If you work on your own vehicles, chances are the word has gotten out and you’re the go-to person for friends and family as well. With as much time as you spend beneath the hood, you know how frustrating it is to realize you don’t have the right tool for the job. While your budget might not allow for the higher-tech items professionals use, make sure you always have the essentials on hand.
Various Automotive Fasteners
The average vehicle has over 4,000 automotive fasteners holding it together. You’ll need a large supply of several different kinds of fasteners. These are the most common and necessary:
- Bolts: You’ll need a variety of lengths and widths of these versatile, load-carrying fasteners. Your collection should include hex bolts, place bolts, and flange bolts.
- Nuts: The nuts you will use most often are hex nuts. You may also find that a selection of flange nuts, cap nuts, and barrel nuts are useful as well.
- Washers: Washers distribute load weight on a fastener and help to reduce friction as well. Lock washers are specifically useful to prevent bolts from loosening over time.
- Screws: Just as with bolts and nuts, the screw you will need most frequently is the hex screw.
- Cotter pins: These small automotive fasteners are indispensable for use on ball joints, steering systems, and any connection point that is subject to extreme vibration. Keep several sizes of cotter pins in your tool chest.
It’s impossible to overstate the importance of using quality automotive fasteners. Be sure to source your supplies from a reputable company like ROGO Fasteners.
Simple Hand Tools
There is no shortage of specialty tools and gadgets that most mechanics would like to have, but make sure you’ve got all of the basics first. These reliable hand tools will be all you need for the majority of tasks you’re likely to come across:
- Socket wrench and ratchet set: These may be the tools you use most often. Look for a high-quality set that offers the widest selection of sizes possible. Be sure to include a good torque wrenchin your socket wrench set; it is essential for engine work.
- Screwdrivers: You’ll find you need both Phillips and standard screwdrivers. A multi-bit screwdriver may offer the greatest versatility and take up much less room in your tool chest than having several individual tools.
- Pliers: Like screwdrivers, many types of pliers come in handy for automotive work. If you’re just starting your tool collection, needle-nose pliers are a necessity. Spark plug pliers and oil filter pliers are useful as well.
- Hammers: Here again, you may find that getting a full set of hammers gives you the most options. At the very least, you should own a small ball peen hammer and a rubber mallet.
Though humble, these simple hand tools are irreplaceable when doing automotive work. Even if you get the chance to upgrade to pneumatic tools in the future, you’ll still find yourself reaching for these trusty staples regularly.
