If you want to start working on your own vehicle and have never really got into it before, or always went to a shop. Chances are you do not have tools to repair and maintain your biggest and most volatile investment, your vehicle. In this article I am going to show you what makes a great automotive tool kit and also recommend a few of my favorites.
The Basics
Lets start from scratch and say you know very little about working on vehicles and you need something to get your feet wet. In this example we will be performing an oil change, the most entry level task you can perform on any car. The main tools associated with a general oil change are; wrench, socket, ratchet, oil filter wrench, and drain pan.
Instead of buying all these tools individually, which lets be honest can be confusing and you end up spending more money in the long run. You can buy a kit that has everything you might need for this project and future en devours as well.
What to look for in your first tool kit
A good automotive tool kit will have at least everything in the picture above. You want something you can throw in your trunk and not worry about missing the right 3/8 extensions or Allen keys or even channel locks. Tool kits are designed to be simple so you do not have to figure out what you need and collect every item one by one.
The case matters. But what does that mean? It means you want a case that is portable yet durable and a case that has a refined latching system, because trust me the last thing you want is your tool box to fly open the second you have to slam on the brakes. Most companies use a hard plastic composite as the portable case, which is fine, but like I said as long as it has a very good latching system you will be set.
For most applications, a general set of tools will get you through almost any job, but there are some things to look for when deciding what general tools you need in your tool box;
- SAE (the Society of Automotive Engineers) or Metric
- What type of socket is included with your kit (SAE,metric,torx bit, impact sockets, driver sockets, pass through sockets, spark plug sockets, etc)
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Does it come with screw drivers, Allen keys, pliers, channel locks, ratchets, adjustable wrench, and driver bits
- What size is the drive of the ratchets
- Decide the application in which the tools will be used. For example most vehicles in America use SAE.
What I recommend for beginners
I recommend the Crescent 170pc General purpose tool set. This is a set that you can bring anywhere with you and used to do the bulk of any major car repair or maintenance work. This kit has 5 major features I love about it;
- The case has 4 latching clips and an improved blow mold case.
- It has Allen keys which, something you think you don’t need until you do.
- It has a lifetime warranty.
- Comes with three separate drive ratchets, 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2.
- Off corner loading design, this provides a stronger grip on fasteners and reduces rounding.
In Conclusion
Buying a tool kit is a great way to save money and time. They can come with everything you need in a box. When deciding what tool kit works best for you and your situation make sure you also put your skill level into play, you want to feel comfortable with what you are doing. For beginners, I recommend the Crescent 170 Pc. General Purpose Tool Set – Closed Case.
