I am looking to buy a auto repair toolkit. Can any one tell me the most economical and reliable toolkit available in the market. Sears has companion 70 pc toolkit and walmart has stanley toolkits all in the range of 45$ and more.
I like Sears Craftsman, HOme Depot Husky, and Lowes Kobalt. Good warranty on those items.
What type of tools do you want? What are you planning to do?
Do you only need sockets and wrenches? For both, I prefer 6 pt drive tools over 12 pt drive.
Sears has sales on Craftsman tools every week. JUst look on their website often and wait for what you want to go on sale if you're not in a hurry or anything. Their mechanics tool set are good for starters, but if you're only going to be working on your Corolla, all you really need are metric tools. They have metric only tool sets, but they don't go on sale very often.
You can also find Craftsman tools on eBay. The ones with the Sears logo are auctions by Sears as clearance items.
the main purpose for getting tools is to change oil, oil filter, engine gasket, sparkplug change greasing parts, battery change, fixing my rear spoiler, and some minor repairs (as of now). In future i want to work my breaks.
What kind of tools are required for above mentioned work.
Get any cheap set, you don't really want the expensive ones unless you're going to hang them on a wall or something.
Change oil use an oil filter puller and wrench for drain plug.
Engine gasket use wrenches (10mm?) or ratchet ones.
Spark plug of course get a spark plug removing tool.
Battery change just use the ones above.
Spoiler--depends on how you install spoiler.
Get a set of wrenches from 7mm up to around 15mm or so. Get a goodsize toolbox too while you're at it.
I would get the one which suits your needs best, and since I don't know what you need exactly (what size in mm wrenches you need, what tools you don't have yet, etc) it's your call. You know what you need, if not then look up your car for what you need.
Ask yourself what size wrenches does the car need? Usually they're within 10mm, plus/minus a few. Do you need deep socket wrenches? Do you need box wrenches more than sockets? It's your call, really.
Also make sure you get tools that are right for your needs. Metric measurements are different from US measurements.
celica2004,
What happens with automotive tools is that you are always finding that you need another wrench or socket. As to what makes a good tool kit to carry in the car with you, I don't know. As to tools you keep in your shop to work on cars, I have the following observations: Buy one of those rolling tool cabinets with a section of drawers on top. Think about how neat and organized you are. When you work on a car you will be taking sockets on and off the wrench. If you pile the sockets in a jar or drawer you will spend much of your time looking for the right one. But if you have a case or strap to organize the sockets and it is hard to press the sockets in it, then you won't use it and the sockets will be disorganized anyway. For the shop, I prefer the open trays that have semi-cylinders for storing sockets. You can buy sets of sockets like this at Autozone and Sears sells a magnetized version, the tray alone. I think Sears has the best ratchet drives and breaker bars. As to sockets, Sears sockets are good but so are the Autozone ("Great Neck") brand and the work well with the sears drivers. Get sockets where the size is written on them in big letters. The old fashioned Sears Craftsman sockets with the tiny thin letters are a nuisance. If you buy sockets from Sears get their new type. If you are working only on Toyota cars, you won't have much use for the non-metric sockets. They will just be in the way.
If you buy tools in a case, consider what is going to happen if you accidently have the case upside down when you open it. With some cases, this dumps all the tools in a jumbled pile. Others are more forgiving.
Last edited by tashirosgt; 09-11-2005 at 07:40 PM.
celica2004,
If you buy tools in a case, consider what is going to happen if you accidently have the case upside down when you open it. With some cases, this dumps all the tools in a jumbled pile. Others are more forgiving.
At the auto workshop here, they have a set of Blackhawk sockets and even the slightest tilt of the case causes the sockets to pile up inside the case. It's extremely annoying.
I have a 60 something piece set Craftsman Mechanic's Tool Set. In the two years I have had it, not once have I ever even use the inch sockets since I only work on my Camry and my Celica. On my cars, the most used sizes are 10mm, 12mm, 14mm, 17mm, and 19mm sockets. 8mm is used here and there, but not as much and 19mm I've only used for the wheels. The others are used very seldomly. I think the spark plug socket included with the kit was the wrong size too, it is 5/8" while my plugs are 13/16". The 3" extension was too short to get to them anyhow.
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