Essential Tools for a Beginner?

[chrisjcoe]

Hi guys

I've had the car 6 days, I need to start fixing things. So far I have stolen my Dad's old spanner set, and have a cheap, old Halfords socket set. Clearly I need to buy some tools. I'm assuming the following are what I need as a minimum:-

Torque wrench (standard manual one). Should I go for 1/2 inch with 3/8 inch adapter? What range, 8-60Nm, 40-200Nm, 60-300Nm, or would you have one of each? What is the best general purpose one? How much would you spend, I see halfords sell them for about £75. 3-6 inch extensions?

Hex wrench set, are these useful for a 944?

Oil filter wrench, there are plenty out there, what size do you need for a 944 S2?

Ramps and/or axle stands?

Floor jack? Or would you use something else? Are cheaper ones adequate?

Electric impact wrench (for removal only!)

Decent spanners.

Decent screwdrivers, a variety of lengths or just a small set?

What else would I need to begin with for general maintenance and servicing, and tackling jobs like changing the fuel pump, fuel line, fuel sender, bonnet struts, bonnet release handle, overhauling brakes, transmission fluid change, passenger door lock change/fix, sunroof seals, some rust?

 

[Chrishazle]

1. Credit Card

2. Cheque Book

3. Deep Wallet

[][][]

 

[jdpef356]

And ont forget the mobile Phone[][]

 

[Chrishazle]

ORIGINAL: jdpef356

And don't forget the mobile Phone[][]

To call the AA when it breaks down?? []To call the bank to arrange a loan so you can collect it from servicing (see McNulter's thread!!)??[:-]

 

[PSH]

you'll be fine with Halfords professional range, they are very good quality tools, not to snap-on standards of course but more than good enough for working on cars at home. It's difficult to list tools as there will always be that extra tool that's needed for a particular job. Your list covers most tools required, I would bring one thing to your attention though, don't buy a normal oil filter wrench ( bar with chain type of thing) as the 944 needs the type that fit's over the filter like a cup with a socket on top to attach a wrench. It is possible to use the last resort method of a screw driver stabbed through the old filter and twisted but personally I'd get the proper tool.

There are a number of members here with their mobile number in their signature as is mine, feel free to call if you get stuck on anything.

Pete

 

[wemorgan]

In addition to your list I've found the following quite handy:

Funnel
Brake bleed kit
Wire brush

My 3/8" torque wrench is 10-110. Quite a wide and useful range. 1/2" would be hand for suspension work if you're planning on doing any.

 

[zcacogp]

Chris,

As others have said; your list is pretty good, and will cover most things. A 10mm, 13mm and 17mm spanner will get most stuff undone, and it's worth having these sizes in sockets as well as combination spanners. I have a 1/2 inch torque wrench from screwfix - it was about £15, and is adequete. Not sure what the range is, probably 40-120 or thereabouts.

My socket set is 3/8 inch drive which I find to be a good size for most stuff. 1/2 inch would be good if you are routinely doing bigger stuff (suspension etc), but 3/8 is OK for this on a 944. A good breaker bar is helpful - I have a 4ft one, and it's very useful on occasion. I also have a zero-lash ratchet, which is a hard thing to find but deeply lovely to use. It is truly a luxury, but you may struggle to find one ...

Some people swear by soft sockets for the wheel nuts, but if you are careful you don't need one.

A smaller set at 1/4 inch drive is a nice-to-have; it's handy for smaller jobs and the tools are a bit daintier and nicer to use if you have small hands (like me.)

If you are getting serious then the crankshaft nut is 24mm. A 24mm socket could be handy if you are doing belts and waterpump.

I've never owned ramps, but axle stands are a must. And a trolley jack that will fit under the side of the car (check this - some of them don't fold down low enough.)

I wouldn't bother with an electric impact wrench.

Decent set of screwdrivers - yes. I have a very large, old, flat one which gets used as a pry bar often, but you can get dedicated pry bars which do the job better.

Brake bleed kit is a good suggestion from Will. And Pete's spot on about the oil filter wrench.

Don't forget electrics; a good DVM (and learn how to use it!) and some solder, spare fuses, few metres of cable and some heat-shrink tubing will get you out of a lot of grief.

My took kits are mainly a mix of old Teng stuff (which will last forever) and Halfords Professional. The HP stuff is very good value for money and decent quality. Don't try cheap tools; you will damage them, damage the things you are working on and may damage yourself.


Oli.

 

[Mike_Pollock]

Plus one on the above HP tools are fine, I like and use my ramps quite a bit, but you need ones with a shallow angle or a couple of 3ft pieces of wood.
My no is in my Sig too.

 

[edh]

Don't forget clarks-garage.com - an invaluable reference tool []

The steel jacks in costco are excellent very low and ~ £70. Not very portable but much better than the machine mart products.

 

[chrisjcoe]

Thanks guys, some good info here. I bought a DVM a few weeks ago to get my girlfriend's reverse light (on the car, not her) working before her driving test, awesome tool! She thought I was a bit of a loser when I started testing batteries...... I fear it's going to be used heavily when working out 23 years of alarms, immobilisers, aerials, cd multi-changes, and all the other random wires which seem to be unused or just cut off and left!

 

[chrisjcoe]

Plus one on the above HP tools are fine, I like and use my ramps quite a bit, but you need ones with a shallow angle or a couple of 3ft pieces of wood.

Getting the car up on ramps is the main problem. At the moment it's parked on crushed granite. I'd have to anchor the ramps to the ground and hope they don't move when driving the car up!

 

[PSH]

I occasionally use ramps and have always needed two people to foot the ramps for me, as Mike says you need some pieces of wood as the angle on most ramps doesn't suit our cars.

Pete

 

[944 man]

I have the largest Halfords Advanced tool set (replaced Professional about five years ago) to which I added a 1/2" set of metric sockets, as most of the sockets youll use everyday are actually 3/8" in this set. I have a torque wrench from Machine Mart, as theyre far cheaper than Halfords and no less accurate I suspect - an accurate torque wrench comes with a certificate, which Halfords dont.

I also have a couple of Halfords Advanced/Professional screwdriver sets, along with Hilka TUV chubby combination spanners, bent head ring spanners and conventional combination spanners 8mm to 24mm (duplication is desirable) and a set of Kamasa pliers.

Off the top of my head I also have: Halfords feeler gauges, large ball pein hammer, small ball pein hammer, club hammer, rubber mallet, Hilka TUV screwdriver set, small file set, telescopic mirror, telescopic magnetic pick-up, long shank security bit set, short shank seciruty bit set, 12v impact driver & sockets, 12" steel rule, small tap & die set, digital multimeter, digital calipers, small pistol grip hand crank drill, variable speed hand drill which can take up to 13mm shank bits, 4.5" grinder with grinding and cutting discs, safety goggles, welding gauntlets, MIG welder, compressor with a 50l receiver, windy gun and impact sockets, 3" cut off saw, air shears, regulators & other air tools (from MIG welder to the air tools are all new and I havent had chance to play with them yet, apart from the 3" cut off saw), Dremel & stand with flexi drive, pry bar, centre punch, LED inspection lamps, soldering iron, pop riveter, mole grips, wheel chocks, axle stands, 2 tonne trolley jack (shortly to be replaced with a proper jack from Costco) and an excessive number of Maglite torches.

Ive also got a breakdown box into which Ive crammed as many breakdown-specific tools as I could, including 1/2" / 3/8ths ratchet, 1/2" sockets, 1/4" sockets, security bit set, ratchet screwdriver, chubby combination spanners, pliers, knife, garden wire, gaffa tape, tie-wraps, tow rope, substantial jump leads, high vis tabbard, work gloves, thick black washing up gloves, cheap digital multimeter, tie downs, ratchet spanners, insulation tape, cigar lighter to cigar lighter charger all in a blow moulded 'attache' case.

Im missing a substantial breaker bar, which I may go and buy later, if I can find my Halfords trade card, and, I think, a 1/4" torque wrench too...

No matter what you have, youll probably have to buy something new for every job that you do!

 

[PSH]

Agree with Simon regarding torque wrenches being as good as each other if not certificated. IMHO the torque wrench is one of the most important tools in a tool set. Believe it or not torque wrenches can vary by as much as 50% inaccuracies when tested, this is bad news particularly if doing engine strip downs. My advice if you intend to do a lot of important work on your car is to get the best that you can, you can't cut corners with this tool. The top digital wrenches are very expensive and certificated but still need periodic re-calibration, I'm lucky, I can use my sons Snap-on which not only reads in ft/lbs and NM's but also reads angles too. Top engine builders will not cut corners here, not only will they have the best wrench but they'll also make sure as to use the correct viscosity lubricant when torquing down main bearing caps etc etc , a thicker type will cause more resistance and hence be under torqued and a thinner type will do the opposite and risk over tightening.


Pete

 

[colin944]

A couple of things I would add to your list.

A good set of spline/allen and torx bits.

A set of irwin bolt removers.( fot getting rounded and rusted bolts out) ( best £40 i ever spent on tools)

 

[chrisjcoe]

How is this for a low, cheap trolley jack?

 

[jdpef356]

First of al get your steering sorted out[&:]

I suggest you read http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=711394&mpage=1&key=&#711394

Thats certainly one to Steer clear of![]

 

[jdpef356]

Essential tool for beginners?

THIS FORUM![]

 

[chrisjcoe]

ORIGINAL: jdpef356



First of al get your steering sorted out[&:]

I suggest you read http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=711394&mpage=1&key=ò­«¢

Thats certainly one to Steer clear of![]

Lol, that's why I'm doing most of the work myself! I seriously could not afford those kind of bills!

What about the trolley jack though, anyone got any opinions on it? Would it be man enough for a 944? The description implies it's a low jack for sports cars, but is that just too cheap to be any good?

 

[zcacogp]

Chris,

Looks fine to me. Says 3 inch height when lowered, so would fit under a 944. And claims a lifting weight of 2 tonnes, which is more than enough. Only snag is that the jack handle can only be used from directly behind; some trolley jacks can have the handle inserted from any direction.

Nonetheless, I'd go for it.


Oli.