as a diesel mechanic i cant stress enough on how you need to get good tools even if at first you cant buy alot of em. torques wrenches are built on accuracy so dont cheap out...get something that can be rechecked by your tool dealer( ie mac snap on matco) i personally go for mac and snap on they replace anything that is broken pretty much no questions asked. but for our cars def need a set of wrenches metric and standard 1/4"-11/4 will do it 1/2 inch and 3/8 drive sockets in basically same sizes, a 1/2 inch impact is probably the only air tool other than maybe and air hammer id use...seems to me air ratches get you into more trouble than its worth get a big sledge hammer and cut down the handle is good for breakin stuff loose like ball joints and such. pry bars(not screw drivers) are a must.you standard set of screwdrivers. now thesocketsget whateverbrand you feel but on ratches dont goanything below craftsman and even they try to get snap on or mac. and you dont neccisarily have to get impact sockets just play dumb when returning your sockets if they have the warranty and say you did it with a breaker bar or somthing along those lines butif you can afford it def get deepimpact sockets, magnetic pickup tools are handy as are little mirrors. the list could go on and on but one of the tools i use the most are my metric and standard ratcheting wrenches. they get into some tight spots and are quick but that pretty much sums it up on my end..and remember anti seaze and locktite when used correctly are amazing

 

Hi05IDAHOGT,

For most non-professional mechanics Craftsmen tools are more than they will ever need. If you feel you need or want topay more for your toolsfully polished Craftsmentools are gaining shelfspace in the stores and pages in the Craftsmen catalog. But be prepared toinvest $2,000-$3,000 in hand tools if you go the shiney route. The fully polished Craftsmen tools nowlook just like Snap-On, Mac or Matco tools at1/4-1/3the price. I've owned a full set of Snap-On automotive tools and have alwayskept a pretty complete set in a Craftsmen roll-away out in the garage at home. To be honest I like the shiney looks of the Snap-On stuff but they are no more reliable and work no better than the Craftsmen tools I kept at home. I also like the fact thatover the last 35 years of using Craftsmen tools at home I have traded out the whole set at least twice and never paid a penny of had any problem getting a new tool in exchange fo the old tool and usually they have improved them over time.

Air tools are another matter and even the best IR guns fail whenever it'sinconvenient. It is hard for me to justify keeping $500-$600 in a couple of IR impacts guns at home so I settle for $400 in 2-3 Craftsmen guns and another $100in Craftsmen air wrenches which truth be told mostly don't get used much because I'm not in such a big hurry that I am willing to put up with the noise they make. Of course being Craftsmen anytime they poop out re act qweid I just get a new one at the local Sears store.

The picture of the split-beam torque wrench is a PI/Snap-On tool. These are great and FAST to use but the thing is too long IMO for much of the work on and under a car. Out side of the car on a workbench split-beam is the way to go for assembly where you have to approach torque in 3-4 steps. I like myPI split-beambut had to buy a micrometer type 3/8" torque wrench to get intoa lot of spots under the car.

I love my ratching wrenches from Gearwrench! Many moons ago I used to use own multiple sets of combination wrenches and a set of matching boxes for the back end of the fasteners but always wished they madebox wrenches thatratcheted. Fast forward 20 years and they started making them but they cost a freaking fortune. Fast forward another 10 years and while not exactly cheap you can buy fairly complete sets of metric and SAE ratchting wrenches at very fair prices. So I jumped off and bought several sets as they goon sale and man they are handier than my old boxes and combinations especially if you get a set of flex heads in the mix. I gave all of my box wrenches to my best friend along withthe most popular metric and SAE wrenche sets I used to use on the other end of the fasteners. I must have replaced 35 wrenches with 12-15 standard ratcheting wrenches and they save time to boot! Good stuff!

HTH!