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Sometimes you just need a specialty tool. It can save time, or money, or in some cases mean the difference between doing it right or wrong.

Also see: Sears.com Mechanic's Tools

1 Hand Tools
2 Ball Stud Puller
3 Calipers
4 Compression Tester
5 Vacuum Gun
6 Battery Tools
7 Fuel Pressure Tester
8 Cooling System Tester
9 Spring Compressor

Hand Tools

Just starting out? Get a cheap $10 socket set. Yes it will break sooner or later, but you'll learn a lot. And if you don't stick with "wrenching" you haven't spent too much

Make sure to use 3/8" ratchets and sockets -- never use 1/4" tools except on the tinyest of bolts (1/4" hex head or smaller)

Shadetree mechanics will want a quality set of "guaranteed" tools at a budget price.

In North America, Sears Craftsman is the de facto standard for this application. They are good quality. Yes, they will occasionally break, but the guarantee and location of stores make it easy to get free replacments.

Professional mechanics that get paid by the hour lose money when a tool breaks. So they are willing to pay 4-5x times the cost for "great" tools compared to "good" tools like Craftsman. The best brands include:

Snap-On
Mac Tools

The reason these are better than the more common brands include:

Higher strength. In general, they are less likely to break
Smaller, thinner tools.
- Example: Snap-on sockets fit in tight places a Craftsman socket may not fit. In turn Craftsman socket are fairly thin and fit in a great many spots where cheap thick sockets won't. Ditto for box-end wrenches

Sockets & Ratchets

You defintely want 12-point sockets. They work much easier to fit especially where you can't see or directly reach the bolt, and so make work faster.

6-point sockets are for very tight, or for worn bolt heads. Definitely always use 6-point for head bolts, lugnuts and seat belt anchor bolts -- anything that is fastened to a high torque spec. Use them anytime a bolt starts to round off.

6-point deep sockets are useful for aluminum wheel lugnuts and a a few other places it is almost required.

Metric deep sockets are nice, however not required. As an alternative, 9/16" works for 14mm, plus larger metric sizes can also be used with SAE deep sockets

Quality vs Budget tip:

Get an expensive ratchet and a budget-quality set of sockets
- Ratchets break more often than sockets

Sizes

Make sure to use 3/8" ratchets and sockets -- never use 1/4" tools except on the tinyest of bolts (1/4" hex head or smaller)

It is a must to use 1/2" "breaker bar" and sockets on high-torque bolts of 3/4" or larger.

Wrenches

Combo wrenches are recommended. These have one box-end and one open-end:

On a car, never use a monkey wrench -- throw those aways

Don't use a crescent wrench except for very small bolts, 8mm (5/16") or smaller -- say a 4" crescent.

For 1/2" or larger bolt heads that you can't get a socket on, use Vice-grips, preferably genuine Vice-grip brand.

Flare Wrench

For safely removing flare nuts without damage. For brakes lines and hydraulic clutch lines. 10 mm is the size used by Datsun 1200.

Locking Pliers

For removing rounded-off nuts or grabbing stubborn screw by the head, use locking pliers.

Carburetor Wrench

For removing that pesky carb nut next to the rocker cover, cut a 10 mm wrench in half.

Engine Mount Wrench

For removing the nut on the bottom of the Engine Mounts, cut a 12 mm wrench in half.

Oil Filter Wrench

Torque Wrench

Inexpensive beam-and-pointer type

Torque Wrench

Hot Rod Magazine Tech Articles - Torque-Wrench Calibration

if you use a clicker-type wrench, always return it to the lowest setting on the scale after use. That relieves tension on the internal spring, maintaining its accuracy over a longer period

If you use your torque wrench often, it should be calibrated at least once a year.

Ball Stud Puller

For balljoints and Steering Linkage ball studs.

Purpose-made ballstud puller
album

Calipers

Calipers are used to measure diameter. You can also measure width to a far more precise degree than a tape measure.

Dial calipers are only $20. Precise enough for 99% of all uses, short of measuring internal engine clearances. A quality plastic one is inexpensive yet with high accuracy. Stainless versions are expensive yet stay cleaner and may last longer.

Vernier Calipers are necessary for higher precision, such as measuring internal engine clearances down to thousands of a millimeter.

Compression Tester

See: Engine compression test for how to use it.

harborfreight.com

This kind has both a screw-in fitting and a push-in fitting. With the long part you push it into the spark plug hole, then crank the engine.

$20 USD - Summit Racing.com

With the screw-in fitting it is easier (you don't have to hold it in place). You can usually place the gauge on the engine top and view it through the windshield while sitting in the the driver's seat.