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Anyone have a favorite tool for auto repair that's not an obvious choice? Something you use all the time or find really handy that's not a ratchet, screwdriver, etc.
For me, it's a needle nose vice grip. I find myself using it all the time to get into tight spaces and forget about maintaining clamping force. I use it for hose clamps, cotter pins, keeping bolts from spinning, loosening stuck screws. What tool do other people find unexpectedly useful?
Use it for driving seized bolts, balljoints, etc out. The rod deforms, so it doesn't ruin the bolt head/nut. When it's worn out, I cut off about an inch and keep going
Hard to pick just one:
1 -Magnet on a stick for retrieving the bolts and stuff I drop down the engine compartment.
2 - Dremel with cutting wheel to massage bolts that have rounded, or add screw driver slots (use this for those screws attached to factory installed rotors that always seem to freeze and the slot opens when trying to turn with a flat-head screw driver)
3 - Air chisel when problem is too severe for #2 to work.
Anyone have a favorite tool for auto repair that's not an obvious choice? Something you use all the time or find really handy that's not a ratchet, screwdriver, etc.
For me, it's a needle nose vice grip. I find myself using it all the time to get into tight spaces and forget about maintaining clamping force. I use it for hose clamps, cotter pins, keeping bolts from spinning, loosening stuck screws. What tool do other people find unexpectedly useful?
A 16 in wrench with a 17 mm head on one side and 14 mm on the other. Fits into tight spots a ratchet can't and gives plenty of leverage.
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