I'm starting to progress to more "involved" work on my Beetle, such as starting to tackle some bodywork issues, rust etc. I know I haven't got the right tools and will need to figure out what I'll need. (welder, grinder, sander etc)
This got me thinking... I wonder what you guys rate as your top 5 most useful tools when working on your VW's?
annosL ·
well for me I found an air-operated hack saw handy for cutting out rusty bits plus 4" grinder with thin cut-off discs. As for tools I use stubby ratchet spanners a lot, especially 10mm one. Good lighting and Jack-stands pretty essential . Set of panelbeaters hammers good value too, I only bought cheap set but have used them heaps
ancientbugger ·
13mm spanner! Oh yes and a towel😂
LUFTMEISTER ·
1/ a brain 2/ rat cunning 3/ patience 4/ curiousity 5/ band aids oh and some spanners thats all you need to work on Dubs.👍
greedy53 ·
a 4 pound hammer and tie wire
1303Steve ·
Hi
One of those cheap 3/8 spark socket sets with the flexible handle
10mm Tee Bar, timing and sump plate
a circuit tester the bulb type, you cant use a multimeter in all situations, the test light puts a load on a circuit so it shows up bad connections etc
I will think of more.
Steve
jjwebb123 ·
10mm,13mm,19mm,36mm,Vice Grips.
BiX ·
I would probably add a 1/2 drive and socket for the rear hub nuts. Different 13mm spanners, some large open ended/ring spanners (19mm, 21mm?), axle stands (good solid ones) and a decent medium trolley jack.
matberry ·
Angle grinder, electrical test light, trolley jack, vehicle hoist and a toolbox full of metric 1/4, 3/8 & 1/2" driive sockets, spanners and the usual hand tools.......
Uber Kafer ·
A can of silicone spray.
A pot of nickel based anti-sieze, which goes on any bolt or nut when putting back together.
And a can of WD40 as its a penetrant, lubricant, and its got fish-oil in it as a water repellant preservative, squirt it into any area that moisture might enter.
And a can of beer, or glass of wine, of your choice.
and a little plate of cheese n bickies...
rose ·
That's what I was going to say a big hammer & cable ties😂😂
greedy53 wrote:a 4 pound hammer and tie wire
jjwebb123 ·
and a little plate of cheese n bickies...
Wow you have a fun fix up afternoon don't you.😂
1303Steve ·
Uber Kafer wrote:and a little plate of cheese n bickies...
Beer goes well with that, but make sure all the hard stuff is done 1st
Joel ·
BiX wrote:I would probably add a 1/2 drive and socket for the rear hub nuts.
even best of the best 1/2" drive arent really up to the task of axle nuts and gland nuts.
unless you like breaking tools 3/4" is best for those
over 200ft/lb on swingaxles is getting beyond the limits of most 1/2" sets
the 5 tools i seem to be always using are my trolley jack, axle stands, 1/2" drive socket kit, rattle gun and spring compressors
if i wasnt still stuck working on vw engines i could probably launch my feeler gauge set over the back fence 🤪
1. A good VW workshop manual - which you should read first, before you start work.
The rest are just incidental...
donn ·
matberry wrote:Angle grinder, electrical test light, trolley jack, vehicle hoist and a toolbox full of metric 1/4, 3/8 & 1/2" driive sockets, spanners and the usual hand tools.......
A vehicle hoist, how many home mechanics have one of those? 🙅
dangerous ·
Gotta love lubricants like never-sieze and WD40 or INOX.
I like a lot of tools, especially my favourite screw drivers and ring/open end spanners,
but I think the ones that get me "out of a bind" are the best.
Magnet on a stick.
8" vice grips
I have two 18" tyre levers with the ends thinned out for all sorts of levering jobs,
a small bastard file for making stuff flat,
and for removing burrs, a little...'de-burrer".
matberry ·
donn wrote:
matberry wrote:Angle grinder, electrical test light, trolley jack, vehicle hoist and a toolbox full of metric 1/4, 3/8 & 1/2" driive sockets, spanners and the usual hand tools.......
A vehicle hoist, how many home mechanics have one of those? 🙅
😍
jsheppard64 ·
a Mr. McGyver
71dub ·
creaper and plenty of time dont rush all will be good in the end no matter how long it takes
rose ·
O I forgot my number one tool is Ian 😂😂
Phil74Camper ·
Is he a left-hand or a right-hand screw?
waveman1500 ·
danny_galaga wrote:My top tool specifically for VW is my (35mm? forgotten the size) spanner for the axle nut (",)
I can tell you what your BOTTOM of the list tool should be. A shifter. Throw that crap away!
36mm. I just went and bought a proper 36mm impact socket today, 1/2" drive. Used it to take off four rear axle nuts to swap the rear brakes from my old bug to my new one. Two of the nuts were TIGHT and seriously stubborn. Like, half an hour of multiple attempts using a 600Nm rattle gun, WD40, a hammer and a metre-long breaker bar. Didn't phase the 1/2" drive tools, but caused a lot of sweat and annoyance!