tools online although you will pay a premium for them. Also remember if you buy a tool with lifetime warranty but don’t have an easy way to warranty it out, the warranty is almost useless.
Power Tools?
When it comes to basic automotive tools, power tools aren’t a necessity. It’s a rare occasion you can’t get a bolt loose with a breaker bar, and a cheater bar. That said if you want power tools, it’s best to start with a 1/2″ impact wrench. Now you can buy them in pneumatic or electric. Unless you want to invest in a whole set of air tools or already own an air compressor, buy an electric impact. Battery powered 1/2″ impact wrenches have come a long way in recent years. In fact most times they aren’t much more than an air powered impact of equal ability. Plus you don’t need an air compressor nor dragging a hose around with you.
Conclusion
There are plenty of more tools you may need when fixing cars. No matter how many tools you own. Eventually you find a tool you still need. No matter what the job you are doing on your car you will need at least one of the tool discussed in this article. Buy these before you start buying specialty tools and you will never regret it.
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