Quote:
Originally Posted by JBend
Soooo I've now got a solid little list of projects I'm planning to DIY in the next month or so and in my documents on my phone I'm keeping track of all my parts/projects and tools needed. Now I've got the basics, ratchets, sockets, screw drivers, pliers etc. But I was wanting to start a thread for the tools people may not commonly have that are extremely useful, for common projects like brakes, control arms, suspension, repairs here and there. This could be a flop of thread or could be nice. We shall see.
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3/8" drive hex and torx drive sockets are handy in a lot of spots, such as sway bar links.
Also some long t-handle hex drivers can save some time in the right spots.
I haven't had a need to test them yet, but I got a set of ratcheting open-end wrenches (craftsman) when OSH was closing that would have been handy for a job I'd done before buying them.
Flex-end ratcheting box wrenches are great if you can justify the cost of a set, otherwise just a 10 and 14 mm will tackle most of what you'll encounter where they're handy.
Hollow shaft nut drivers will speed up a lot of jobs.
Another very handy tool, especially for a traveling kit (where it replaces a set of nut drivers) is a spinner handle with a socket on the tail end. I haven't been able to find one in 3/8" at a reasonable price lately (a long extension with a knurled section is almost as good), but they're common in 1/4" drive.
If you look around on Amazon, there are some places that'll occasionally sell some sets of various 10mm sockets at very reasonable prices (no matter how many sets you have, you can always use more 10mm sockets in the drawer).
An insulated 1/4" ratchet handle is always good to have for wiring/battery work, and one almost comically large flat-head screwdriver, preferably with a square shaft, can do the job of a number of specialty tools in a trail kit at a fraction of the space.
Spring compressors if you're planning to do much suspension work yourself.