First Experience with Vim Tools Ends in Dissappointment

[pubhopper]

In my research for performing an upcoming brake job on a relative's 2020 Subaru Crosstrek, I learned that the front caliper upper bracket bolt can be a challenge because of the accessibility of the bolt, and removal can be difficult if the car sees much snow (rust concerns). I had discovered niche sockets for specific application on Subaru front caliper upper bracket bolts such as the Snap On RIPLMS19C, and further googling led me to the Vim BCS819 (pictured) which performs the same job at half the cost of the Snap On. I've heard mostly positive reviews of Vim tools, but personally never owned any. I am not a pro, just a DIY'er on my own cars and friends' and families'.




Using a combination of a Milwaukee 2563 impact and the Vim socket, I was impressed with how it was able to remove the driver side upper caliper bracket bolt with ease and the fit of the socket was perfect in the unusual space requirements for impacting the upper bracket bolt on Subarus. We moved on to the passenger side bracket and it would not remove the bolt after a couple of seconds of hitting with the impact. We realized the socket shaft no longer had any wobble or movement and was locked up in the position pictured. We ended up using a 19mm XL DBE to complete the removal of the bolt instead.

I hardly ever use universal/wobble impact sockets but have had a set of Astro Pneumatic 78244 for a couple of years now and have not had any issues in the few times I've used those sockets. I realize this class of socket fulfills specific scenarios and is not necessarily an everyday socket, nor is it the sturdiest for longevity, but I feel single use for the Vim is quite extreme. For now I will give them the benefit of doubt and chalk it up to being a dud socket, but will now have to test their warranty process.

 

[four.cycle]

^ Well... hopefully you won't have any big problems getting a warranty replacement.

 

[T45]

In hind-sight, Is it worth getting the snap-on impact socket for this job?
or. put another way, does using your XL DBE from the start for this job have any downsides?

 

[1Bad55Chevy]

3 things can be learned from this post...

1. Don't buy Subaru
2. VIM sells novelty tools
3. Don't live in snow states

 

[RTM]

things can be learned from this post...

1. Don't buy Subaru

I've been looking at a Subaru for my next car, but the number of weird things going wrong that I only hear about here really scare me.

 

[Callelle]

3 things can be learned from this post...

1. Don't buy Subaru
2. VIM sells novelty tools
3. Don't live in snow states

I was on the verge of buying a Crosstrek but caliper bolts and the CVTs were always big on my negatives. Dunno if I ended up doing better by buying a Countryman, though so far I love it.

This thread just further convinces me that VIM just sells imported gimmicky junk. Hopefully they don't give you an issue warrantying it, did you buy it directly from VIM or from a 3rd party? I'm pretty sure they still make you pay to ship it to them and back unless you buy directly from them (at near snap on level jacked up prices).

 

[pubhopper]

In hind-sight, Is it worth getting the snap-on impact socket for this job?
or. put another way, does using your XL DBE from the start for this job have any downsides?

If I knew for sure that the vehicle in question hadn't seen snow it's entire life, I would forego the impact socket entirely knowing an XL DBE would suffice.

If it was my personal vehicle or if I knew I'd be doing this job several times in quick succession, I wouldn't hesitate to get the Snap On. But since that's not the case, I wanted to keep his costs low, but still have as high of a success rate for job completion, having never done the brakes on this make of car and not knowing what to expect. I only have positive experiences with chrome Snap On flank drive sockets, and have no reservations to expect the same from their impact sockets (I use mostly Grey Pneumatic impacts).

As I understand it, the extent of corrosion impacting the bolt would be the determining factor of removal difficulty. Luckily, the underside of this particular vehicle didn't show an appreciable amount of corrosion despite several snow seasons.

So it depends...

 

[ecotec]

Years ago (before Covid), I bought every Matco tool that VIM had in the clearance section of their website.

It was mostly non-impact chrome bit sockets, and they have been great.

None are broken, but I wonder if Matco would warranty them. In theory, they would not know that they were not bought from Matco.

 

[pubhopper]

...This thread just further convinces me that VIM just sells imported gimmicky junk. Hopefully they don't give you an issue warrantying it, did you buy it directly from VIM or from a 3rd party?...

Directly from their site. Can't find anyone else that carries such a niche tool.

 

[pubhopper]

3 things can be learned from this post...

1. Don't buy Subaru
2. VIM sells novelty tools
3. Don't live in snow states

I told him he couldn't pay me enough money to do a spark plug job on his car.

 

[mikey03]

Ha I just saw the vim bros showing off this socket set on there YouTube a couple weeks ago. Not alot of tool content on there so I watch vim bros sometimes when I’m bored but I doubt I’d buy any of there stuff anymore.

 

[Pontiac787]

You can do the same job with an Astro nano socket and an extension of your choice. As far as spark plugs, Tone has a specific set for the flat 4.

 

[pubhopper]

You can do the same job with an Astro nano socket and an extension of your choice. As far as spark plugs, Tone has a specific set for the flat 4.

I hear Tone is top quality for the cost. I was considering their XL DBE's but ultimately went with a set of KTC M160's. Appreciate the heads up on the spark plug set.

 

[drokihazan]

I only have had bad experiences with VIM tools. Not a fan.

 

[William Payne]

3 things can be learned from this post...

1. Don't buy Subaru
2. VIM sells novelty tools
3. Don't live in snow states

I remember when a Subaru was the ski bum vehicle of choice.

 

[cgrutt]

Is the VIM socket actually impact rated? Just says Universal Socket on their website.

 

[milky2k]

I did a Crosstrek brake job once. I had to use my foot on a long double box wrench to break it loose. That socket would have come in handy. It would be interesting if they made a universal with an extension so that you can use your own socket. Anyway, hope this one was just a one off dud and VIM replaces it without hassle.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

Years ago (before Covid), I bought every Matco tool that VIM had in the clearance section of their website.

It was mostly non-impact chrome bit sockets, and they have been great.

None are broken, but I wonder if Matco would warranty them. In theory, they would not know that they were not bought from Matco.

Unless I’m mistaken all the VIM stuff sold via Matco has Matco’s logo or name on it. That would be the dead giveaway for denying warranty.

 

[ecotec]

Unless I’m mistaken all the VIM stuff sold via Matco has Matco’s logo or name on it. That would be the dead giveaway for denying warranty.

I was wondering if Matco would warranty it, not VIM. I figure that any Matco guy would have no idea that it was not bought off a truck.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

I was wondering if Matco would warranty it, not VIM. I figure that any Matco guy would have no idea that it was not bought off a truck.

Oh yeah man, you should be gravy. Though they may swap it out with their ADV line if VIM isn’t supplying them anymore. I misread and thought you had the VIM branded ones.

 

[ecotec]

Oh yeah man, you should be gravy. Though they may swap it out with their ADV line if VIM isn’t supplying them anymore. I misread and thought you had the VIM branded ones.

For a good while, VIM had a lot of tools on the clearance page of their website. I would have to guess that it was at the end of VIM’s relationship with Matco. I bought a good bit of it. What I have used of it has held up great. The TorxPlus in my last post has not even been touched… but, the long Allen bit sockets have held up great.

Of course, they did not have the long bit sockets in regular Torx… those are probably among the most used and warrantied out. I rarely ever use TorxPlus.

Here are some VIM cutters that you can find under many different brands.

 

[Wrench-Polisher]

I like subarus, I wanted to buy one and I did all the researxh on the maintenance schedule for a crosstrek and cost of wear parts.
Honestly it was a bit much and I went with looking at a Toyota camry (they are all hybrids now)

Edit: clarification, by a bit much I dont even mean the cost I mean the time and effort to service the ******, engine, differentials and so on. Its "easy" but its a lot.

 

[Chipm]

I told him he couldn't pay me enough money to do a spark plug job on his car.

Crosstrek plugs should take about 35 minutes, no big deal. Wobble socket on a wobble extension.

 

[L.Cheapo]

Crosstrek plugs should take about 35 minutes, no big deal. Wobble socket on a wobble extension.

If only the wheel bearings and ball joints lasted as long as the plugs do.

 

[dnschmidt]

When VIM was cheap they were a bargain. When they became expensive they became dead to me. Overpriced for what they are is my view of the current VIM.

 

[CGarage]

When VIM was cheap they were a bargain. When they became expensive they became dead to me. Overpriced for what they are is my view of the current VIM.

I agree with this. I have a few sets of VIM tools, but they have overpriced themselves relative to the market and the quality to cost ratio is negative in my opinion.

They sell Asian manufactured tools and rebrand them as VIM- but at a significant profit margin that exceeds the value of the product- sometimes available elsewhere.
This was not always so. In years past, when VIM was less well known, the pricing was more reasonable.

 

[Wrench-Polisher]

Yeah thats the thing. Nobody is willing to pay a premium for Taiwanese tools when you can get them directly from the factory.
I give props to VIM they do come up with their own stuff and now make US made stuff so there is that.

 

[ecotec]

Yeah thats the thing. Nobody is willing to pay a premium for Taiwanese tools when you can get them directly from the factory.
I give props to VIM they do come up with their own stuff and now make US made stuff so there is that.

I hear people pretty consistently talk about the VIM socket rails like they are the be all and end all of socket rails.

 

[rust in the eye]

I was wondering if Matco would warranty it, not VIM. I figure that any Matco guy would have no idea that it was not bought off a truck.

I'll go out on a limb and say maybe: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...ustomer-service-experience-from-matco.556611/

 

[Steve_P]

As far as cars, Subaru won the Consumer Reports most reliable vehicle last year. And this is because they basically sell two cars: The Ascent, and everything else- which is essentially the same vehicle. Sure, the Crosstrek, Outback, Forester aren't the same, but they are; with just different sheet metal, glass, a modified window regulator that the other models use.... They're all 95% essentially the same mechanically, even if 60% of the parts don't interchange. Which is how Subaru makes $ and has a dedicated customer base. And lesbians love Outbacks LOL!

I've changed brakes on an Outback before, and no special tools needed for a DIYer. I don't remember what I used, maybe just a box end wrench, but it's not like I spent even 5 minutes to get a caliper off, or I'd remember it.

My point isn't that the VIM tool isn't junk it's just that:
Subarus are good cars
You don't need anything special to remove a Subaru caliper unless you're flat rate and need to save time.
My VIM bit sockets are awesome

 

[Cruzan80]

Try again. The Crosstrek and Impreza match up (and the Forester is the same frame underneath). The Legacy and the Outback are the same.

The tool listed isn't to change brake pads, but rather the caliper bracket bolt.

Snap-on System Upgrade

 

[L.Cheapo]

As far as cars, Subaru won the Consumer Reports most reliable vehicle last year.

Toyota. They also said BMW is #5 and Nissan is #6. Both more reliable than Acura. Any mechanic on the job more than a week will quickly point out that fallacy.

You have to read the fine print:
"Of course, this is only a prediction, and these scores are not a guarantee of the reliability of any individual car."

Forecasting car reliability today, taste testing frozen pizzas tomorrow.

 

[RTM]

Toyota. They also said BMW is #5 and Nissan is #6. Both more reliable than Acura. Any mechanic on the job more than a week will quickly point out that fallacy.

You have to read the fine print:
"Of course, this is only a prediction, and these scores are not a guarantee of the reliability of any individual car."

Forecasting car reliability today

I always love that certain cars win "most reliable" when new, but three years later are on the "Don't Buy" used car list (i.e. Audi a decade to three decades ago)

 

[Roger.donaldston]

I owned a 2017 outback limited with the 3.6r motor for a few years. While almost everything about it was great, I failed to put enough time driving it before buying, and the cvt transmission was absolutely terrible. The cvt combined with the collision avoidance that needed to be turned off every time you start the car got me in some bad situations trying to pull out into heavy traffic. You put your foot down and literally count to 2-3 seconds before it starts to move at all. Completely negated the power of the 3.6 the times you need it most.

 

[Chipm]

Crosstrek plugs should take about 35 minutes, no big deal. Wobble socket on a wobble extension.

I will correct myself. Did an Outback with the turbo today and it took 42 minutes. But, I dropped a coil bolt and had to go digging for it.

 

[Chipm]

Try again. The Crosstrek and Impreza match up (and the Forester is the same frame underneath). The Legacy and the Outback are the same.

The tool listed isn't to change brake pads, but rather the caliper bracket bolt.

Snap-on System Upgrade

He is correct in that it is a flat-rate tool. You can remove the caliper bolt with a chrome socket and short extension.

 

[Chipm]

I owned a 2017 outback limited with the 3.6r ... You put your foot down and literally count to 2-3 seconds before it starts to move at all.

That sounds like something was amiss. I work on a bunch of the 3.6s and they scoot.

 

[Cruzan80]

He is correct in that it is a flat-rate tool. You can remove the caliper bolt with a chrome socket and short extension.

When I tried, the only thing that could fit was a box-end wrench. Normal sockets couldn't get past the obstruction (chrome or impact), hence the shallow part along with the swivel from SnapOn. This was only for half of them (IIRC, fronts). The other half is easily accessible.

So not really a "flat-rate" tool, unless you mean that you could remove a lot of other stuff to gain access if you had to ...

 

[JradM]

I haven't worked on that car so maybe there's a reason this wouldn't work - but if an XL DBE wrench fit, I would just put it on the fastener and hit the other end with a non-marring deadblow hammer. You generate so much leverage and shock force doing that I cannot imagine a need for a specialty impact socket.

 

[Chipm]

When I tried, the only thing that could fit was a box-end wrench. Normal sockets couldn't get past the obstruction (chrome or impact), hence the shallow part along with the swivel from SnapOn. This was only for half of them (IIRC, fronts). The other half is easily accessible.

So not really a "flat-rate" tool, unless you mean that you could remove a lot of other stuff to gain access if you had to ...

I did three sets last week. Socket, 3" extension, breaker bar. No sweat.