Hey guys, I need to buy a couple of large sockets to fix some stuff on my Saturn. I wanted to also buy the larger sockets used on the FD. Besides the regular 8, 10, 12, 14, and 17mm sizes, what others have you guys came across that are large enough not to come in standard socket sets?

 

I use 21 and 22...but dont know if those are FD parts or aftermarket.

I know the RP trailing arms and toe links are one of those two sizes for the adjustment.

My lug nuts are 21mm... but those are not stock

The ratcheting box wrenches that have a pivot are really nice to have in the most common sizes as well as universal joint sockets 1/4 and 3/8 inch drive for the most common sizes if you are on a budget.

I have rebuilt my car like three times, top to bottom with just a basic carry chest of tools, an air compressor, an impact wrench, a dremel, an angle grinder and a drill... so you don't need a whole lot.

 

Rear axle wheel nuts are 36mm.
Flywheel nut is 54mm.
A nice cooler for your beer!!

 

Those sizes will handle about 90% if the work you'll do. Spend your money on some "good" torque wrenches. You can usually find some good deals on Snap-on torque wrenches on eBay.

 

Or craigslist.org

Love that site for local tools...

 

I work for an engine company so torque wrenches are easy to come by! Thanks for the ideas. I know a few sizes cover about 95% of the car but when you run across that one you dont have at 2am your screwed!

 

The real problem with this car is having as many variants of the standard metric sizes as possible so that you can actually get the damn tool onto the fastener. Working on these cars is painful because of clearance issues. Sometimes I almost envy domestic V8 guys with their engines sitting in the middle of the engine bay 1 - 2 feet from the bodywork.

You can have every metric socket from 1 to 50mm but that may not necessarily help you if you are trying to remove a downpipe.

 

There are worse cars to work on in terms of space than the FD. I have some friends with Nissan Z32's from about the same era. I'll take my FD.

To the OP: It's usually included in most sets, but you'll need a 19mm too. The very large ones you shouldn't need often and can "borrow" a 34mm from most any parts store if needed. Not sure about the 54mm...but might be available as a 2 1/8".

And I agree with Cozmo, I love my set of flex-head Gearwrenchs. Seems like I reach for them at least as often as any ratchet and socket.

 

These are the tools I find most critical: 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 14mm, 17mm. I think 16, 18, and 19 might come up from time to time. I think there is a 6 or 7mm on the ground for the fuel pump assembly. 21mm for the lugnuts. The axle (36) and flywheel (54) are infrequent enough you can borrow or rent one.

The 8-14 are good to have in several types: socket wrench, ratcheting wrench, and my favorite is a swivel socket. 8, 10, 12, 14 swivel sockets in 1/8" size and a couple of short extensions will get you moving through the many small fasteners most quickly.

I'd also make sure you have long reach needle nose pliers and an extending magnet to help fish out dropped nuts and bolts. You'll want screwdrivers that fit your intake coupler clamps for certain.

Dave

 

I just put greddy twins on my friends Z33, I have never had a worse experience as far as tight engine bays go. My hand are absolutely a mess haha. I'd rather work on the fd any day.

 

When I stripped down my car last year 99% of the work was done with a 10 ;-)

 

i hope youre kidding... my friend claims the same shenanigans...

8 is for really tiny stuff (cant remember)
10 mostly for electrical stuff (int and hard lines)
12 bolts brackets on and minor stuff (int, engine bay acc)
14 a lot of suspension and underbody parts (mostly under carriage)
17 and 21 some under body stuff(mostly under carriage)

im putting my car back together from just a shell, i mainly use 10 12 14 and 17, those are a MUST for an FD

 

This is good advice. I have 2 sets of 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2" drive sockets for the 8-17mm range, one short and one deep set sockets. I have about 3 sets of different types of wrenches for the same range. In the wrenches, I have one set of open ends that go up to 24mm.

Some other odds and ends to get later: bolt/screw extractors, tap/die set.

For the most part, just build your tool set on an "as needed" basis. You'll never really know exactly what you'll need until you get there.

 

I've been using a plastic head dead-blow hammer more and more lately. Various things...taping on a manifold to get it loose from the gasket, removing and replacing the alternator, lots of things. With all the cast pieces on these cars, it just seems to come in handy often. It's also something I'd recommend getting before you need it.

 

You can never have enough tools.

later

 

A tool set with standard and metric sizes will be almost everything you need. (for basic work)

....a good set should include open end wrenches, ratchets of 3/8, 1/2 etc.

Dont forget needle nose pliers. How many times i didnt need it, then all of a sudden, i needed it EVERYTIME i had to do something to the FD lol.

I dont know if its mentioned but 19MM socket (doesnt come with "most" tool sets) for lug nuts. I have aftermarket lug nuts but i think thats stock size anyway.

A torque wrench is mandatory. Doesnt have to be a 300 dollar one, just something not cheap. I have that in 3/8.

Basically i was given a bootleg toolset when i went to automotive school, then just bought misc tool parts along the way since i bought the FD lol.

I need to buy a good tool chest to store all my tools nice and neat.

 

+1 definately great advice. from1 8-19mm i have socket wrench, flex-head socket wrench, reg and deep sockets, reg wrenches. cant go wrong with a variety of those!

 

That should get most everything. Just about what I have I rarely anymore do I have to go buy another tool. Although it is just fun to go buy more tools...


VERY true....

 

PB Blaster......
That shyt helps with ALL the tight *** bolts that don't want to come off...

L8R

 

I second the 18mm and 19mm sockets as being necessary and...never included in most sets.
Also, a set of flex-sockets, especially 10mm, 12mm, 13mm, and 14mm come in handy.

As others have said...you simply can't have too many tools. My friends always marvel at the tools I have (and of course BORROW them!). I remember buying tools I only used once back in my diesel Audi days, high dollar stuff like injector pump output testing equipment and a 650 ft/lb torque wrench.

 

I personally love my stubby flex handle 3/8th drive ratchet for things like getting at the spark plugs, as well as my extra long-handled flex handle ratchet when I really need some torque. Don't forget a nice sharp pair of cutting dikes (dykes?) those suckers come in handy all the time

 

I just can't stress enough how much time the ratcheting box wrenches have saved me... that and the universal joint sockets with good extensions in varying sizes. With the 1/4" drive ratchet I have wobble joints on my extensions that make tight areas a lot easier to reach.

A really nice impact gun, with an impact swivel is almost a necessity for suspension/exhaust work (if you are doing it a lot). It is a mega time saver.

A good voltmeter is something I forgot in my original post and is critical for a lot of the FD troubleshooting...and I haven't seen it mentioned in here.

A soldering gun and various sections/sizes of good glue seal heat shrink is also something I use a lot, but my car is a bastard so I have to do lots of wiring anytime I change anything. I used it a lot when my car was a rotary too though.

Buying tools is an endless hobby and if you buy good ones your grandkids might be using them. I know my grandpa was a woodworker and had the nicest planes, chissles and saws and now my dad has them. I am sure I will get them eventually as well. Good tools don't wear out.

 

I've also pieced mine together on as 'as needed' basis. Pretty much everything is from Sears. I pretty much am satisfied with the sizes that Dave mentioned. I have them in 3/8" and 1/2" wrench sizes.

I recently bought a 24mm socket to do the diff oil. I technically needed a 23 and 24 but the 24 worked well enough on the fill bolt that I didn't bother buying the 23. I have a few 21, 22 and 25mm sockets gathering dust that I'm sure I needed for something at one point but rarely use.

The ratcheting box end wrenches that cosmo mentioned have also come in useful on occasion. Especially the 10mm size. I use that on the radiator mounting brackets and fans often.

Sears also sells a ratcheting screw driver set that I have found VERY useful:
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...e=Screwdrivers
These little things have come in so handy so many times in really tight spaces - particularly interior, mud flaps, and wheel well covers.

It have also found it useful and convenient to have allen head sockets. There have been various aftermarket parts that I've needed them for.

Another very useful wrench has been my Flare Nut wrench which I use on the caliper bleed screws. I haven't stripped one since I started using this wrench. It looks like this but in the correct size for our bleeder valves:
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...sName=Wrenches


I occasionally wrench on my Mini and that requires some odd sizes (compared to Mazdas anyway). With that car I needed 16mm, 18mm sockets and wrenches. Also needed the allen hed sockets for the brakes. The car uses a lot of Torx head bolts too which is freakin annoying. Damn German engineering....

 

The front hub bearing nut is 35 mm (I sure hope, I just ordered a deep socket), according to Ray Crowe. That baby cost me $30, in 3/4" drive impact form.

 

FWIW, You can rent the axel nut socket from Autozone for free.