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Essential Tools Every DIY Mechanic Needs

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The average car owner spends around 2 percent of their annual income on repairs and maintenance. For most car owners, saving a few dollars on car repair is a priority. If you are good with your hands and have the right tools, doing your own small repairs is a good idea.

Knowing which repairs you can handle and which ones require professional help is crucial. When it comes to things like transmission repair or internal engine parts replacement, hiring a professional mechanic is probably a good idea.

Here are some tools you will need in your arsenal when taking on a car-repair issue by yourself.

A durable floor jack

When performing an oil change or replacing worn-out brake components, you will have to raise your vehicle up a bit to reach these parts. The best way to do this is by using a durable and reliable floor jack. There are several floor jacks on the market, which is why you need to take your time when choosing one.

Rushing through this important decision may cause you to choose the wrong floor jack. Be sure to pay attention to the weight capacity of a jack before purchasing it. If you have a large truck, get a floor jack that can support this massive weight with ease.

A socket set

Most of the parts on your vehicle are held on by bolts. Over time, these bolts will become very hard to remove. If you want to remove these bolts in a hurry, having a well-made socket set is crucial.

These socket sets come in both standard and metric sizes. In most cases, you need to get both types of sockets to ensure you have the right size to remove any of the bolts on your vehicle. Before choosing a particular socket set, take some time to look online at the reviews it has received. With this information, you can figure out whether the set in question is worth the money.

An assortment of screwdrivers

When trying to remove tail light bulbs or worn brake pads, you will need a durable screwdriver at your disposal. Screwdrivers typically come with either a Philips head of a flathead. Screwdrivers also come in a variety of different sizes, which is why you need to acquire a large collection.

Trying to skimp on the quality of the screwdrivers you get can create lots of problems. If the head of the screwdriver is not well made, it may lead to you stripping out the head of a screw. Doing this can make getting the screw out nearly impossible. Therefore, you need to invest in the highest quality tools at your disposal.

A detailed owner’s manual

Some used cars will not have the original owner’s manual with them. This can make doing routine maintenance and repairs difficult. Luckily, there are several aftermarket manuals available to consumers. These manuals made by companies like Haynes provide you with a detailed breakdown of how your car is structured.

Having this detailed information is crucial when trying to do things like change spark plugs or finding your oil drain plug. If you would rather have the owner’s manual provided by the manufacturer of the vehicle, visit a local dealership to order one.

Know when to contact a professional mechanic

If you run into a car repair issue that is too complex to handle alone, finding an experienced mechanic to work with is a must. Before hiring a mechanic, be sure to assess the experience they have with repairing your type of vehicle.

This is a collaborative article.