Ben Z.

Hi,

I got a set of sockets and wrenches for christmas, but allready have a good set of metric and american wrenches and 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 inch sockets/ratchets. So I have some credit at sears. What are some good tools to buy for porsche work? I am planning on buying some alan wrenches, and I know there are some "cheesehead" sockets I need (which ones?). Any other suggestions? Have around $100.

Thanks!

Luis de Prat

Do you have a torque wrench? Speaking of SEARS, I just bought a medium sized Craftsman torque wrench for around $70.

For cheesehead sockets, you can buy the $15 set of 4 made by Lisle at your local Pep Boys. It includes four 6, 8, 10 and 12mm bits that fit perfectly into a 1/2" deep socket for CVs, etc.

Alan C.

Flex head Gear Wrenches are a nice addition.

Alan C.

Ben Z.

Would a 1/2" (20-150 ft lb) or a 3/8" (10-75 ft lb) torque wrench be more useful? Thanks for the heads-up on the cheesehead sockets and the gear wrenches!

Jonas Goldsmith

breaker bar and sand filled impact mallet... both nice for getting stubborn parts loose... A nice screwdriver set doesn't hurt either... Pliers are good! and um... that should be about all you need for the basic stuff...

Skip

20-150 will cover most stuff, especially suspension. 10-75 is usually more accurate and a good one to use for engine and transmission rebuilds, etc.

FYI, the Craftsman TQ wrenches are *okay*, but not great. I've been through 2 of the 20-150 type in the last 5 years. Alternatives are pricey - like Snap-on. Always return the TQ to 0 when not in use - calibrate every year.

Another tip from the Craftsman "make it last longer than the warranty" department: always drain your air compressor tank after use. Condensation will kill the seals and motor.

billybones

do not buy sears allen wrenches.. go bond-has at least. they are not expensive. and won't round off the wrench.. better is Allen key brand. best is snap on. expensive though. sears allens seem to be made of cold rolled..and very weak at the smaller sizes. Any tool you buy should have atleast the C-V mark on them,, this is chrome vanadium mark.. nice and hard. buy a 3/8ths drive 6 and 12 inch extension.. and a good 3/8th's swivel and 1/2 swivel.. and a 3/8ths drive to 1/2" adapter and 1/2" drive to 3/8ths adapter.. this will give you a lot of versitility..

Granite 944

Stubby 3/8 ratchet (1/2" is nice also), Impact type screw driver (hammer type with assortment of bits), assortment of wobble head extensions, cheesehead (12 pt. serrated) assortment of at least 6,8,10,12mm. Make sure ya have a set of 3/8" sockets in standard and deep. Also, its real good to have a double set of wrenches in 8,10,13,15,17,19 mm. You need a 7mm for brake bleeders also. Just a few that come to mind.

Skip, where do you take your torque wrench to get it re-calibrated?Sears?

Matt Romanowski

For VERY nice screwdrivers and allen wrenches, check out www.wihatools.com. No connection, just real nice stuff. They do some great internet specials too.

Remember for torque wrenches that at least the bottom and top 10% of the range is not accurate.

Matt

ribs

The best tools I have bought ever was a set of ratcheting head wrenches...you know, they look like normal wrenches, but the closed side is a 12 pt. ratcheting head. I can't tell you how many hours of anguish and frustration these have save me. They will fit anywhere a normal wrench will but work just like a ratchet. I think you can get a set (8mm to 19mm) for like $70 or so from sears...I paid $30 for mine, but thats just because they had them marked wrong on the shelf and I bitched and moaned until the manager came over and let me go with them for the marked price.

theedge

I was using some of those at work helping fix a Plasma Table. Very handy indeed and theyre on my own list now.

PorscheDoc

Those rachet wrenches are the next on my list to buy also. I would also suggest a set of stubby wrenches, they seem to come in handy now and again. I think the most used item in my toolbox is a needle nose vise grip though, they come in so handy. How about allen head sockets for your rachets...they come in handy.

triscadek

If you can find one but I doubt Sear has it, 3/8 drive rechargable electric ratchet. Works great for running nuts/bolts ip and down, but dont break loose anything very tight with it.

Ben Z.

Thanks for all of the replies. Are the Gearwrench racheting wrenches made by Craftsman? Looks like I just missed a sale on them for $60/set at sears, dang.

Red 944

I just bought a nice set off the snap-on truck a few weeks ago, and definately gotten a fair amount of use out of them. I liked the kind that you flip to change bolt direction instead of the standard ratchet 'toggle', but .. that's preference I suppose.
If I were you, I'd save the bucks and put it towards an air compressor if you don't have one.