What do buy for my toolbox

[dieseluser07]

I currently have nothing in my toolbox and want to start doing suspension work/brakes/engine oil change and other basic jobs.

So ive bought.

Axle stands
Trolley jack (plus a rubber puck to spread weight when using the pinch weld)
Torque wrench 1/2 inch
1/2 inch breaker bar
1/2 inch socket set and ratchet
3/8 socket set and ratchet
Spring compressors
Hex keys
Ratchet spanners maybe??

Anything else i may need?

Is an impact wrench essential do you think?

[steveo3002]

irwin bolt grippers

flare spanners ...for brake lines etc

general stuff for dealing with rounded fasteners ...hammer and sharp chisel , good set of drills etc

[finlo]

dieseluser07 said:

I currently have nothing in my toolbox and want to start doing suspension work/brakes/engine oil change and other basic jobs.

So ive bought.

Axle stands
Trolley jack (plus a rubber puck to spread weight when using the pinch weld)
Torque wrench 1/2 inch
1/2 inch breaker bar
1/2 inch socket set and ratchet
3/8 socket set and ratchet
Spring compressors
Hex keys
Ratchet spanners maybe??

Anything else i may need?

Is an impact wrench essential do you think?

I still find it odd that socket sets come in 1/4 1/2 3/4 inch drive etc when the other of them are metric.

[overunder12g]

Agree Finlo.
Currently restoring both British and Japanese bikes. Thread and bolt sizes annoyingly different and some do not fit either sizes.
Very frustrating!

[DaveGib]

Decent screwdriver set
Wire brush
File set
Good quality hacksaw and blades
Hammers

Good starter set for sockets is the bigger Halfords pro tool set. Sockets ratchets spanner’s included. Spanner sizes are slightly limited.

[Ynox]

Molegrips (nut fkers)

3/8" breaker bar

I'd not recommend getting spring compressors until you know a bit more about what you're doing. Garages aren't too expensive to do a spring and there's a load of energy in one if it goes off and you haven't put the spring compressors on it properly!

[DuraAce]

Buy cheap, buy twice.

You don't need snap on but nor do you want to be buying the cheapest junk from the local market stall.

Impact wrench? Not essential but you'll wonder how you ever managed without one once you have one. Not expensive, particularly if you already have power tools from dewalt, makita etc

[dieseluser07]

What is likely the most used ratchet size for suspension/brakes? 1/2 or 3/8

[steveo3002]

you want 1/2" for most brakes

i tend to use my long flexi ratchets alot ...bit more leverage for stubborn bolts

[JZZ30]

Torque wrench?
Blow torch?

[DaveGib]

dieseluser07 said:

What is likely the most used ratchet size for suspension/brakes? 1/2 or 3/8

Buy a set off both. As above buy decent quality Halfords pro range etc. At least then when you need a bit extra leverage on the ratchet or spanner. You have some hope it isn’t just going to smash the first time.

Also a work bench beside your tool box with a decent size vice comes in pretty handy.

[steveo3002]

make sure you have some 6 sided sockets and only use those when a fastener looks rusty or worse for wear , much less chance of rounding it off

[guards red]

If you have a garage I find a vice essential. And some good portable lighting.

[dave_s13]

Overalls
Decent gloves

If you're outside on your drive then a old carpet offcut can be useful for kneeling and laying down on.

I also use an offcut of marine ply to sit the jack and axle stands on so it doesnt bugger my drive.

A gazebo can be handy too if your without a garage.

Wish I had a proper garage!

[burnsdavies]

a good size crow /pry bar very handy for when work ing on suspension

[steveo3002]

telescopic magnet and mirror can be had for a couple of quid and come in handy

[dieseluser07]

steveo3002 said:

make sure you have some 6 sided sockets and only use those when a fastener looks rusty or worse for wear , much less chance of rounding it off

Ive always wondered, why are most socket sets 12 point? When 6 point are much better for removing nuts which is their sole job to do?

[227bhp]

dieseluser07 said:

I currently have nothing in my toolbox and want to start doing suspension work/brakes/engine oil change and other basic jobs.

So i've bought.

Axle stands
Trolley jack (plus a rubber puck to spread weight when using the pinch weld)
Torque wrench 1/2 inch
1/2 inch breaker bar
1/2 inch socket set and ratchet
3/8 socket set and ratchet
Spring compressors
Hex keys
Ratchet spanners maybe??

Anything else i may need?

Is an impact wrench essential do you think?

I wouldn't buy a 1/2" socket set and ratchet or breaker bar. On a budget get a 3/8 set and a 1/2" sliding T bar or even better a 3/4 Tbar. The 3/8 set will get 80% of what you need, the Tbar is stronger than a breaker bar and can be used to loosen something which is very tight then take it the rest of the way with the 3/8. You'll just need a couple of reducers to go from 1/2 to 3/8 etc.
Google 'Broken breaker bar', they're inherently flawed in that they have long handles which give you good leverage - more than the knuckle can cope with which is where they always break.
That's why they're called breaker bars

[jas xjr]

A torch. Most jobs can be made easier if you can see what you are doing. Over the years I have found my slide hammer invaluable. I do more dig than mechanics but I have found I never have enough clamps

[227bhp]

Yes definitely torches or handlamps. The magnetic rechargeable angle hand lamp things are very useful. For torches see the appropriate thread. I used it to find a Chinese vendor doing 6 or 8 packs of small metal LED ones for something silly like £2 each or so, I just leave them lying all over the place, so no matter where I am I have a torch to hand, admittedly not something you'll have problems with if you're just doing the odd job on one car, but something to consider.