Tools advice needed from mechy types :)

[TomM]

I wanna get a good quality socket set for working on my s14. It needs to stand up to working easily, but I don't wanna spend too much. Oh, and easily available in Manchester would be good, too :)

Cheers :)

[vega]

I bought a Draper expert set some time ago, and that is all you need :)

Very good quality and cheap, and I haven't managed to break it yet ;)

Think I payed £40 for a full 1/2" drive set.

[SteveCarter200]

Draper or Halfords.

Ive had a draper socket set for about 6 years or so. The ratchets are getting a bit worn but Ive only managed to break one socket, so far.

[A8 YOB]

I have Snap On gear at work, excellent quality though very expensive.. my employer does contribute towards the cost of purchase though :)
At home I use a combination of Sealey, Facom and Halfords own brand gear. I find Halfords own brand stuff to be excellent quality and reasonably priced.

If buying a kit ensure it has everything you may need, ie. deep sockets, torx, hex, a quality torque wrench and a breaker bar are nice things to own too. Personally I have never bought a kit but put together my own, that way I have everything I need and I know its up to the job.

[dunc]

Halfords used to do normal sets and also more expensive sets branded "halfords professional". The professional ones are of outstanding quality and are far cheaper than Facom or Snap-on, which IMO are only worth buying if you are in the trade.

Dunc.

[Jeedai]

Originally posted by A8 YOB
I have Snap On gear at work, excellent quality though very expensive.. my employer does contribute towards the cost of purchase though :)
At home I use a combination of Sealey, Facom and Halfords own brand gear. I find Halfords own brand stuff to be excellent quality and reasonably priced.

If buying a kit ensure it has everything you may need, ie. deep sockets, torx, hex, a quality torque wrench and a breaker bar are nice things to own too. Personally I have never bought a kit but put together my own, that way I have everything I need and I know its up to the job.

What's a breaker bar? Is it a long bar used for leverage?

Cheers

[symbol]

Some of halfords stuff has a life time warr with it aswell. doe's the same job as snap on for 1/4 of the price :eek:
IMO :)

[Wak]

Originally posted by Jeedai Hunter
What's a breaker bar? Is it a long bar used for leverage?

Cheers

yes

[dunc]

Originally posted by symbol
Some of halfords stuff has a life time warr with it aswell. doe's the same job as snap on for 1/4 of the price :eek:
IMO :)

I agree, the stuff branded "professional" (this is the liftime warranty stuff) is really surprisingly good.

[vega]

Breaker bars are handy to keep in the car too :)

[Billy]

I'd suggest you get a 3/8" drive set rather than 1/2" as they get into tight spaces much better.
Then just buy individual 1/2" sockets for the heavy duty stuff to go with the breaker bar and probably a torque wrench. You can use them with your 3/8" ratchet with an adaptor too.

I've got a TengTools set that has both short and long reach sockets in metric and imperial (though no 15mm for some weird reason!) as well as a load of screwdriver, allen key and torx bits. The ratchet is a bit dodgy since I used it as a hammer :rolleyes: but apart from that it's been fine for about seven years now.

[James]

I love my breaker bar :D:D

[vega]

Originally posted by NewClearBomb
I love my breaker bar :D:D

Same here :D

[Tim\s13Auto]

Ive got a professional socket set from halfords its got a large wratchet and i think not sure a 1/4 inch wrachet its small anyway plus a set of wratchet spanners man i love these :) think it cost about 80 quid and has the lifetime warrenty, I got it after reading how good they were on here :) . A lot cheaper than snapon and u can replace anything u break, What more could u ask for ?

[Kev]

If its for working on the 200, ull need 6, 8, 10, (poss 11 for bleed nipples)12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21 and 27 mm.
Cos thats all the sizes ive had to use on my s13.
Ull need a combination of spanners and ratchet/socket set.
Id go with halfrauds for the socket set, and pick up a ratchet 12mm and 14mm spanner there also(they are fab!!), then get the rest from the cheapest place possible as well as a power bar.
Id go with 1/2" drive for 10mm+ and 1/4" drive for 6-13mm so u have an overlap for the ones in tight spaces.
and as many differant variations of extension bars as u can afford.
Best to get a set of impact sockets from local motor factors also if u plan on doing any heavy duty stuff.

Kev

[scimmy ben]

I've had to replace some of my Halfords Professional stuff;) and it was a no quibble replacement i.e. you don't get the snap on man saying 'you haven't been using this a lever/chisel etc'

Ben

[Jezz_S13]

I have 4 Halfords Pro socket sets and 3 torque wrenches (different sizes), they are very good.

They do buy 3 get the cheapest free quite often too, well worth waiting for. I've saved about £150 by getting 1 Socket set, 1 torque wrench and a bunch of spanners free.