Whether you’re restoring an old HiLux or a brand new Jeep, you can skip the auto shop or dealer for some of the repairs that need to be done on your vehicle and start performing your own car maintenance. You’ll quickly find out that working on your own car saves you money and more importantly – time, and it gives you the confidence to fix your own vehicle when out on the road and something goes wrong. That being said, you can’t just get the basic toolbox that you use around the house, instead, you should invest in a good car tool. Car tools are very different from general DIY or woodworking tool sets. Without further ado, here’s a list of the suggested tools you should have.
Sockets, Pliers, and Cutters
Sockets, pliers, and cutters are the three car tools you’ll probably use the most. Get a socket set that has all of the metric and imperial sizes drivers and sockets. Other than that, some thin walled sockets and extensions can also be useful in specific situations. Pliers and cutters will let you take on electrical projects, such as wiring headlights, speakers, or a stereo head unit with ease. Get multiple-sized pliers, wire cutters and wire strippers if possible.
Air Compressor
The air compressor is one of the most important tools for car repair and maintenance. You can inflate your tyres with it, blow off cobwebs off old parts, and it can power all of the air power tools you have. When it comes to buying an air compressor, buy the best one you can afford. However, you’ll have to make sure you have enough electricity to properly run it.
Air Tools
Air tools used to be considered a luxury just a couple of years ago, but not anymore. They’re especially beneficial to work with on heavy-duty hardware like suspension because suspension components oftentimes have large bolts and nuts, which means that they require high torque. As a result, you’ll need a lot of muscle power to replace or remove them. Air-powered drills, air-powered wrenches, and ratchets are just some of the air power tools you can get.
Wrenches and Screwdrivers
Last but not least, get wrench and screwdriver sets. The screwdriver set should include a large flathead big enough so that you can use it as a prying tool, and small screwdrivers that you can use for working on delicate electronics. The same goes for buying wrenches – get a set that has different-sized ones. Ratchet wrenches are ideal for car repairs and maintenance, as you don’t need to remove the wrench on every turn.
