I like my Snap On but I only have it because I got a smoking deal on it...I got it and immediately thought I will never use this. Turns out I use it every single day.
Breaker bars...I only use them when I REALLY need something to come loose and honestly I have broken more of them than my big ratchets. As previously stated get them long.
Harbor freight has some decent options for cheap. I have two Matco's one has three rows of drawers and a top section and one has drawers all the way down. The smaller one was 500 used off the truck so I'm sure if you look around used on Clist...
Newer vehicles pads are ceramic OEM. Ceramic is a harder material than the semi-metallic and if they did not update rotor materials then the rotors wear really fast. Several companies have come out with some different alloys that stand up to the ceramics better.
I'm probably gonna catch some fire for this one but I use a Harbor Freight slide hammer set with their axle bearing set...use it probably once a week at work and hasn't broken or failed me yet.
I still have SAE in 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 and 3/4. They don't come out as often as my Metrics but not everyone out here in farm country drives a brand new vehicle...
Define safe...haha. Spray it down obviously but it may come down to slicing it off and grinding around the fuel tank can be done, you just have to be careful. Cover any holes with rags and aim your sparks in a decent direction.
Reading several guys talking about no use for the 1/2 universals. I love mine...I reach for them before any other 1/2" sockets. Great for caliper mounting bracket bolts for one.
Thank you indy. My Matco rep will be here Friday to look at the problem again. I will see about the replacing slides. There are several drawers on the box that are flawless just 4 or 5 that shake horribly.