Automotive Specialty Tool Brands

[awellman]

Hello all,

With an overwhelming amount of brands that carry automotive specialty tools i wanted to get your insight on what is quality and what is not. When i go searching for a special tool, lets use a brake caliper tool kit for example, there are dozens of companies that sell what looks to be the same exact product with their brands sticker on the box.

My question is, what brands can i trust? Which brands are not just cheap Chinese knock offs.

Thanks

 

[2ndGearRubber]

If you're referring to the generic brake caliper wind back tools and the like, it's all the same kit, likely the same factory. Blow molded cases are identical.

What's your intended usage, home or professional? I've had the same harbor freight wind back tool for 5 plus years, still makes me money, haven't found a reason to upgrade.

 

[anndel]

Astro Pneumatic/Astro Tools, OTC, Lisle, Lang, Posi-lock, just to name a few.

I have and used the Astro Caliper Wind-back tool and it's awesome.

 

[awellman]

This is 100% DIY'er at home use. I have bought a few Schwaben tools since i just add them to my cart when i'm getting parts for a particular job on my Audi. I'm assuming these are just re branded like the rest?

As far as Astro. i have an Astro DA and love it. but for their specialty they look identical as well to all the other re branded items. Are they different?

 

[2ndGearRubber]

This is 100% DIY'er at home use. I have bought a few Schwaben tools since i just add them to my cart when i'm getting parts for a particular job on my Audi. I'm assuming these are just re branded like the rest?

As far as Astro. i have an Astro DA and love it. but for their specialty they look identical as well to all the other re branded items. Are they different?

Some are, some aren't. I can say in general, if astro sells it, it's of good quality. I have their pressuretester, lights, carbide burrs, etc. They have a rep on here to, so if you have issues, they're easy to contact.

 

[WWheeler]

Some of them look the same, but are not. A good example are some of Astro Pneumatic tools, like their ball joint press or LED work light pictured below alongside a cheap knockoff (just 2 of many examples), that look almost identical but definitely are not.

 

[awellman]

I do see a difference now in the cases. Assuming Astro is made in Taiwan? Just a different manufacturer?

 

[WWheeler]

I do see a difference now in the cases. Assuming Astro is made in Taiwan? Just a different manufacturer?

Astro's rep on GJ would best answer any questions like that, but I have seen some of his posts where Astro has had their cases occasionally redesigned, not just the tools, just to try to stay a step ahead to try to differentiate themselves from the knockoffs.

 

[ReggieR]

I do see a difference now in the cases. Assuming Astro is made in Taiwan? Just a different manufacturer?

It's the same guys. Different specifications like comparing Grizzly, Jet,Baileigh etc.

 

[WWheeler]

It's the same guys. Different specifications like comparing Grizzly, Jet,Baileigh etc.

There's a BIG difference between some of Astros tools and the knockoffs that look identical to them. The few I've used, like Astros ball joint press or FWD wheel bearing adapter set, etc, are good tools that can actually handle it. The knockoffs that look just like them, and I've wasted money on them too, get screwed up on first use like HFs junk. They may look identical in a picture, even right down to the cases, but when you pick one of each up you can feel the difference immediately. And when you go to use them you'll see the difference. I don't know what differentiates their manufacturing processes, but it's obvious the metal is not hardened anything the same.

EDIT:
Here's just one exchange from the Astro thread where the rep tries to point out the differences and issues Astro has with the knockoffs:

Hi Chris,
There are a bunch of Chinese 21 piece ball joint press kits all over eBay for $70. I've used a few before and had problems with the c frame bending and the cups mushrooming. When I look at your 7897 kit, it looks identical -- same exact case, same layout, same adapters and cups, etc. Not to put you on the spot, but how is yours different besides the color of the case?

That's a great question

They look the same because they are copying the current best selling set in the US, ours We're working on changing the case to a smaller form factor to make them have to catch up again.

Mainly the difference is two things:

#1 Cups and plates are made out of a hardened steel rather than just some cut down DOM tubing. So it's still possible to chowder up an adapter if you're not careful, I still do sometimes, but a lot less likely.

#2 The C-Frame from beginning of 2017 on is our own friction forged alloy that to my knowledge no one else is using and it will support an unholy amount of force. I can't say exactly what its rated for now, but you could essentially hang a full loaded 18-wheeler from one and not reach its rating. It should match or best anything directly comparable available anywhere. While our pre-2017 didn't use this alloy it was still a friction forged high carbon steel and bested every other set that looked like it that we tested at the time. And we had no warranty problem with the item when we updated it. We change the c-frame every few years to stay ahead of modern impact wrenches.

If you look at the wording or call these brands selling other kits you get a lot of wacky or vague answers about what their c-frame is made of, what its rated at or how its made. I've heard "forged iron" and "pressed steel."

 

[Wamsutta]

There's a BIG difference between some of Astros tools and the knockoffs that look identical to them.

Ball joint press? I thought Astro was the knockoff for Snap-on.

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

It's the same guys. Different specifications like comparing Grizzly, Jet,Baileigh etc.

In some cases you're absolutely right because we private label our tools for many brands as well, so what you might find under our brand can sometimes be found other places unless that brand has a spec or tolerance they require, which is also common.

In other examples, far from it. In the case of the no apologies knock-off brands founds on apps, ebay and now sometimes Amazon they usually aren't even made in the same country and certainly not the same factory. Rechargeable products perhaps the worst offenders, getting powered by the lowest bidder on an 18650 cell.

When it comes to kits, even if the COO is the same they only really need to make an alike looking product for people to price match side by side. How is a customer supposed to know which is a professional product and which is DIY? You can hardly blame them. And for the guy using it at home buying off Amazon, pressing out 2 ball joints, maybe he's 100% happy with the product. At the end of the day, isn't that the goal?

Our target customer has always been the professional, and with that comes a smaller market. No one can be the only game in town.

Ball joint press? I thought Astro was the knockoff for Snap-on.

I would think OTC owns the title for the original "standard" ball joint kit found today even though our kit is probably of legal drinking age now. We don't always claim to be the first, but we do work towards being the best.

 

[awellman]

Astro,

What can you tell me about your brake caliper wind back tool set? Is this different from the other brands?

 

[jacked_72]

Avoid the Astro 78812 inner tie rod tool. It's a real miss unfortunately.

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

Astro,

What can you tell me about your brake caliper wind back tool set? Is this different from the other brands?

The drive thrust tools are one piece instead of two pieces with a pin or roll pin so those parts have a longer life than normal, other than that pretty much the same as everything else now-a-days.

We make a set with more adapters for later model cars, but unfortunately another brand has an exclusive on it.

Avoid the Astro 78812 inner tie rod tool. It's a real miss unfortunately.

Yeah, for awhile there the tool had grade 5 nuts with something like 40-50% thread engagement. Not an adequate thread fitment for the amount of torque required of those nuts.

 

[awellman]

The drive thrust tools are one piece instead of two pieces with a pin or roll pin so those parts have a longer life than normal, other than that pretty much the same as everything else now-a-days.

We make a set with more adapters for later model cars, but unfortunately another brand has an exclusive on it.



Yeah, for awhile there the tool had grade 5 nuts with something like 40-50% thread engagement. Not an adequate thread fitment for the amount of torque required of those nuts.

What is the brand with the exclusive?

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

What is the brand with the exclusive?

Super secret

 

[awellman]

Super secret

....

 

[anndel]

I do see a difference now in the cases. Assuming Astro is made in Taiwan? Just a different manufacturer?

I have the larger Astro Master Kit and it's made in china, not Taiwan.

 

[WhataTool]

....

I mean it's pretty obvious they wouldn't be able to say. This is a public forum, you're not a couple guys having beers at a bar

 

[awellman]

I mean it's pretty obvious they wouldn't be able to say. This is a public forum, you're not a couple guys having beers at a bar

lol I know, that wasn't supposed to sound rude