Starter Tool Kit Advice
 

I'm planning on doing a lot of the mechanical work on my FR-S myself (more and more as I gain competence) and am thinking about purchasing this tool set to begin with.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...00100675&aff=Y

Does this seem like a useful set at a good price? Obviously, I'll need to add individual pieces.

Any advice is most welcome, including any checklists of must-have tools for someone interested in getting greasy.

Thanks!

I have that same kit (and about three other random craftsman sets). It's a good starting point, you many need to pick up some odds and ends. But you should be good.

Fair warning, the drawers kind of suck. Mine sticks a lot which sometimes results in me over muscling it and spilling the contents.

One last thing, invest in a decent torque wrench.

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If you have the space for it I'd suggest getting a big two tier toolbox now. Probably find one on Craigslist for dirt cheap. Kennedy makes great toolboxes.

I'm looking for the same thing. I'm leaning towards a bigger set, maybe the 540 pc set from crafstman, just because I know I will have these tools for the rest of my life, for all the future cars and odd jobs.

My big issue is... Will I really use and feel the value of the difference in the 348pc kit and the 540 pc kit, since it's double the price? I've been trying to research this for the last few months, and I just haven't come to a good conclusion... :/

Definitely going to buy a nice big tool box/stack when I get my bonus for the year. That's step 1 for sure. A good toolbox will last you a lifetime, and cheaping out will just mean you have a cheap toolbox for a lifetime. haha.

I'd say go for the kit you posted. There are more expensive ones, but this set is great. I know there is another more expensive one in the $300-400 range that also has a toolbox that is better quality, but it really depends on your budget. Get the biggest kit you can afford, because in the end, if you turn into a serious mechanic, you will end up with all of those tools and parts anyway, and in the kit, you'll pay far less for it.

You wont use over 60% of the tool in that kit on your car, just sayin.

It's useful to have metric and SAE sockets. My start tool set was a 200pc socket set and I loved having 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" ratchets with accompanying sockets in both short and long form. In addition, all of my sockets are 6 wall so I don't round out any bolt heads or nuts. You can NEVER have too many sockets!

The best investment after that is a set of ratcheting wrenches. Those puppies are AWESOME.

What you want for working on a Japanese vehicle: 7mm-21mm 6-wall sockets, both long and short, in 1/4, 3/8, AND 1/2" drive (yes that's 3 duplicate sets of sockets); ratcheting wrenches; appropriate ratchets of high quality; stubby and regular combination open/box end wrenches, also 6 wall for the box end; appropriate 3/8" and 1/2" extensions; a breaker bar. That's a good place to start...you'll collect tools from there as you go on. For example, I now have a few flare nut wrenches from working with brake lines.

I only own 3 SAE sized tools and those were/are for very specific things (remote oil cooler adapter etc), everything else is metric.

Save the money and space and just buy a Metric kit (either new or used) and then buy the SAE tools on a 1-off basis as you need them, if you need them.

I almost forgot, when shopping for tools either leave the credit card at home or bring along a "voice of reason". Shopping for tools as a gearhead is a great way to max out the credit card!

I have the same kit. I have not had the opportunity to use it too much; brakes, ac compressor, and a few other odds and ends but it has done the job very well.

Quick Question! when you say work on your car do you mean installing tuner parts or maintenance?

all scions have free maintenance for 30k miles

Rags, lots of rags. An oil can wrench. A small flat head screw driver or small nail puller to help remove body fasteners/ trim. The official repair manual.

That is as important as having the right tools for the job.

Orb's post here is right on. In addition to 6 wall, 12 wall sockets can also be a big help- because they have more walls, that means it's easier to fit them into small and tight places where you don't have much clearance to move a ratchet. The 12 sided means you don't haveto rotate the socket nearly as much to find the bolt. They aren't as good for high torque applications, as they are more prone to rounding off bolts if you aren't using them correctly (Always, always make a perpendicular connection with the bolt- make a T-, don't twist the ratchet at an angle, unless you are using specific extensions that have rounded edges that can accomodate the change in direction).

In addition to that, impact sockets can also be a huge help. So yes, you might actually use all of the tools in that kit, if you are wise enough to know when to use a certain socket over another one of the same size, etc. Every tool has it's use. You can always get by on a real basic metric socket set from a cheap local auto parts store for 30 bucks, but picking the right tool for every bolt is a very, very good thing- it makes the work easier, less risk of breaking or rounding off parts, easier for hard to reach places or places with little clearance, so on.

Very true, however you might on other cars you have. There is ALWAYS fluff in those kits though.

I've been through many kits, I'll buy one every once in awhile on sale since I end up losing so many sockets (loaning, disappearance at race tracks and race car toolbox, etc). I have a mixmatch of S&K, MAC, MATCO, Snap-On, Craftsman and Husky these days. Reorganized the toolbox recently and threw out all the cheaper taiwan/chinese stuff.

We use that same kit as a basis for our race car tool box though :thumbup: