(Part 2) Best wrench sets according to redditors

I'd check out Tekton. Most of the product line is available through Amazon and is of fairly decent quality for the money. I've only used the ratcheting flex wrenches but for a starter I would recommend just some plain combination wrenches.

You can get them in a ton of different of different set sizes and your choice of a wrench rack or a cloth roll(I prefer the rolls).

Here's a link to one of the larger SAE sets in a roll:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0199R9QA4/ref=emc_b_5_mob_t

Either a

Phillips head screwdriver

Or a

Wrench

Depending on which you’re trying to unscrew.

They are spanners for making up tubing compression fittings, they open to go round the tube, then act with a ratchet type action to tighten the fitting nut, then open to release the ring after the fitting nut is tight. Really useful in tight spaces and closely formed tubing bundles. I've used these in a past life fitting miles (literally!) of stainless tubing on oil rigs
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Astro-Pneumatic-7125-7-Piece-Ratcheting/dp/B002Z2Z7YU

https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/product/supelco/20448?lang=en&region=GB

Edit :- They are marked with the tubing size 1/2", 3/8" etc. The tubing nuts are different sizes for imperial and metric tubing, etc.

Dude, you should see my Amazon wish list......full of Wera stuff, but yeah, my wallet cringes each time I start browsing Wera. Really want these and this and these (although I have the same set, just with less bits) and these and this and this to put it all in..........that's like half the wishlist 😆

Not hard. I strongly recommend borrowing/buying a copy of the Bentley Workshop Manual for the E30. Head removal is 26 steps. I can't realistically copy-paste everything verbatim :)

I'm what you'd call a novice wrencher and I've done it twice. Keep your parts organised (zip lock bags are good for this), and you'll need a good set of sockets/wrenches. E-torx sockets for the head bolts (buy Genuine btw: 11121726478). Torque wrench. A good straight edge and a set of feeler gauges to check head flatness once it's removed. Be sure to clean all the head bolts holes in the block before reassembly - compressed air and rags. I opted to use a small dab of straight 30W oil under the neck of each cylinder head bolt prior to assembly (torque accuracy). New head gasket obviously - buy Genuine, Goetze or Elring. There may be a lot of "while I'm in there" opportunities - timing belt, water pump, belt tensioner, coolant hoses if they're tired. Make sure the 2 alignment dowels are installed in the block before you reinstall the head! There's a tightening sequence on the head bolts you're supposed to follow. New Genuine BMW coolant...

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/index.php/M20

If you have all the tools and parts, and you're not trying to make a race meet, I would expect it to take a couple of days?

Edit: special tool for water pump pulley/viscous fan clutch: https://www.amazon.com/BMW-FAN-CLUTCH-HOLDER-WRENCH/dp/B003180DSC

An inexpensive set of crows feet are handy, but a good set of torque adapters may be more useful. The T&E set goes down to 1/4" and are great for torquing in tough areas. Here is a good reasonably priced set.

No, a Ford wrench is not the same as a pipe wrench. It looks similar in shape, but it's more closely related to an adjustable wrench. If they're asking for a Ford wrench, you need a Ford wrench.

ATD Tools 99750 4-Piece 8 SAE... https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B007SM3TP6?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

How about weras 1/4 ratchet? 50 dollars, vs snap on, 60 dollars.

https://www.amazon.com/Wera-05004004001-Zyklop-Ratchet-Switch/dp/B00IMF1DNI/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1543338727&sr=8-4&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=wera+1%2F4+ratchet&dpPl=1&dpID=31kdIbxuxSL&ref=plSrch


https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Snap-On-TL72-1-4-Dr-Standard-Handle-Sealed-Head-Ratchet/302941075390?epid=1923011126&hash=item4688b1f7be:g:N9MAAOSw~T9b7G3u


Or how about ratcheting jokers? 280 8 piece vs snap ons 270 7 piece

https://www.amazon.com/Wera-05020093001-Ratcheting-Combination-Wrenches/dp/B01LW2OF43/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1543339136&sr=8-4&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=wera+ratcheting+wrench&dpPl=1&dpID=41s17Ba7IPL&ref=plSrch

https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Snap-On-SOXRR707-3-8-3-4-7-Pc-SAE-Flank-Drive-Plus-Reversible-Set-USA/153276307873?epid=2127160702&hash=item23affad9a1:g:3dUAAOSwkXFb-gXD

You can find snap on needle nose new for less than 40 dollars, knipex needle nose all over the place for about 30.

The prices are cheaper, but marginally so as I stated, and it all depends on where you buy them, again as I stated. With Snap on you get someone warrantying your tools in a van should you want or need, I dont think wera has tool trucks. That said I've never advocated for buying snap on tools, I own about 5 of them and I wrenched daily for 4 years. A lot of them are overpriced, but a fair amount of them are simply the best in the industry. That said as OP stated people will shove wera down their throats and the tools are certainly not nearly as tried and tested.

My company bought me these
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BU0OQG8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_JftkDbN2NRKY0 about a month ago. I used proto wrenches before.

A little early, but so far I'm liking them. Others have said they don't hold up long, so I'm still reserving judgement.

Yes! The pouches actually look really awesome too, better than any other design I could find online so I figured I kinda had to pay a little extra and get them! Is it too late to return that set and get the other?


The combined set with pouches is item 90192: Amazon
I ended up getting this one the other day when ebay had a 15% off coupon: ebay set


The 15 piece SAE set is item WRN03293: SAE set on Amazon

The 15 piece Metric set is item WRN03393: Metric set on Amazon

Alternatively, if you cannot return that set you CAN order the pouches directly from Tekton! It's an exclusive from them, so I doubt you'll see them anywhere else for awhile: SAE Pouch, Metric Pouch

Proto has some good ones that are USA made. Shop around for a better deal than this maybe. I bought mine from sears when craftsmen was still made in USA.

https://www.amazon.com/Proto-JSCV-11SA-Combination-Reversible-Ratcheting/dp/B00IVBYMBS

Worth having the open-end/ring spanners. There are a bunch of adjustments (on my bike) that require them e.g. clutch cable, mirrors. Given that you won't be using them for any of the important adjustments you can probably get away with a fairly cheap set if you're looking to save money (or at least I have so far). I bought this set and it hasn't failed me yet even when wrenching off my extremely rusted car muffler. If/when cheap spanners fail, replace with high-end ones.

Yeah I just picked up a set of their deep 1/2in metric sockets to use with my electric impact. Work great. Also have;



TEKTON WRN77164 Extra Long Flex-Head Ratcheting Box End Wrench Set with Store and Go Keeper, Metric, 8 mm - 19 mm, 6-Piece https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01F512HOU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_ozpWAbF3S6ZW9

Absolutely love them.

And

TEKTON Stubby Combination Wrench Set with Store and Go Keeper, Metric, 8 mm - 19 mm, 12-Piece | WRN01170 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EHTVZV2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_KApWAb0C1SA3Z

I'm a weekend warrior not a professional, but haven't had a single problem with any of my Tekton stuff.

Late to the party, but in case you're still looking....

If you wall fish, get a Magnepull. They're such a time saver. Between that and the bit I have for my oscillating multi tool (Q bit single gang cutout), a single story wall fish takes about 5 minutes, Wall box and all. Grab a flex bit and extension while you're at it in case you hit a fire block in the wall.

Get yourself a 7/16" can wrench with all of the security keys so you're not screwed when you run into a prewired apartment with the coax box locked.

You can get them all from techtoolsupply.com with the exception of the security key wrench. Get that here:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00UFIH956/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1466600511&sr=8-6&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=Jonard+Tools&dpPl=1&dpID=41INOahSY%2BL&ref=plSrch

No idea never even heard of them tbh. Gearwrench is a pretty good brand and you could pick this up https://www.amazon.com/GearWrench-Combination-Ratcheting-Wrenches-Carrying/dp/B00I9K9HGQ for $100 20 combo ratcheting wrenches and 12 stubbies. Thats $3.14 a wrench for a pretty good brand. Those boners are $2.14 and a pretty limited set....the stubbies are also very nice when needed.

Wonder if I could piece something together with a finger ratchet and an extender

Like this kit
https://www.craftsman.com/products/craftsman-6-pc-finger-ratchet-bit-driver


Or something like this
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vigor-V2834-Finger-Ratchet-25-Piece/dp/B00FKVSZ60

maxb070 probably has it right - leaking clutch slave cylinder. Check your master cylinder for low fluid - if it's not low, the master might also be leaking internally. In either case, a leak in the clutch hydraulics is like a leak in the brakes - if you don't have any pressure, you can't use the clutch.

Parts are pretty inexpensive - I used this kit from SuperMiata. The cylinders independently are usually in the $20-ish range, and brake fluid is about the same. You'll want a flare nut wrench - I bought this set and it works perfectly fine. Hydraulic fittings are usually softer materials like brass, and a flare nut wrench helps prevent you from rounding them off. You'll also want a way to bleed the clutch when done - you can either buy a brake bleeder, or you can get some clear plastic tubing and use an old water bottle to make one for like $5.

"Easy" is, of course, relative, but the nice thing is that both the master and slave cylinders are pretty easy to get to. RevLimiter has a nice writeup on changing them out and bleeding.

SAE Stubby spanner set
GRIP 89096 Stubby Combo Wrench... https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B008L5GU3W?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

3/8” universal sockets
Powerbuilt 642163 7Piece 3/8"... https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00XCQAGKS?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Gearwrench stubby screwdriver
GearWrench 890005GD Stubby... https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B000HBDXM4?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

They are Craftsman universal wrenches: https://www.amazon.com/CRAFTSMAN-914019-7-Piece-Metric-Universal/dp/B007C6KUW8/