Automotive Tools And Their Uses: An Ultimate Guide
Feb 17, 2021
If you plan to wrench your car this summer but know less about automotive tools and their uses, this article may include some notices you need right now.
Automotive Tools And Their Uses: Introduction
Taking care of a car is a much more complicated task than just having it in your garage. Not all the time can you take your vehicle to the repair store.
Examine and inspect it by yourself can save a big fortune. However, car-care beginners may inevitably be overwhelmed by hundreds of automotive tools and their use guidelines out there.
That’s why Philcarnews.com has got you covered with this article below. Let’s check it out.
Automotive Tools And Their Uses: Classification
There are tons of mechanical tools, and each of them has its uses. However, instead of learning by heart, we divide them into seven groups to make it easier for you to understand: common, socket, adjustable, screwdrivers, hex key, specialty, and other essential tools.
Automotive Tools: Common Wrenches
Tool
Description
Open-End Wrench
This type of wrench is double-ended and features a bigger or smaller sized opening at the other end. At both ends of the handle, the head is open and angled around fifteen degrees.
This tool can work in a small place where a box-end wrench cannot cover the fastener. Sometimes the wrench is adjustable.
Box-End Wrench
Unlike the open-end wrench, the box end’s head is round-shaped with either 6 or 12 points to fit different nuts or lug. The feature of this tool is its off-set handle to make it easier to turn.
Combination Wrench
As its name indicates, the combination of an open and close-end wrench with one end has a closed ring, and the other is opened. However, it does not have an off-set handle design.
Flare Wrench
Like an open-end, this wrench is also used to fasten or loosen objects but limit to bolts or nuts with hexagonal shapes only.
In automotive repair, it is commonly used to secure brake and clutch lines, fuel pumps, and temp sensors.
Flex head socket wrench
This tool looks like a closed-end wrench, but the heavier and stronger handle makes it work more efficiently. It is used for removing stubborn nuts or lugs.
Ratcheting Box Wrench
Is a box wrench that has a ratchet, which means that it has a reversing lever. If this lever is activated, the wrench can be flipped in the opposite direction for more leverage.
In contrast to other ratchet wrenches, the ratchet box wrench socket cannot be exchanged
Striking face box wrench
This tool looks like a box-end wrench, but the heavier and stronger handle makes it work more efficiently. It is used for removing stubborn nuts or lugs.
Compared to normal wrenches, it is easier to use a ratchet or socket because you do not have to put the tool back in a suitable place when turning the bolt.
In limited space where movement is challenging, it is the best tool.
Saltus Wrench
It works similar to a ratchet or socket, but the Flex head socket wrench is a good choice if you do not have room for them.
It has a socket stick at the handle so that you can adjust the tool to fit with limited-access spaces.
Speed Wrench
This tool can help remove bolts or nuts faster thanks to its crack shape at the handle, but compared to ratchets or sockets, it requires more human power.
Non-ratcheting Bar (Breaker Bar)
Known as a breaker bar, it is used for loosening very tight nuts or bolts.
Because it has a long handle, it requires less power to generate compared to regular wrenches.
Torque Wrench
The last member of the sockets family is the torque wrench. It is quite similar to a normal socket, but there is a scale to measure torque at the tool’s handle.
Adjustable wrenches look like a normal open-end wrench, but you can adjust the jaw to fit various sizes of nuts or lugs.
Screwdrivers
As its name indicates, it is used for removing screws. Common screwdrivers are manual, while some types are powered.
Hex Key
For bolts with hexagonal sockets head, the Allen key is useful. It has an L-shaped form or a T-handle with a longer and shorter arm.
Usually, the long arm is held to twist to generate torque at the shorter side.
Automotive Tools: The Specialties
Tool
Description
Impact Wrench
Powerful and compact, this tool is widely used to remove stubborn nuts or lugs from car wheels. Using electricity can substitute for human power.
Tire Spanner
If you want to remove lugs from the car wheel but have no impact wrench, you can use it.
Chain Wrench
For loosening circular objects or providing minimal grip on a smooth surface, this is the most useful assistant, so you need to add one to your tool collection.
From holding objects to cutting electric wire, a plier is a prominent tool. Most pliers have insulated thanks to their plastic or silicon cover at the handles.
Grease Gun
This tool is used for lubrication to mechanical or moving parts of the cars. Amateur users can manually generate grease guns. Air or electricity-powered guns are usually made for professionals.
Diagnostic Tools
This is one of the most state-of-the-art tools to detect your car's problems by connecting to the vehicle's operating system. The OBD scanner will show the summary of the problem.
Jack and Jack-stand
You might have seen them many times in car fixing places. The mechanics use them to elevate your vehicle so that they can check under your car.
The jack-stands normally have an indicated weight capacity, so check the gross weight of your vehicle before buying one.
Now we bet you have grasped all the necessary information on some automotive tools and their uses. It is quite complicated to remember all at once, but we hope you will find these tools easier to use after reading our article.
If you have any comments or other useful tips, please leave a comment to share them with us.
