Having the right tools in your garage, shop, or toolbox can help you complete repair projects with less hassle or frustration, and can ensure that you get the job done right the first time. From hand tools to other basic repair supplies, there are a number of tools you may need to get started working on your own car, or just to keep you under the hood. To simplify the process, we have curated a list of basic tools that are a staple for any automotive do-it-yourself enthusiast, and can help you easily perform the repairs and maintenance tasks your vehicle needs. Below is a list of the best tools for mechanics.
Also called a socket wrench, a ratchet and socket combination set makes it easy to install or remove fasteners like nuts or bolts without having to lift and reposition a wrench during each rotation. Ratchets and sockets are also perfect for hard-to-reach spaces that don’t allow for much movement. Get the job done easier, faster, and with less fatigue with a variety of ratchet handle and socket sets from O’Reilly Auto Parts, available in different sizes, types, and lengths for any repair.
Wrenches are a staple of automotive work, as they are used to grip, fasten, loosen, and remove components including nuts, bolts, and pipe fittings and provide optimal torque and control. There are a variety of wrench types for different applications, including ratchet wrenches for pivoting in tight spaces, Allen wrenches or hex keys for use with hex-head bolts and screws, combination wrenches, flare nut wrenches, oil filter wrenches, swivel palm wrenches, and much more. Find the perfect wrench or wrench set at O’Reilly Auto Parts and browse our wrench selection.
A breaker bar is a long metal bar used with a socket to help loosen, tighten, and ‘break’ nuts and bolts from their position, utilizing leverage to maximize torque to remove stuck or especially tight fasteners. Also called cheater bars, breaker bars are a garage must-have for simplifying tasks like installing and removing lug nuts, breaking loose rusted nuts and bolts, and more. Find and shop a variety of breaker bars, ratcheting breaker bars, ratchet adapters, and more at O’Reilly Auto Parts.
One of the most often-used tools in automotive repair is the screwdriver. Available in a variety of types and lengths, screwdrivers help remove screws from the interior, exterior, frame, and more. Tools like a flat-head screwdriver are useful for removing straight-slotted screws of nearly any size, and can also be used to pry off and remove small fasteners, clips, or retainers. A Phillips screwdriver features a crossed metal tip that unscrews fasteners with a corresponding slot size, and is available in five different sizes for every type of Phillips screw. For removing star-shaped components, a Torx screwdriver, otherwise known as a star bit screwdriver, will come in handy to help firmly engage essential screws and bolts. O’Reilly Auto Parts stocks a variety of screwdrivers to help stock your toolbox, including the sizes, lengths, and bit styles you need.
For the hard-to-reach spots in your vehicle, as well as cutting and bending small electrical wires, needle-nose pliers, also called crimpers or long nose pliers, are a must-have tool. With handles bowing outward for optimal grip and long, thin metal tips for grabbing, a needle-nose plier is designed for tight fits and more precise tasks. Slip-joint pliers are used to better grip and bend hardware with two layers of metal teeth to prevent slippage. Similarly, channel lock pliers, also called tongue-and-groove pliers, provide an even stronger grip with added protection from serration or other damage. Diagonal pliers are used to remove small fasteners like lever nails or to precisely cut wiring. When more torque is needed in spots that are difficult to access, locking pliers are especially useful, as they help remove stuck objects and provide maximum grip. Shop needle-nose pliers, slip-joint pliers, locking pliers, and more from O’Reilly Auto Parts, with a variety of grip styles and reach lengths, as well as plier sets to help you get the job done right more quickly and with less hassle.
A hammer, whether it is a ball peen or rubber mallet, can be extremely useful during repairs or routine maintenance to help tap in or drive out parts, retainers, seals, and more. Not only can the right hammer help secure or remove nut retainers and cotter pins, bearings, and seals without damage, such as with rubber mallets or dead blow hammers, but in some instances you can use tools like a slide hammer or dolly to remove small fender dents with a few well-placed knocks. Find chiseling and finishing hammers, pick hammers, ball peen hammers, slide hammer kits, and much more with O’Reilly Auto Parts’ hammers and striking tools.
A pry bar is used to separate and disconnect retainers, move parts out of the way of the repair, and generally provide additional leverage to keep you working smarter, not harder. Also called a crowbar or pinch bar, pry bars act as a lever to make separation easier and safer, and are available in angled or straight tips to fit an array of applications. Whether you’re performing suspension or axle repairs, working around exhaust systems which may need to be pried away from your work area, or removing delicate pieces of trim from the interior of the vehicle during a repair, O’Reilly Auto Parts carries a handful of types and sizes of prying tools, as well as pry bar sets, to help you find the best pry bars for your toolbox.
Keeping track of nuts, bolts, fasteners, and more while working on a vehicle can be a tall order. A magnetic tray connects to a vehicle’s metal frame or other metal surfaces and helps hold fasteners, sockets, and more while you are working. Parts trays are made in several shapes, lengths, and depths. In case you do lose track of a nut, bolt, screw, or any other metal object, a magnetic pick-up tool is a reliable and useful tool that allows you to retrieve hard-to-reach parts. With a handle and magnetic end, pick-up tools are used in tight spaces to retrieve a fastener, and could also be used blindly to find a missing part or tool that has fallen. Some magnetic pick up tools are made with extendable arms for better reach, while others feature lights or a mirror for better visibility. Discover a range of magnetic trays and magnetic pick up tools from O’Reilly Auto Parts to make getting the job done right even easier.
An impact wrench, also called an impact gun, is powered by either an electric motor or air pressure to provide a powerful, high-torque rotation that is used with a socket to secure or remove lug nuts, large bolts, and corroded, hard-to-remove fasteners. Impact wrenches are a commonly-used tool when removing the wheels, but can be also used for an array of projects, making them one of the most useful automotive tools in your collection. Shop O’Reilly Auto Parts’ selection of impact wrenches for high-quality power and air tools that are sure to be a garage staple.
A torque wrench is used when a specific amount of force is required to secure fasteners, typically nuts and bolts, and is made to couple with a socket for proper fit. Torque wrenches help you apply the exact amount of pressure, typically measured in foot-pounds, specified by the manufacturer to ensure your repair is safe and that preload or bolt stretch is appropriate for the application. O’Reilly Auto Parts carries high-quality torque wrenches to help you expand your toolbox with the best brands and products.
The right selection of basic hand tools can help you better tackle maintenance, repairs, and other automotive tasks, and could impact the time, effort, and frustration spent during a project. Shop hand tools you may need at O’Reilly Auto Parts, including tool sets, wrenches, pry bars, socket extension and adapters, and an array of other useful garage accessories to help you get the job done right the first time. If you are in a pinch and need a tool for a specific project, take advantage of our O'Reilly Loaner Tool Program, where you can rent hand tools, measuring tools, tool sets, and much more with just a refundable deposit. You can also check out our How-To Hub, a comprehensive library of articles, videos, diagnostic steps, and helpful information to get you started on your next repair. Make sure you have the tools and resources you need to get started making your own repairs with O’Reilly Auto Parts.