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I bought a set of Duralast wrenches from Autozoo once out of desperation. I’ve had the same metric set of ratcheting wrenches for 5 years now, and they have stood up to a lot of abuse. I went back and got the regular wrenches too, they are longer for added leverage, and the finish work on them is just as good as the Snap and Matco.
I use them everyday for alignments because of their length. If they break, which hasn’t happened yet, they are guaranteed for life. They are often overlooked because of their “low” price. I hope this helps someone out there looking for decent wrenches.
I have some of their sockets, which are the same as everyone else, nothing special, but the wrenches are worth a look for sure.
I bought a set of Duralast wrenches from Autozoo once out of desperation. I’ve had the same metric set of ratcheting wrenches for 5 years now, and they have stood up to a lot of abuse. I went back and got the regular wrenches too, they are longer for added leverage, and the finish work on them is just as good as the Snap and Matco.
I use them everyday for alignments because of their length. If they break, which hasn’t happened yet, they are guaranteed for life. They are often overlooked because of their “low” price. I hope this helps someone out there looking for decent wrenches.
I have some of their sockets, which are the same as everyone else, nothing special, but the wrenches are worth a look for sure.
I like Tooltopia.com
They have plenty of different brands and great prices. I saw that Ingersoll Rand impact air ratchet on one of the trucks for over $400.
Found the exact same one on the above website for a little over $200. I’m not saying the truck guys shouldn’t make a decent living, but I just can’t afford a 100% mark up these days when people can’t afford to fix their cars.
I actually feel bad and guilty every week when they come in asking if I need anything and I just can’t afford it. I used to pay $20-$30 a week for tools, but I had to just stop once I paid my balance because I genuinely needed that money for groceries. Even then, I’m paying interest on my groceries because I have to buy them with my credit card!
I’m a flat rate tech with 5 ASE’s and could have more but can’t afford to take the tests, lol.
Times are tough these days, people will only fix their cars when they won’t move, and by then the problems have piled up so high they end up towing the cars out after seeing the estimate. Sorry for the rant, got caught up in the horribly depressing moment.I know how you feel. Sometimes I hear their angry comments to the service writers: “Why does it cost so much?! Autozone ( or Autozoo as I like to call it) told me it was a bad oxygen sensor! So just change what I’m telling you!” And we all know what happens if we do that without a proper diagnostic.
I had a lady walk right into my bay while I was working on something and ask how much to fix her flat tire she drove in on. At my shop, we take the tire off the rim to inspect and seal it from the inside. You know, the right way. We charge $10 for that. She looked at me like I was Satan and said that was too much. Seriously? How much is she gonna spend on lunch today? How bout her hair and nails? But $10 is too much so she can drive again?
You can’t get away with the stuff they pull on us in any other profession either. Like coming in after an oil change and demanding we fix the power window(s) that we made not work. I can’t go to my dentist and say “hey, these cavities weren’t here last time I came in for a cleaning 5 years ago! You owe me some teeth!”
I know how you feel. Sometimes I hear their angry comments to the service writers: “Why does it cost so much?! Autozone ( or Autozoo as I like to call it) told me it was a bad oxygen sensor! So just change what I’m telling you!” And we all know what happens if we do that without a proper diagnostic.
I had a lady walk right into my bay while I was working on something and ask how much to fix her flat tire she drove in on. At my shop, we take the tire off the rim to inspect and seal it from the inside. You know, the right way. We charge $10 for that. She looked at me like I was Satan and said that was too much. Seriously? How much is she gonna spend on lunch today? How bout her hair and nails? But $10 is too much so she can drive again?
You can’t get away with the stuff they pull on us in any other profession either. Like coming in after an oil change and demanding we fix the power window(s) that we made not work. I can’t go to my dentist and say “hey, these cavities weren’t here last time I came in for a cleaning 5 years ago! You owe me some teeth!”
This post reminds me of what my trade school teachers were saying back in high school. This was when the art of exporting all our manufacturing jobs was gaining speed.
They said: “Be a mechanic, be an HVAC tech, be a carpenter. In these trades, every case is different so they can never export your job thus making it more valuable. It’s not cost effective to send your boiler or car over seas to have a child fix it.”
They were sort of right, those jobs stayed here, but what happened? Now there’s more people trying to get the training and positions available for these jobs. So there’s an influx of training centers popping up everywhere for the last 40 years teaching nursing, auto, HVAC, Electrical, etc.
You do get valuable training, at a premium price. The schools get their money in the form of secured loans, but the students get shafted in the real world. Where the jobs pay less or the same as 40 years ago. Partly due to the large job pool. Maybe nursing is the exemption. I’ve had in depth conversations with techs from every trade, and nursing seems to be the only one where there’s consistent pay and opportunity for advancement.
I look at job postings every day, not just auto, but across all fields. The qualifications needed are absurd.
This post reminds me of what my trade school teachers were saying back in high school. This was when the art of exporting all our manufacturing jobs was gaining speed.
They said: “Be a mechanic, be an HVAC tech, be a carpenter. In these trades, every case is different so they can never export your job thus making it more valuable. It’s not cost effective to send your boiler or car over seas to have a child fix it.”
They were sort of right, those jobs stayed here, but what happened? Now there’s more people trying to get the training and positions available for these jobs. So there’s an influx of training centers popping up everywhere for the last 40 years teaching nursing, auto, HVAC, Electrical, etc.
You do get valuable training, at a premium price. The schools get their money in the form of secured loans, but the students get shafted in the real world. Where the jobs pay less or the same as 40 years ago. Partly due to the large job pool. Maybe nursing is the exemption. I’ve had in depth conversations with techs from every trade, and nursing seems to be the only one where there’s consistent pay and opportunity for advancement.
I look at job postings every day, not just auto, but across all fields. The qualifications needed are absurd.
It takes practice to learn your jacks sweet spot in terms of turning force for the rod.
I recently bought one of those new designs where the jack stands are incorporated to the jack. Slam the stand into the jack, lift car, release and pull jack out while stand stays locked in place.
This particular jack has a turn dial at the end of the jack handle. Takes very little effort to turn and also controls the speed of decent too. All the controls are on the jack handle. Came with 2 stands, and if they are not enough, then the jack can also be used as a regular jack too.
I’m very happy with it. No more bending down and placing stands, or having the jack and stand fight over space under the car.
It takes practice to learn your jacks sweet spot in terms of turning force for the rod.
I recently bought one of those new designs where the jack stands are incorporated to the jack. Slam the stand into the jack, lift car, release and pull jack out while stand stays locked in place.
This particular jack has a turn dial at the end of the jack handle. Takes very little effort to turn and also controls the speed of decent too. All the controls are on the jack handle. Came with 2 stands, and if they are not enough, then the jack can also be used as a regular jack too.
I’m very happy with it. No more bending down and placing stands, or having the jack and stand fight over space under the car.
Cream on oil cap is not a big deal. Chocolate milk looking stuff on the engine oil dipstick is a big deal.
Why was the water pump replaced? Did your friend have an issue where he had to bring it in to have work done? Or was it just suggested by the Dealer?