Imperial or Metric - What unit used in cars?

[Lance]

Do you feel like a fraud when you can't do anything without relying on paying a 'skilled professional' perhaps and need to lash out?

I was trying to be helpful. You may disagree, and that's fine.
But why are being such an arse about it?
Why resort to personal insults? I know it's general but there's no need.

I'd call you a **** but you're neither deep enough or warm enough.

[Scorp1]

Did you get a good discount on the ratchet ?

[DoctorStrangelove]

Pretty much guaranteed to be metric.

If you like nice things, you won't beat Halfords Advanced for the cash - lifetime guarantee, too though I'm yet to actually break anything Halfords.

They do some really nice sets which have pretty much everything to get you started:

Halfords Advanced 200 Pc Socket and Ratchet Spanner Set | Halfords UK

Genuinely good tools

One tip with cars, though, is you'll often find the first time you do a job means going out and buying some kind of tool - this does eventually ease off, but it can be pretty frustrating

The 2nd time you do a job, you have to find the tool you bought to do it the first time, this can be frustrating.

And I've broken a Halfords ratcheting spanner, which didn't impress me much.

Stone me, that socket set is expensive.

[Paddy]

And Mr C doesn’t think he’s done a proper job on the car until he returns to the house bleeding.

So a first aid kit with antiseptic wipes and fabric plasters is a must have as well.

Gloves, gloves and more gloves when working on a car.

[Paddy]

Wanted to buy a (Car) mechanic tool kit, so that I can open and look into Car injectors etc. But many talk about Metric and Imperial in toolsets such as (Ratchets, Sockets etc).

Does any one know if Cars in the UK use Metric or Imperial measurements? Any recommendation for a (beginner) mechanic tool kit?

Don't skimp on tools.
Most useful item is a long breaker-bar, not just for wheel nuts but also for stuck injectors and stubborn nuts and bolts. I also use it to lift the wheel in place.
Battery Impact wrench saves a lot of time. £100 upwards
Battery screwdriver and nut driver. Saves time. £25 upwards
Axil stands for safety.
Set of male and female Torx
Lots of WD40
Good Code Reader
Add... barbeque lighter; the flame is just right for heating up stubborn nuts and bolts.

[Lance]

barbeque lighter; the flame is just right for heating up stubborn nuts and bolts.

one of these ?




or do you mean this sort?

[DoctorStrangelove]

Most useful item is a long breaker-bar, not just for wheel nuts but also for stuck injectors and stubborn nuts and bolts. I also use it to lift the wheel in place.

Add... barbeque lighter; the flame is just right for heating up stubborn nuts and bolts.

Got a 3/4" drive breaker bar & some large sockets: used to remove the hub nuts on a Granada: guess how I figured out that one nut was LH thread.

Oxyacetylene is the best heat treatment for "difficult" fixings.

[vwdan]

The 2nd time you do a job, you have to find the tool you bought to do it the first time, this can be frustrating.

And I've broken a Halfords ratcheting spanner, which didn't impress me much.

Stone me, that socket set is expensive.

Eh, they're good tools for a fair price IMHO. I broke a Snap-On breaker within an hour of having the thing - these things happen, no matter what the brand!

Was it Advanced/Pro that you broke, or just normal? I find my Advanced stuff to be very heavy duty

[NigelJK]

Couple of other things:

Intercept all dishcloths/drying cloths/towels (handy for kneeling on)/rags heading for the bin/local tip. You will need then

Good hand cleaning wipes.
Good degreaser
Wire brushes
Plenty of disposable gloves.
Swarfega for cleaning up afterwards


A good 'first job' is to replace the brake disc pads. Saves loads of ££. You will need a calliper reset tool for this £20.
If you're still up for it swap out the disks themselves, especially if you are thinking of moving the car on soon.

If you have offspring try and get them involved.

A small bit of mechanical sympathy goes a long way.

Oh and sign up to Euro Car Parts and keep an eye out for their 'Sales'.

Aim to be doing your own Servicing within a year to get your investment back.

[DoctorStrangelove]

Eh, they're good tools for a fair price IMHO. I broke a Snap-On breaker within an hour of having the thing - these things happen, no matter what the brand!

Was it Advanced/Pro that you broke, or just normal? I find my Advanced stuff to be very heavy duty

It was donkey's years ago, I don't think they'd invented "Advanced" then.

It was probably a 13mm ratchet/open ender.

Should have loosened the bolt with something a bit more substantial before hand.

I do miss the miraculous way oxy loosens bolts, though avoiding setting stuff on fire is inneresting sometimes.