hoss -05

iTrader: (4)

Tell me about the tools you use to work on your RX8.

Did you go cheap or are you a Snap On snob? Maybe somewhere in between?

How about special tools or sst's?

Any stand out tools you feel everyone who works on there RX8 should own?

This topic has become a bit of an obsession for 9Krpmrx8 and I over the last few weeks as I slowly build up my tool collection.

Nedash

My own tools I tend to buy from the upper shelves as I've learned that if you go for sub-par tools you get sub-par results.

Luckily I didn't have to buy everything my own yet since I can rely on my father's toolbox he uses for his XV 1600, if I don't have something myself.

He is also quite obsessed with his tools and mostly uses premium brands where possible.

For the RX-8 you really don't need much; A socket set with extensions, a torque wrench, maybe some jack stands, pliers and screwdrivers and you're good to do 80% of the work you might find necessary.

bose

iTrader: (5)

Middle of the road, I have mostly Craftsman stuff (USA made only). Snap on has really nice stuff, but a bit rich for my blood. Also the snap on reps are little more far and in between here so getting stuff warrantied just didn't make sense to shell out the extra dough.

Some stuff I get at harbor freight just cause I only need it to work once and don't care.

SST's I will make if I can (fuel pump ring tool) or find another method of getting the job done.

I think everyone needs a good set of impact tools, LOVE my Ingersoll Rand impact gun. That thing is a beast.

hoss -05

iTrader: (4)

most of my socket stuff is S@k but i have a few snap tools.

I dont mind if tools are made outside of the USA as long as they are of high quality like some gearwrench and matco stuff. All my none ratcheting screw drivers are Whia and made in Germany.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

A lot of Craftsman stuff is now made in China unfortunately. And corps own most of the tool brands so individual companies making their own tools is pretty rare. And unfortunately the Snap On brand name is also found on Chinese made stuff sold at Costco, etc. as well so it's a good idea to do some homework if being made in the USA is important to you. My set is an old Craftsman set that is made in the USA but I also have some cheap stuff as well.

But at the end of the day you get what works for you. I have broken made in the USA Craftsman stuff and yet I have a cheap Pittsburgh breaker bar/socket set from harbor freight that has seen a ton of use over the years and works just fine.

but if I had the money i would buy a Cornwell box and master tool set.

http://www.vannattabros.com/saw51.html

200.mph

iTrader: (9)

middle for me. a lot of craftsman some snap on and some harbor freight stuff. if i dont have what i need i go to my bros shop. he has everything minus a rotary comp tester. all of his stuff is snap on or mac

bose

iTrader: (5)

I noticed all of Craftman's evolv line is China made, sadly it can't be avoided some times.
I just try to make sure it say's Made in USA. Not necessarily because I think it's higher quality or better, just want to support USA products where I can.
I have had pretty good luck with Harbor Freight tools, only a few have broken but they replace them and hell, they work.

sonicsdaman

iTrader: (3)

Harbor Freight Tools <-- pick it and i probally have it
i work there part time and get the tools even cheaper, and if it breaks i can replace it with no problems, and anything that we don't carry i have craftsman

Brettus

iTrader: (2)

I find one of these gets way more use than you might imagine .

1/2 and 3/8" drive socket sets are both Koken . Which I have owned for 35 years . I have never broken my Kokens .

hoss -05

iTrader: (4)

I would hardly call this a BS thread but feel free to have it moved as you see fit. I thought it would be relevant to DIY-ers more then any other place on the board. If you would like me to delete the thread I will respect your wishes but would prefer it to be move to someplace you believe it better belongs.

Also I want this:

Gearwrench Magnetic Extension Review | ToolGuyd

HiFlite999

iTrader: (2)

My boxes have a lot of random stuff, USA-made Craftsman, and German-made (that I bought mostly in Saudi Arabia). Ratchets and full set of english/metric sockets in 1/4" 3/8" and 1/2" drive.

Probably number #1 on the hit parade for the RX-8 is a wide selection of ratchet drive expensions; the ones the ball ends which allow driving with an offset are particularly useful.

Also, useful are:

A good plastic panel tool set for safely removing covers and door panels.
Fluke DVM.
Flourescent light panels on roll-around stands.
Air compressor.
Set of metric fasteners.
Lock-Tite Blue.
Boat trailer wheel bearing grease.
Rotary compression tester.
Sets of hose barbs and tubing.
Suction-type oil changer.
Spring compressor.

Mr_Pieper

I have a Cornwell toolbox. All of my sockets are from them as well because they had some good trade in deals running when I needed sockets. All my ratchets are Snap-On because the soft handles they use are the best. Ingersoll Titanium impacts in 1/2 and 3/8. The only specialty tool I have needed to buy for the 8 was a socket to hack up for a transmission sensor. Having a copious amount of jack stands with flat bottoms is always a must.

hoss -05

iTrader: (4)

I agree on the ratchet drive extensions with ball ends Hiflite. What brand do you use? I find that often extensions have more flex then I would like.


Brett did you see that crazy TI socket set Koken offers?

Mr_Pieper

When you buy extensions brand usually doesn't matter. I tend to lose them long before any get broken. Try to find some with grippy cross-hatched bits in the middle as they will save you some trouble in tight spaces down the road.

hoss -05

iTrader: (4)

I just really dislike when they feel spring ish under torque load. I know that feeling is hard to take away when you have to a few togather but would love a set that had less movment.

Mr_Pieper

In that case I have some Cornwell impact sockets that work really well. They are a little thicker and made like an impact socket.

jamesf

iTrader: (1)

I mostly use my dad's/grandpa's old socket sets. They have a ****ton. But unfortunately they're all SAE sizes so I needed metric. I got a Kobalt electric impact wrench which is way better than I expected. Got 2 really nice sets of metric impact sockets from Lowes as well (I believe they are kobalt).


I didnt know the meaning of luxury until I got a breaker bar though. Not having to put a cheater bar over my 1/2'' drive ratchet was nice. It's only a harbor freight one though. Reviews on it were mixed. Some said it really did the job, some said it bent like a wet noodle and broke. We'll see what happens.

I'd have say 2 of the most valued tools at my disposal though are WD-40 and a a good flat-head screwdriver. WD-40 is way too useful to not be mentioned.


I really need to start renting tools or something. I've racked up a large tool bill from working on my 8. If I need it, I go out and buy it and once I'm done with the procedure I'll probably never use it again for quite some time.

HiFlite999

iTrader: (2)

My 1/4" drive ones are Snap-On; in that small a drive size, tolerances are more important. The rest are pretty random. Pieper's knurled shaft suggestion is a good one; it can help a lot with running a nut on or off when there's not enough resistance to get the ratchet to ratchet. A drive-end screwdriver can help with that too.

If the connection at the joint is a but too loose, a wrap around the square drive end with a piece of electrical tape will often help with snaking the socket onto some nearly-unreachable spot. The ball end types to wear out more quickly than the normal ones because the loads are less evenly distributed.

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

I have a mixture of MAC, Chraftsman ( old stuff), and some Snap-on stuff in ratchets and there really nice swivel sockets

I also have a random bunch of big sockets for flywheel bolts and such that I have bought from a Harbor Freight type place here. For something that big...they don't tend to break

A good set of spring compressors comes in handy..

Good multimeter..or scope if you have deep pockets..or get lucky like I did

Good torque wrenches...otherwise you might as well not bother

The gas tank ring removal tool is worth every penny if you can get one..or borrow one. Mine seems to be leant out all the time

A good set of ratcheting box ends are great too

And a big assed pry bar...seem to use that thing all the time

Nedash

I also have a little tool-wrap for the road:

Nothing fancy, just what you might most likely need - some sockets, screwdrivers, flashlight, ect.

Not top notch quality, but it gets the job done

Best thing is, it has a strip of velcro on the back, so it doesn't roll around.

I like it

xexok

The craftsman evolv line is very very cheaply made but the price reflects that. It is usually half or less the price of the equivalent regular craftsman tool. Also if you buy an evolv set of any items then when one breaks you must bring back the whole set AND your receipt if you want them exchanged.

That said, I have an evolv ratchet and it has worked fine for me. I also have various other brands that work just as well. I have a set of pittsburgh and some other brand 6 and 12 point sockets and they work great but I don't do any heavy work just maintenance here and there.

If people don't like craftsman racthets that are made in china then when your usa one starts slipping bring it in and ask for you own ratchet to be rebuilt. It will take < 10 minutes and you get your personal ratchet back with all new internals. However the rebuild kits selector switch is now made of plastic on most of the new ratchets so you get stuck with that. Some of the older ratchet models still have metal selectors in the rebuild kits so you might get lucky.

hoss -05

iTrader: (4)

My high end Snap on 3/8s 100 tooth ratchet has a plastic selector as well and i have yet to find any reports of it failing.

xexok

Well that is usually the part that fails when they come in. I don't know if it is just careless people or what but lots of them break.

usafrotard

iTrader: (1)

Harbor freight and craftsman. But at work we get nothing but snap on. Which still break a lot on f-16s. lol

Mr_Pieper

Yeah, I have been accumulating broken Snap-On stuff over the last few years since I quit as a mechanic. I need to capture a local dealer and get new stuff. I just broke my favorite ratchet and I want it fixed.