Superbec
Well-known member
well you have some valid points ,but they only aply to you , we don't know what qualifications the op has .
btw, I'm not a Dutchman, I'm more like a euro mexican
I just live here ... so no savings
what's missing from my car repair tool set?
- Thread starter homec
- Start date
well you have some valid points ,but they only aply to you , we don't know what qualifications the op has .
btw, I'm not a Dutchman, I'm more like a euro mexican
I just live here ... so no savingsHCNDM
Well-known member
Don't forget that some of the specialist stuff can be rented which for a one time use will be easier on the wallet.
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geartow
Well-known member
Subscription to ALLDATA
softailgarage
Well-known member
Nope. Disagree. Maybe some of the guys from other countries just don't undestand our economy. Maybe it's our employer paid healthcare or insurance. Just speaking for myself; I hold 2 engineering degrees, I'm at the top of my field, work for a great company, make a very respectable wage, but the labor rate at the corner garage is still way more than I earn and at least double what I take home.
A single brake job is cheaper for me to do even if I stay home with no pay (which I almost never do). The wheel bearing job I did 2 weeks ago used a ton of special tools. Dealer wanted $250/bearing and 1.5 hours per side at a rate of like $100/hr. For both sides he wanted $870 total. I found OEM bearings for $115 shipped. That single job saved me over $600. I did one side with my kids on Sunday afternoon. Did the other side in 90 minutes after work the following day.
If you can work on your own cars in the US, you can save enough money to afford all the tools you want, even Snap On. Depending on what you drive, you can probably pay off whatever you have invested in tools quickly.
I recently bought 3 used cars. 2 of the 3 had over 100,000miles. I wouldn't, couldn't have done that if I couldn't do at least some repairs myself. Because my fellow Americans won't can't do what I do, I got those vehicles cheap. That's another way I save doing my own repairs (look at me explaining how I save money to a Dutchman!
I'm similar. Smart with a tech background and high paying job. I just can't justify paying a garage $100-130/hr and 100-200% parts mark-up for work I can easily do myself on the weekend.
The first oil change/inspection for the car I bought convinced me of the need to learn this stuff. They came up with $1300 in repairs. I then took it to an indie mechanic recommended by a colleague and it was a little cheaper but not much.
My first set of repairs will have paid for every tool I've purchased so far. Plus, this stuff is fun and rewarding, and I can teach my son one day and it will be fun and rewarding for him too.
It's been very interesting to go through people's lists to identify things I'm more or less likely to need. I'm obviously not going to buy everything you guys recommend, but there are good suggestions that I will definitely acquire asap.
In particular, I already have a BlueDriver OBD2 tool. That's probably as good a scanner as one can get without getting in to the really expensive ones. Use it this morning. Very cool!
ALLDATA. Thank you for that rec! I wasn't aware of its existence. I'd also already been looking for service manuals for my vehicle. But thankfully ALLDATADIY is very affordable for people like me.
In particular, I already have a BlueDriver OBD2 tool. That's probably as good a scanner as one can get without getting in to the really expensive ones. Use it this morning. Very cool!
ALLDATA. Thank you for that rec! I wasn't aware of its existence. I'd also already been looking for service manuals for my vehicle. But thankfully ALLDATADIY is very affordable for people like me.
One more comment in regard to safety.. This was originally a big concern for me, especially with regards to things like brakes because after all, I drive my family around in our vehicles. But once I started to look at the repairs involved, learn what was required to do it properly and how to verify my work, those fears dissipated.
Beyond that, I have good judgement. If something is really well beyond what I'm comfortable with, I can always bring it in for that one thing. I'm not going to take stupid risks to save $300 or whatever.
Beyond that, I have good judgement. If something is really well beyond what I'm comfortable with, I can always bring it in for that one thing. I'm not going to take stupid risks to save $300 or whatever.
stang2007
Well-known member
Lots of good reply's but what you need is really dependent on where you live...
i'm in California and Rust is not a issue here so I have yet to need a "Big Red Wrench" but if rust is a factor where you live, make sure you can deal with broken fasteners, Fasteners Rusted in place, ETC.
Beyond what others have said, long handled wrenches, helps with the stubborn fasteners.
i'm in California and Rust is not a issue here so I have yet to need a "Big Red Wrench" but if rust is a factor where you live, make sure you can deal with broken fasteners, Fasteners Rusted in place, ETC.
Beyond what others have said, long handled wrenches, helps with the stubborn fasteners.
TTA579
Well-known member
If you can't think of it, you don't need it yet, and it's not missing.