While many automotive repairs and maintenance tasks are best handled by professionals, a good number can be tackled at home, provided you have the right tools.
Besides the financial savings, DIYing your own car repairs and maintenance can also offer a sense of accomplishment and provide a deeper understanding of your vehicle.
However, you must be strategic with the tools you choose, as there's no point in spending money and space on items that will just gather dust.
Thankfully, this guide covers everything you need to know to build your own toolbox and tool set like a pro.
We'll first share a comprehensive list of essential tools, detailing their functions and typical use cases. Next, we'll discuss the differences between quality tools and budget options.
Finally, we'll share some tips on evaluating your space and organization and reveal some of our favorite tool boxes and tool brands to stretch your dollar the furthest.
Essential Tools Every Auto Garage Should Have
Hand Tools & General Equipment
- Toolbox or Tool Cart: Having a place to organize and store your tools securely is a must in any garage setting. Choosing a toolbox or cart that suits your workspace dimensions and other needs can help ensure your tools remain protected, well-organized, and readily accessible (more on this later).
- Hammers: Standard or ball-peen hammers are great for general tasks such as rounding off pins and fastener edges or freeing stuck components, like suspension components. For more delicate work like body panel repair, consider a dead blow hammer, which is ideal for easily marred or dented surfaces.
- Screwdrivers: Every toolbox should have an assortment of screwdrivers, including flat, Phillips, Torx, and for intricate tasks involving electronics, smaller precision screwdrivers. If you don’t currently have any screwdrivers, consider a set like this 69-piece offering from JEGS.
- Pry Bar or Breaker Bar: A must-have for any would-be mechanic, pry bars and breaker bars can provide added leverage for loosening tight components like seized bolts, stuck wheels, and other stubborn parts. With a pry or breaker bar, these difficult tasks are far more manageable.
- Wrenches: Owning a set of wrenches, including combination, adjustable, oil filter, wheel, and torque, will ensure you're always prepared, whether performing basic adjustments like tightening bolts to specific repairs like changing oil filters or torquing wheel nuts.
- Pliers: Equipped with various pliers, such as needle-nose for precision work, channel-lock for gripping, wire-cutters for electrical tasks, and oil filter pliers for maintenance, you’ll be ready for any challenge you come across.
- Ratchet & Socket Sets: With a ratchet and socket set (standard, deep, Torx, and hex bit types), no bolt or nut will stand in your way, whether removing an oil pan, adjusting engine mounts, or securing chassis components. For hard-to-reach nuts and bolts, be sure to buy an extension.
Maintenance & Diagnostic Tools
- Digital Multimeter: To combat automotive electrical challenges, a digital multimeter is the perfect tool for your toolbox. This handheld device measures voltage, current, and resistance, allowing you to assess your car's battery strength, identify electrical faults, and diagnose headlight issues, rogue circuits, and more.
- OBD-II Code Reader: Every car owner should have an OBD-II code reader. These straightforward devices allow you to scan a vehicle's onboard diagnostic system for trouble codes. With this tool, you can proactively address concerns, bypass costly diagnostics, and avoid unnecessary repairs.
- Battery Terminal Brush & Battery Tester: Maintain your battery's health with these tools. A terminal brush helps you keep connections corrosion-free for optimal performance, while a battery tester provides instant insights into the charge level and potential issues so you can gauge if a replacement is needed.
- Tire Pressure & Tire Tread Depth Gauges: Ensure your tires consistently deliver peak performance with these handy items. A pressure gauge helps maintain optimal inflation levels, improving fuel mileage and handling, while the tread depth gauge informs you of worn tires that need replacing.
Safety & Cleanup
- Safety Gear: Every car owner should prioritize safety when performing maintenance or repairs. Gear like mechanic's gloves protect hands from sharp edges, chemicals, and heat, while eye protection and ear protection shields against harmful debris and noise. Aprons and overalls can offer an added layer against spills, splashes, and contaminants.
- Shop Rags: Spills, leaks, and other messes are inevitable in a garage. Thankfully, shop rags are great for quick cleanups, wiping off tools, and keeping work areas tidy. With shop rags at the ready, like these from JEGS, you can soak up oils, coolants, and other fluids with ease.
- Magnetic Dish & Parts Trays/Bins: Never lose a bolt, nut, or washer again. Magnetic dishes keep metallic parts and pieces from rolling away or getting misplaced, meaning no surprise missing pieces upon repair completion.
- Extendable Magnet & Telescoping Mirror: Every mechanic knows the struggle of dropped or hard-to-see parts. Items like an extendable magnet can be a lifesaver, letting you effortlessly pick up metallic items in tight spaces. Paired with a telescoping inspection mirror, you can navigate and inspect areas otherwise out of view.
Other essential tools worth considering for your toolbox include:
- Jacks and jack stands
- Flashlight or LED light
- Electrical tape and zip ties
- Circuit tester or test light
- Jumper cables
- Funnel
- Grease gun
- Air compressor
Tool Quality vs Price: What's Worth the Splurge?
When assembling a professional tool set, a common dilemma for shoppers is choosing between high-quality products or cheaper alternatives. Well, this guide aims to help you build a toolbox like a pro, and most professionals prioritize quality over cost.
Opting for top-tier tools from reputable brands often ensures superior materials, precision, and durability. Such tools are less likely to break or malfunction, reducing the risk of injury or damage to your vehicle.
Sure, budget tools might seem cost-effective at first, but their lower quality often leads to higher replacement or repair expenses. For tools where safety and precision are of the utmost importance, like jacks, wrenches, and electrical testers, your best bet is to invest in quality.
Ultimately, prioritizing quality is an investment in both your safety and your vehicle's longevity, making it definitely worth the splurge.
Evaluate Your Space & Organization
After quality, your next considerations should be your space and organization needs, as the size and layout of your garage or workspace are key in determining the best garage tool box setup for you.
- Space Assessment: Start by measuring the available space in your garage or workspace to determine whether you have room for a sizable toolbox or a more compact storage solution. This will ensure that your chosen toolbox seamlessly integrates into your workspace without causing obstructions or accessibility issues.
- Tool Inventory: Take a moment to catalog all your tools, both in terms of quantity and size. This will help you gauge the number of compartments or drawers you'll need, ensuring every tool has a designated spot so tasks are more efficient. Be sure to plan for any future additions.
- Organization & Flexibility: Many top-tier toolbox offers adjustable compartments or dividers, allowing for endless customization. As your collection of tools grows or changes, your toolbox should be able to adapt, ensuring lasting relevance and ease of use.
Our Favorite Box & Tool Brands
At JEGS, we not only work with some of the most trusted brands in the industry, but we also manufacture our own high-quality products, including most of the essential tools we mentioned earlier.
For toolboxes, choose between a plethora of options, ranging from a three-drawer portable box to a massive 15-plus-drawer tool box setup with upper storage, electrical outlets, and USB compatibility. You’ll also enjoy durable materials like stainless steel and powder-coated heavy-gauge steel, all at a competitive price point.
Some of our favorite brands for garage tools and equipment include Powerbuilt, Lisle Tools, High-Lift, JET Tools, Wilton, Allstar Performance, and many more. For a full list of our trusted parts and tools suppliers, click here.
JEGS: For All Your Automotive Needs
And there you have it, the A-Zs of building an automotive toolbox and tool set like a pro—we hope you enjoyed the read.
If you’re ready to get started, feel free to browse our extensive selection of quality products and complete your order online. Still have questions? Contact our team today.
