I took my wife’s car into the dealership for a warranty a few weeks ago and while they were checking stuff, they said the car needed 1300 dollars of work (piston soak and replace some transmission parts). I ended up doing the soak with my grandpa and took it to a shop for the transmission (wasnt even an issue, just a rivot replacement on a wheel well cover) and ended up saving 700 dollars after accounting for tools, jacks, jack stands, etc.

I want to start working on my own cars for things that can be done easily without expensive specialized tools, and I might be buying a house in the next year. I just want to start getting a decent collection of tools to hopefully save money in the long run.

I currently have a huge range of screwdrivers, soldering equipment, plyer set, socket set, file set, wire cutters and a small tool kit with some misc stuff.

I am mainly looking towards a torque wrench and a good spanner/wrench set, but looking for suggestions on what to get. Holding off on power tools until I wrap my head around brands and batteries.

  • A_Union_of_Kobolds@lemmy.world
    0·
    5 months ago

    If you’ve got sockets, wrenches, pliers, and screwdrivers you’re 90% there. Get an impact driver, you can use one for pretty much anything with the right bits. I buy DeWalt or Milwaukee power tools in the US personally, but it doesn’t matter much. You won’t be using it all day every day, dropping it off scissor lifts, etc like I do.

    A good set of jacks will go a long way. And start collecting flashlights.

      • MetalAirship@lemmy.world
        0·
        5 months ago

        I have one of those harbor freight Daytona 3 ton low profile ones that I really like. Also let me introduce you to the Project Farm channel on YouTube, he does non-biased scientifically fair comparisons of lots of different kinds of tools including jacks and jack stands.

        • Edgarallenpwn@midwest.socialOPEnglish
          1·
          16 days ago

          Late response now that I have some more money to work with but thanks! Tbh most of my tools are harbor freight and I don’t think I need anything else for my usecase. Grandpa bought a dewalt set as he’s tearing his deck down to build a pavilion. He told me to stop buying stuff and handed me a 70s craftsman tool box filled with most stuff I need and said to just use his power tools

          • MetalAirship@lemmy.world
            1·
            15 days ago

            If we’re talking hand tools, those 70s tools will be the best you ever use. In my experience the whole “they don’t make em like they used to” thing very much applies to tools. Nothing wrong with harbor freight tools though as long as you have realistic expectations. If nothing else, they are a good “trial run” to see how much you actually use it and if it’s worth getting an actually nice one.