Can anyone make a list of tools... [Archive] (2024)

MX-5 Miata Forum > Shifting Gears > Tool Talk > Can anyone make a list of tools...

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ccrnnr9

23rd November 2003, 01:14

I was wondering if anyone would be willing to make a list of some good tools to have on hand when doing maintenance on a miata. You dont have to mention the obvious, but maybe somethings that once you got into your miata in the past that you wish you had at the time. I still dont own a miata, but am going to go look at one tommorrow. You may have to be a bit explanitory because I am a bit of an idiot when it comes to cars...still learning.

Armands

23rd November 2003, 01:36

Here's one recent thread along that line. Feel free to ask questions.
http://forum.miata.net/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=14;t=000589

mmgutz

23rd November 2003, 01:41

Six point sockets galore (deep sockets rule!...except in tight spaces), ratchet, and torque wrench do just about everything I need. A rubber mallet has helped me break loose some stubborn bolts. I have a lot more tools that have come in handy, but for me, the above are the most frequently used tools. Aside from Rhino ramps, the jack, and jackstands.

A nice drill and a Dremel are always good too, but come in handy more when you're upgrading parts, rather than doing basic maintenance.

Dan-o

23rd November 2003, 01:44

Screwdrivers (everything is a philips head, but the flat blades can be useful for prying and such.)

Wrenches: 2 sets of each size between 8mm - 19mm, and for certain jobs, you need ones in the low 20-something mm. You'll find you use 10mm the most, and 14mm the next frequent.

Socket wrench, with extensions, and both short and deep sockets, from 10 mm to 23 mm or so.

Regular and needle-nosed pliers. Wire cutters/strippers.

A turkey baster or syringe for removing shift turret oil. A cheap little hand pump that fits on top of oil bottles for filling the transmission and such. Funnel.

Jack stands. A low floor jack, and if your car isn't lowered, Rhino ramps are handy.

A BFH (sledge), regualar hammer, rubber mallet.

Wheel chocks. Blocks of 2x4.

You can do A LOT with just the above list.

edit: oh yeah, as mmgutz reminded me, and drill, dremel, and torque wrench are very useful as well.

Tomterrific

23rd November 2003, 19:07

A tool I seem to grab often is a magnet on a stick. The poor man has "dropsey"!

Tom
A mirror on a stick is also nice to have around.

RADOne

23rd November 2003, 19:17

Add to what Dan-o said universal joints. You almost need to have a 3/8" and a 1/2" drive socket/ratchet set. You can't beat Craftsman quaility for the price, but that may be to price for you. Sometimes it's hard to decide between quality and quantity. If your on a budget take a ride over to Harbor Freight in Independence. They aren't too bad of tools and you can't beat their price. If you can't find 6 point sockets there consider their 6 point impact sockets. They're black. But sometimes their wall thickness keeps them from fitting on bolt heads it tight quarters. That's when you need a regular 6 or 12 point socket. Only use 12 point sockets if that's all you have. It's real easy to round off a head with a 12 point. And 12 pointers are what's included in most sets. $100 will buy you quite a few tools at Harbor Freight. I picked up a second set of wrenches that went up to 32mm there for like $20. My Craftman only go up to 19mm and I hardly ever need anything bigger.

Fletcher

23rd November 2003, 22:30

8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 14mm, 17mm, 19mm(?), 21mm, 23mm, 24mm

Those will do 99.5% of everything.
just 10-17 will get you 95%

Fletch.

Armands

24th November 2003, 15:59

If your on a budget take a ride over to Harbor Freight in Independence. They aren't too bad of tools and you can't beat their price.However, I would avoid their universal joints and be careful with their breaker bars. The pins that hold their U-joints together and the rotating fitting onto their breaker bars are *not* well-secured.

Once you are familiar with the relative quality of different brands of tools, you can (at least sometimes) get some good deals on ebay. OTOH, you can also end up paying double what a tool costs new in the store on ebay.

RussellH

24th November 2003, 16:51

Originally posted by Armands:
However, I would avoid their universal joints and be careful with their breaker bars. The pins that hold their U-joints together and the rotating fitting onto their breaker bars are *not* well-secured.
Funny you mentioned about the breaker bars quality because I had a very different experience just this weekend. My friend came over so I could help him swap out the rotors on his '97 Accord. The bad design (what were they thinking ?) requires you to remove the whole hub. The hub and the rotors are clamped together so you have to remove the hub and disasemble the rotor from it on the workbench. Anyway, long story short the axle nut (36mm) was so tight that my air impact wrench couldn't even budge it! I tried using my Taiwan made 1 foot breaker bar but still couldn't get enough leverage. Reluctantly I broke out my Chinese (Harbor Freight) 2 foot breaker bar and attempted again. This time I bent the pry bar that was wedged between the lug nuts and the ground to hold the hub/rotor from rotating. We were getting pretty frustrated at this point. I broke out my 1.5" diameter wrecking bar (Home Depot) and used that as a wedge. I weigh a 160lbs, my friend weighs 220lbs and we were both pulling on the breaker bar and finally got the axle nut loosened. The whole time I was thinking that the bar or socket was going to snap and we'll fall on our faces. Lucky for us that didn't happen. After some quick calculations we were applying close to 600-650 lb-ft of torque on the breaker bar and it didn't break, we had to not only do this twice (both sides) but also used the same breaker bar to tighten the axle nuts.

I'm still surprised that a $10 harbor freight breaker bar could take that much abuse. BTW the pry bar that I bent cost me $30 at Sears...

Can anyone make a list of tools... [Archive] (2024)

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