Tools!

[grantley1988 1]

Well today i started to change the gearbox on the car. First ever mechanical job i have done!

 

I went to halfords and bought a pro socket set and then i bought a trolley jack and creeper set Nice and happy that i thought i had the tools for the job.

Tell the boys i will not be down the pub as i am fixing the car....

 

Car jacked up

Wheels Off

 

Now i go to drain the gearbox and i can't get a socket on it!!!!

 

So annoyed as all the shops are shut, so i can not get a spanner set

 

First thing tommorow i will be going back to halfords to get a spanner set but what do i go for? ie sizes?

 

Sorry for the rant but i wanted the box of tonight followed by a few glasses of cider!

[Anthony 1,003]

Gearbox drain bolt normally needs a 21mm spanner in my experience, as usually a sump plug key won't fit because the subframe gets in the way.

[Jrod 7]

It's much nicer to drain it as there will be less mess but you can just pull a driveshaft out to drain it.

[stefan 4]

Congratulations, you are embarking on a very expensive and neverending yourney!

If you were to buy tools all your life, at the end you still couldn't have all that you need at...is often said!

Besides a spanner set it would be god to buy a sump plug key, I use it for both the sump (wich you will surrely eventualy need) and the gearbox oil drain (I can get past the subframe) because the bolt can sometimes be rounded off

Edited July 23, 2010 by stefan

[Jer309GTi 3]

What I did when I started out was just buy tools as you need them, then you build up a good collection. Trouble is, there is always that time when you need a tool you don't have!

[toodumbtosmile 1]

What I did when I started out was just buy tools as you need them, then you build up a good collection. Trouble is, there is always that time when you need a tool you don't have!

 

Thought i had sockets and spanners for everything - until yesterday when i went to take my rear dampers off. 18mm socket and spanner bought this morning

[Jer309GTi 3]

18mm socket/spanners are a definate with Pugs

[welshpug 1,657]

and 16mm!

[Masekwm 2]

18mm? I can't think of the last time I used one.

 

I just buy as required, got quite a decent collection, considering a few years back I couldn't change spark plugs

[Redtop 14 2 Cars]

If your pulling the box out then to save you another trip back, make sure you can get a hold of or buy a 30 and 32mm socket if not in your set, and a breaker bar, to undo your driveshaft nuts. A pry bar, a hammer, good set of torx, chisel set and a pair of normal size vice grips will also be a good investment if you haven't already go those. There are so many things you can buy tool wise. Ive spend thousands on snap-on tools over the years myself. That van is just one big sweety shop to me when I go into it, at work. You don't need to buy expensive tools though but somethings it's good just to buy one and have a lifetime warrenty on them.

[Jer309GTi 3]

18mm, lower engine mount, ball joint pinch bolt, subframe bolts...

[blessed6383 0]

as said above really tork splits altho not needed much o 205's but more on newer cars, hub socket and breaker bar is a must have really should start of buy just the basics and go from there

spanner set from smallest you can get through to atleast 21mm, socket set wit step down for breaker bar, a few screwdrivers, allen keys good hammer and mallet, leer a or (tyre lever) or similar, tork wrench (but only really needed if doing engine work ie rebuild). a little blow torch or similar for those rusted bold you dontwant o nap ie bleed nipples a tap and dye set is always good aswell

 

i've spent silly money over the last 10 years butying tools i've hardly ever used ie engine crane oxy n set etc but always good to have

[Masekwm 2]

18mm, lower engine mount, ball joint pinch bolt, subframe bolts...

 

I thought all the above were 17mm?

[Anthony 1,003]

18mm, lower engine mount, ball joint pinch bolt, subframe bolts...

They're all 16mm (or sometimes 17mm) on a 205 in my experience. Indeed, aside from the rear shock bolts, I can't think of much that's 18mm on a 205 tbh

[jimistdt 1]

A set of drop spanners will come in handy for stuff like the strut tops, and ratchet spanners are a handy bit of kit in tight spaces.

[jord294 92]

35mm socket for driveshaft nuts

 

iirc rear hub nuts are 32mm

[yeti-dj 7]

A friend of mine who works in kwik fit of all places recently had his tool box valued for the building insurance and it came back in the region of 27k!!!

 

its all in a really nice roller tool chest that stands 5 feet high and has the racing xj220 on the front of it..

 

nice tools but 27k!

[richsmells 2]

I was much like yourself and didn't really have many tools when I bought the pug. Oh how that soon changed! I bought the Halfords 99 piece pro socket/spanner set when it was on offer. Little things that make your life easier like brake pipe spanner, caliper windback tool, sump plug key, filter wrench, impact wrench, torque wrench, breaker bar, mole grips are good ones to pick up as you go along. Good luck

Edited July 24, 2010 by richsmells

[rescue dude 0]

What size is the sump plug key?

[richsmells 2]

8mm IIRC

[pugpete1108 62 1 Cars]

They're all 16mm (or sometimes 17mm) on a 205 in my experience. Indeed, aside from the rear shock bolts, I can't think of much that's 18mm on a 205 tbh

 

gearbox engine mount nut is 18mm is it not?. i have had this off a few times recently

[welshpug 1,657]

rear wishbone bush bolts are 18mm, fronts are 16mm.

[stutto 0]

Currently trying to justify a 350nm torque wrench myself, I'd only use it on hub nuts....

[welshpug 1,657]

and wheel bolts, and headbolts...

 

granted probably ott for anything else where a 3/8" one would do the job

[stutto 0]

I already have two, one 3/8" and a half, but the half only goes to about 210nm - a little shy of the recommended torque...