Automotive Air Tools

Most all aspects of the auto repair services, require using automotive air tools. Listed below are good amount of Air Impacts Guns. The reason is, this is one tool you will find it often requires a specific fit for a specific task.

If all you are doing is tire work, then one impact gun may fit your needs. However if you build engines and transmissions, suspension work to removing fuel tanks. There is a gun for each requirement. You wouldn't want to use a 1 inch drive impact gun for R&R a tire on a car. Although you probably would want to use it for wheels on a piece of heavy equipment.

For regular engine work or rebuilds, you may find that a 3/8 inch impact is all you need. It has always been better to final torque your nuts and bolts by hand and with a torque wrench.

Automotive Battery and Charging Diagnostic Tools

Ensure that you don't ignore the most important system on your vehicle. Without battery power, you vehicle is dead. Also, many systems on your vehicle can be damaged if you have a faulty charging system.

When it comes to automotive maintenance, many forget that the battery and charging system needs maintenance too. However, an electrical maintenance is more monitoring than traditional maintenance. Equipment is necessary to check the battery and charging system . It doesn't hurt to have your own tools for these task. 

Browse a variety of testing, monitoring and electrical tools...

Automotive Brake Tools and Supplies

Brake jobs can be tough, especially drum brakes. Never figured out why flat rate pay on doing drum brakes pays less than disc brakes. Disc brakes are easy> Trying to hold everything together while getting those springs disconnected and reconnected can be a pain.

However, if you have the right tools for all those springs, life can be easy. Even disc brakes can be hard if you don't have the right tools. Also using the correct cleaners and the correct grease for assembly will make a huge difference. 

Automotive Brake Bleeder Tools

When just replacing brake linings such as disc or pads, there is no need in bleeding the brakes. However, anytime you open the brake hydraulics, it will be required to remove the air from the system. If you replace calipers, wheel cylinders or master cylinders, you will need to bleed the system. 

If you are a one man show, it is hard to bleed the brakes by yourself. Although, they do make tools to aid in a one man task. You can pull the fluid through the system with a vacuum device, or push it through with a power bleeder. 

Most vehicles have anti-lock brakes and that is whole new mess to bleed. Most of them require the power be turned on so that the ABS system will allow the air out of it. But some require help from one computer to another to get the ABS to self bleed. Know what system you have and the correct procedure before working on your brakes...

Automotive CV Shaft Tools

The majority of vehicles today use CV Shafts and Joints. There are still some rear wheel drive vehicles that use drive axles. But even many of them use drive shafts that use CV joints instead of the old style universal joints.  

CV shafts are almost modular in a way. When a CV joint goes bad, it is really cheaper to just buy a replacement shaft with new joints on them. In fact, many of the CV boot kits and joint replacements are close to the same cost as a remanufactured or new shaft assembly.

Always compare your price options before attacking the repair job. Replacing the boots require a crimping tool for the clamp. If you are removing the shaft, reduce the risk of breaking something by using the correct puller to pop the shaft from the transmission. Seen many of holes put in the side of the transmission case where people used thier trusty pry bar.

Electric and Cordless Power Tools

Electric power tools are a great substitute for pneumatic tools. Air ratchets, air hammers, impact guns, drills and tools along those lines are fine with a compressor. However, air grinders, air buffers and especially a DA sander kill compressors. I don't care how big a compressor you have, it is just never enough for continuous running. Electric counterparts of these tools do the same job and save the wear on a compressor. 

Cordless tools are man's best friend, when you are out on the road or in a junk yard. Even when crammed up in a tight space, not having a cord strapped around you can be helpful. Cordless drills and screw guns supply the right amount of power and torque when using it on interior screws...

Automotive Electronic Diagnostic Tools

If you are working on any car past 2001, you have to have electronic diagnostic tools. OBD, (On Board Diagnostic) computers have been installed on cars since the 80's. In the 80's, there was a method to trick the computer into a diagnostic mode that made lights blink. You read the blinks and turned them into codes. This wasn't full proof and the definition of the code was often very vague. 

91 to 95 was OBD 1, and all that amounted to was a box that jumpered the interface port, to again make lights blink. Finally in 1996 up to today, is OBD II, which is a computer that talks to the vehicle's computer. Starting in late 2001 and up, they started putting new types of systems in with all new sensors and structure. Still OBD II, but to work on these vehicles, you really need a scanner.

Many vehicle's idle can only be adjusted with a diagnostic tool. The systems are getting so much better, that they can tell you what cylinder is missing or having an issue. In the old days, you had to hook up your car, to a big Sun Machine and could only test it sitting still. Now you can hook up your diagnostic tool, go for a drive and record what the engine is doing...

Engine Rebuild Tools and Supplies

Engines are the heart of the vehicle and aside from the transmission, is the most precise machine in the vehicle. You could possibly tear down an engine with a basic socket and wrench set. However, you are going to run into issues. If you are trying to build the engine the right way, you are going to need some tools for the job. 

It come to my attention that many DIY mechanics don't have a clue why you would use a ridge reamer. Some have never heard of one, which this tells me they are going to run into issues. There a many technical things that need to be done when building an engine. It is more than just tearing it down, clean it up and put some new parts in it.

It has become more common that different engines require different types of tools to tear them down and put them back together. Be sure to research your project before getting invested in it. Sometimes these specialty tools can cost half the rebuild cost...

Automotive Oil Change Tools

The older cars were probably more simple when it came to changing the oil. The filter was usually in an easy to get to place and even if not, they made it obvious. Not to mention, most filters screwed on from the bottom. So it was pull the drain plug, unscrew the filter. Pour some oil into the filter, screw it back on. Put new oil in the engine and you were done.  

Today's engines aren't so cut ad dry, some require methods that it almost takes the dealer to change the oil for you. Mostly German made cars are getting more complicated. But don't think they did this just to stop the home mechanic from changin his own oil. The oil filtration systems are more complex to keep the engine protected better and for the oils to last longer between changes.

Most of these can still be done by the home mechanic, but some require special tools and most are just the method or procedure. Many cars use a cartridge instead of a spin on filter. The way you ensure that the oil system is primed before starting it is very important. Always research your system before starting the oil change...

Automotive Specialty Tools

Specialty tools sound so mysterious when really, it's tools specifically made for specific systems. Cooling systems are a good example. You may have a leak and the luck of chance, you might catch visually where it is leaking from. But there are more times when you have a leak, you can smell it but you can never find it. It only leaks when driving the vehicle. Idle never reveals the culprit. That is where a radiator pressure tester comes in handy. Simply apply pressure to the system to find your leak. 

Another annoyance they have built into cars these days, is how close they have the serpentine belt to the inner fender/strut tower. They make them so close, you have to have a serpentine belt adjustment tool. A regular pull bar or long ratchet is too thick to fit in between the belt tensioner and the strut tower. 

Many sensors require specialty sockets to remove them. Always research your issue and project before buying parts or tearing it down. Often the tools cost more than the part...

Steering and Suspension Tools

Many suspension parts can be serviced with regular wrenches and sockets. However there are things like replacing inner tire rod ends on a rack and pinion steering that require a specialty tool. 

They have started making complete strut assemebly replacements now, instead of buying just the strut and you reuse your springs. However, many of the older cars do not have this option and you will have to R&R the spring. This requires a spring tool to compress it to remove it from the strut and install on the new one.

Ball joints are now being sold in a complete control arm. Again, there are still some of the older vehicles that this isn't offered and you will have to use a ball joint service kit. 

Always research your repair and issues before buying parts or tearing ti down...

Wheel and Tire Equipment

No matter if you are DIY'r or want to run your own shop for business. Having wheel and tire equipment can be a must. Tire Stores have almost got a monopoly on the tire service industry. They no longer will allow a customer to bring in their own tires for mounting and balancing. And the cost of mounting and balancing is getting outrageous. 

If you have your own equipment, that gives yourself, lifetime balancing for every car and every run of tires you have on your vehicles. Order tires from your desired supplier and mount and balance them yourself. Don't forget that you can charge friends or customers less than the big stores and still make money back to pay for your machines and then some.

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Tools and Supplies