tools

[UnderPressure]

hey, im gettin my s14 soon. i need to know what tools im gonna need, im going to get a set of wrenches and screwdrivers and stuff. im also gettin an air compressor and an impact wrench. (Drift tire/wheel changes) anything special i need to have?

[ninjak84]

Here's some things to keep in mind once you're just starting out.

- A roller to lie on, so you can do work under the car.- Big oil pans, to catch drips or to put parts in to leak fluids out.- A tool carpet that drapes on the side of your engine bay. You can rest tools on it while you work without scratching the paint on the fender.

Good luck building up your first set man!

[driftaholic]

i've needed metric sockets and open end wrenches, socket extensions, hex/allen wrenches, spark plug socket, torque wrench, bench vise, assorted screwdrivers, and some others i forget

[astron]

floor jack, jack stands, maybe even a set of ramps, 1/2 inch drive sockets are nice, breaker bars, i wouldnt worry too much about the impact wrench, if you cant change tires with a tire iron and a jack you've got problems (not that an impact doesnt help....but i typically use it on my other car (65 beetle) where bolts are rusted up, not a nice new 240) If you do electrical stuff, get a nice set of wire cutters/crimpers (from craftsman, not cheapo walmart stuff) and a soldering iron with some heat shrink...i really dont recomend walmart/autozone stuff, although there are some things that are just fine (sockets for example, i'm yet to break a walmart socket, but i've broken more than my fair share of cheap ratchets)ast

[UnderPressure]

sweet thanks ya'll. hmmmm. . . . how much is a hydraulic lift? dauntt?

[fiznat]

damn man! a lift?! hahaha take it one step at a time... get a nice socket set (metric and standard), open ended (box) wrenches, and a breaker bar. Also get a nice set of linesman's pliers. They're mostly for electrical work, but I find myself using them ALL the time. Obviously screwdrivers and allen keys too. Pick up some C clamps and some adjustable wrenches as well.... man the list goes on.. Really what I would reccomend is just to buy tools as you need them. No reason to go buy all these things that you might never use. If you find you need somethin, just go buy it, and then you'll have it.

[Syntax360]

ya man, just start with a socket set and buy things as u need them. u'll build a collection after awhile.

[rubburner]

wallyworld has one of the best socket sets i think. it comes with everything you need including both metric and sae sockets (a lot!), and also comes with sparkplug sockets. it's all packaged up nicely in a little bag (that looks a little like a purse, a little too girly for me, but who can complain for the few dollars you put out, i think mine was 10.) no deep sockets though, but you can pick those up at wallyworld also. anyways...yeah, i'd say do what fiznat and syntax said...don't need to buy up everything right away.

[Cyberkreig]

(sockets for example, i'm yet to break a walmart socket, but i've broken more than my fair share of cheap ratchets)

Hey, a Walmart Ratchet saved my life. It was a terrible moment of stupididity while hooking up a battery that resulted in a slight buzz and a shower of sparks. Thank god i was using a tool with a rubber handle.

[ninjak84]

how much is a hydraulic lift? dauntt?

I have a hydraulic lift in my garage We paid around $700 Canadian for it, but my Father used his connections through a local dealorship to get it. It raises the car about 4 feet off the gorund though, and works amazing!

[dilligaph]

dont forget a torque wrench, youll especially use it for tightening your lugs unless you have the proper torque-appropriate attachment for your impact... dont want to warp your rotors.

[Syntax360]

i tried a wallyworld socket set when i first got into cars....those damn things break constantly. Especially the 3/8" -> 1/4" adapter. I bought a Husky set from Home Depot for like $15 more than the wallyworld one and it works great and comes with a lifetime warrenty.

[Silvia007]

Over tightening your lugs could warp rotors???? Wow... didn't know that. No wonder my old rotors went to Sh¿t. :ylsuper

[Mayhem_J30]

go and get your self a craftsman mechanics tool kit from Sears. You'll need metric more then anything. Also, I swear by those ratcheting wrenches now. They make life soooo easy. They get were big sockets/ratchets don't and work just as well. They can replace a good wrench set.

Quote »Over tightening your lugs could warp rotors???? Wow... didn't know that. No wonder my old rotors went to Sh¿t. [/quote] Yup. Start asking shops that might take your wheels off for some reason to retighten those lugs by hand and not to use the power tools/iimpact wrench. It will be inacurate and can cause warping. Tightening those lugs is like tuning a drum.

[Silvia007]

Cool, Thanks, we have a tire rotation bay at work so I'm gonna do that today before my brembo rotors start warp'n!