How did I ever live without you?

[MoreMayhem]

Today I started putting new suspension and wheels, among other things, on my car. Got the front left strut assembly off the car fine, but not so much with the right side one. I bent the nut that hold the ball joint stud on the strut housing when I was 'tapping' it out. Was trying to protect the threads on the stud. Couldn't get my puller to fit. So now the nut is bent and the feeling of 'oh no, what did I get myself into' comes over me.
After trying in vain to remove it with my selection of hand tools, I moved on to considering the problem for several minutes. I decide to try using an impact wrench to remove the nut. I don't own one, so I went to the store and bought one, a cordless one from Sears.

Holy mother of all things automotive: how did I ever live without you? This thing is awesome. It spun the nut off in about .75 seconds. Moments later with the strut assembly laying on the floor, it took off the strut top nut in a similar time span. I am amazed. Everyone who does any work at home needs to get one, if they don't have it already.

So: what tools do you guys have that made you feel the same way when you got them?

[travish325]

Vagina...


Oh tools?

[E30SPDFRK]

Hydraulic brake line flairing tool

I don't know the name of it, but we had a spring compresser at the last dealership I worked at that was amazing. It was a big tube with two sets of fingers that held the spring and a nut at the bottom that compressed them. It worked so well that you could turn the nut by hand and compress the spring, and it never gave you the feeling that the spring was about to shoot out like all other spring compressers.

Ratcheting wrenches

Plasma cutters

[Exodus_2pt0]

Just imagine how you'd feel if you had access to a lift...

Agreed with the above, plasma cutter.

Most recently, our new tig welder. Automotivegasm.

I have a feeling, the powder coating equipment we're about to order will bring on similar feelings as well.

[lambo]

Ratcheting wrenches

Just got a set of these for xmas... I'm excited to use them lol

[smerfs]

Ratcheting wrenches are probably my favourite thing. I was using my brothers for many years, finally got my own tools (with non ratcheting wrenches), and immediately regretted not spending the extra money to get them myself

[AndrewBird]

18v Makita impact driver. Won't remove wheel bolts, but OMG I use it for damn near everything else. One of those tools that you find things to use it for once you own it.

Now I'm looking at the 1/2" impact wrench they make that uses the same batteries. 325ft. lbs of torque from a cordless impact? YES PLEASE.

[TimKninja]

Air Chisel/hammer.

If you have a compressor set-up. Nothing will be more useful working on your e30. Especially if your car has ever been new englanded.

[Roysneon]

I agree on the ratcheting wrenches. Pure awesome. Also just got a cordless impact that I haven't had an opportunity to use yet. Looking forward to it, though.

[qwerte]

I recently picked up this Ingersoll Rand W7150.


So far I have only changed a set of wheels, but this thing barely flinched when taking off the lug nuts. Of course, I torque them by hand as this will easily over torque pretty much any nut/bolt I come across on my vehicles.

I hoping they release a ratchet to use the same batteries.

[gtdragon980]

Got me a DeWalt DC820B 1/2" that I know I'm going to love to use.

Ratcheting wrenches.

I need to get me a welder next!

[TobyB]

Acetylene torch rig. Didn't have one for years, never thought it was worth the hassle.

Now, I use it all the time.

Sometimes just to light a cigarette...


t

and yes, like you, I didn't have a rattlegun for years. I was stupid. When you need them, they are indispensable.

[E30m42cab]

Snap-On three arm 12.5 ton gear puller (#CG273). Picked one up used for $100 ($370 new). I was always using cheap pullers that would break or just not fit. Now when I do a front wheel bearing it's like magic. It's adjustable enough to pull off the outer race of the bearing, then adjust it to fit the inner race when it inevitably doesn't come off with the outer. I used to fret the front wheel bearing job, now I'm done in less than an hour.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=all&item_ID=635236&group_ID=675385&store=&dir=catalog

Also, a GM fan clutch tool. Works beautifully for BMW fan clutches too!

http://www.princessauto.com/pal/product/8064479/

[ColdAccord]

fan clutch cool is great as well, so much better than my old homemade remedy.

also: air compressor, air tools

[graveshaker]

I think the op went at this job wrong in the first place. A pickle fork would have saved lots of trouble and headache. A jack under the ball joint would prevent the shaft from spinning allowing the use of hand tools. I agree power tools are great but knowing how to tackle a job is better.