Source for good quality large wrenches?

scca_ita · 04-26-2005, 05:25 PM

Hi

I am looking for a decent set of 27, 28 & 30mm wrenches. This is the size I need to adjust my ARP rear suspension toe adjustment. They need to be thin (thinner than Craftsman).

Any experience with these?

http://www.toptul-usa.com

Thanks

Rodney Nelson · Rodney Nelson's Garage

I like these Martin Tool wrenches, you can get them online from sears. However, it does not look like there is a 28 in the set.

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00930147000&subcat=Wrenches

pwd72s · 04-26-2005, 05:56 PM

There are times you have no choice other than buying "specialty" tools,

Oldporsche · 04-26-2005, 06:51 PM

When I need some of those "real big" wrenches, I head out to the pawn shop. Then with a little dremel work, I have ones that work very well for cheap.

David Duffield

AFJuvat · 04-26-2005, 06:55 PM

Stahlwille tools.

www.stahlwille.com

AFJuvat

randywebb · 04-26-2005, 09:33 PM

got a grinder?

bridow · 03-22-2006, 07:02 PM

toptul makes great wrenches

i work for them. if anyone wants to give them a try, i have no problem selling them at cost.

thanks, brian

Ed Cavalier · 03-22-2006, 07:43 PM

Smart Racing Products has a wrench set specifically designed for the ERP 935 rear suspension. They show the sizes in inches, but they equate to the metric sizes that you're looking for. In round numbers, $90 for the set of three.

kenikh · 03-22-2006, 08:17 PM

I bought mine at Sears. Craftsman ain't what it used to be, but it still has a lifetime warranty.

rpmgroup · 03-22-2006, 09:34 PM

i am still using my Snap-On wrenches purchased 27 years ago

Porsche_monkey · 03-23-2006, 03:56 AM

I only buy cheap tools in that size range, I don't use them enough to justify the price of large wrenches. I bought six large wrenches 1-1/4 up to 2" for $50 years ago, they are still like new.

Buy a cheap one and grind it down.

mudman · 03-23-2006, 04:05 AM

SK offers a nice (#86225) 26(?) piece set and I found it at thetoolwarehouse.net for 212.50 a while back, free shipping too!
-Jeremy

safe · safe's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by PBH
I only buy cheap tools in that size range, I don't use them enough to justify the price of large wrenches. I bought six large wrenches 1-1/4 up to 2" for $50 years ago, they are still like new.

Buy a cheap one and grind it down.

That is my approach also.

I ground down a cheap 26mm for the rear ride hight bolt. Thats way better than the "special tool" you can buy.... and cheaper.

edit: I'll never learn to spell cheap (cheep).....

Tim Hancock · 03-23-2006, 04:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by PBH
I only buy cheap tools in that size range, I don't use them enough to justify the price of large wrenches. I bought six large wrenches 1-1/4 up to 2" for $50 years ago, they are still like new.

Buy a cheap one and grind it down.

Ditto!

I own Snap-On, Mac and Craftman wrenches in various configurations in metric and inch sizes up to 1 1/8". All my LARGER wrenches are cheap Harbor Freight style inch series and all are as good as new and I have never damaged or rounded a fastener in this size range.

charleskieffner · 03-23-2006, 04:57 AM

by all means buy cheap tools???????????? then when they spread open on you at 2am or break, you have big jolly giggles! sk/wayne-proto-williams-snap-on etc are the only way to go PERIOD! gosh in all my years in aerospace....................NOT ONCE HAVE I SEEN CHEAP ASS TOOLS ON THE FLIGHT LINE. military or commercial. now maybe with the experimental guys thats another story, but then we both know how often they auger in! would you want any of the airlines YOU FLY ON using chinese torque wrenches on internal rotating hot turbine fan parts???????????? treat your porsche like a F-16, and it will be very very happy. i just love caveman club tools and rounded off 6pt bolts and nuts!

Porsche_monkey · 03-23-2006, 05:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by charleskieffner
by all means buy cheap tools???????????? then when they spread open on you at 2am or break, you have big jolly giggles! sk/wayne-proto-williams-snap-on etc are the only way to go PERIOD! gosh in all my years in aerospace....................NOT ONCE HAVE I SEEN CHEAP ASS TOOLS ON THE FLIGHT LINE. military or commercial. now maybe with the experimental guys thats another story, but then we both know how often they auger in! would you want any of the airlines YOU FLY ON using chinese torque wrenches on internal rotating hot turbine fan parts???????????? treat your porsche like a F-16, and it will be very very happy. i just love caveman club tools and rounded off 6pt bolts and nuts!

I guess in your years of experiance you must have seen a lot of 30 mm wrenches spread open. You're awesome, I take back my silly suggestion.

David E. Clark · 03-23-2006, 05:24 AM

I'm in the quality camp. You can get high quality large mm wrenches (MAC, Matco, Proto, S&K etc) all day, every day, on Ebay for $10.00-$15.00 each, less if you find a set or just get lucky. Of course Snap-On will be more but some argue they are worth it (different debate). My point is, take a bag lunch to work for a few days and spend the savings on quality tools. You won't regret it, especially if you're in the hobby for the long term! Just my $.02.

charleskieffner · 03-23-2006, 05:31 AM

funny how this host doesnt sell cheap tools only quality. amazing also how alot of people try to scrimp on the most important item aside from knowledge and thats the correct tool to do the job correctly the first time and safely. and as a matter of fact i have seen cheap ass tools larger than 30mm spread on numerous occasions. be it a mining application, nuclear weapons or energy application, mil or comm aerospace, heavy trucks to automotive etc normal use aside from caveman technology of using cheater bars! and knowing first hand by touring stuttgart und BMW im munchen, i never once saw cheap tools in anyones rollaway. let alone on their CNC or manual mills or lathes. have seen one too many times, the cheap approach to solving problem and the drastic results. how do i know? have sold aerospace machine and hand tools all my life! if you dont have the time to do it right the first time...........when will you find time to do it the second time. a side note........was involved in PROJECT MERCURY proto hand tool sale that totaled over 1 million dollars for one purchase order! reason....while lighting off nuke in test area one of the blast doors failed(horizontal shot), radiation leaked contaminating tools and equiptment. of all the hand tools nuked and super heated what survived? despite having to be shipped off in barrels, were proto hand tools. yes they were junk, but they were intact. now come on............think about this. do you want cheap tools used on nukes let alone your racey car ripping around at mach speed let alone the next commercial plane you fly on. and yes i spent 30 bucks w/ host for their soft socket for my lug nuts. cheap and porsche are not ever used in the same sentence!

safe · safe's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by charleskieffner
by all means buy cheap tools???????????? then when they spread open on you at 2am or break, you have big jolly giggles! sk/wayne-proto-williams-snap-on etc are the only way to go PERIOD! gosh in all my years in aerospace....................NOT ONCE HAVE I SEEN CHEAP ASS TOOLS ON THE FLIGHT LINE. military or commercial. now maybe with the experimental guys thats another story, but then we both know how often they auger in! would you want any of the airlines YOU FLY ON using chinese torque wrenches on internal rotating hot turbine fan parts???????????? treat your porsche like a F-16, and it will be very very happy. i just love caveman club tools and rounded off 6pt bolts and nuts!

Now you are being silly, it depends on the application.

For the rear suspension you need big wrenches, but they don't need to handle so much torque.

I have bought big very cheap 36 mm wrenches for the oil lines. A 36 mm wrench can handle alot of torque, even if its of low quality, way more than the oil lines themself.

I have also bought an equaly cheap 46mm wrench that I used on my cam nuts. It might be of low quality but a wrench of that size will not be bent or broken with only human power...

Tim Hancock · 03-23-2006, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by charleskieffner
by all means buy cheap tools???????????? then when they spread open on you at 2am or break, you have big jolly giggles! sk/wayne-proto-williams-snap-on etc are the only way to go PERIOD! gosh in all my years in aerospace....................NOT ONCE HAVE I SEEN CHEAP ASS TOOLS ON THE FLIGHT LINE. military or commercial. now maybe with the experimental guys thats another story, but then we both know how often they auger in! would you want any of the airlines YOU FLY ON using chinese torque wrenches on internal rotating hot turbine fan parts???????????? treat your porsche like a F-16, and it will be very very happy. i just love caveman club tools and rounded off 6pt bolts and nuts!

I do not know you and you obviously do not know me. In my post above I mentioned that all my wrenches in smaller sizes are name brand. I have Snap On micro turn box ends, odd angle open ends, slim open ends, Mac long 6pt box ends, Snap On stubbies, Sraftsman swivel boxes along with others. I am an AP/IA part-time at home and special machine designing mechanical engineer by day. I have made my own 911 engine yoke, cam nut tool, CIS pressure tester, clutch alignment tool and many other tools and equipment. If you want to buy a set of Snap On monster wrenches to use once a year on your car for many hundreds of dollars, by all means knock yourself out, but you can keep your holier than though comments to yourself.

My home, heated, 50x80 shop/hangar is equipped with lathes/tigwelders/paint booth/ shears/brakes/lifts/torches/shrinker-stretchers/sandblaster/forklift/rivetingtools/beadroller/3 rolling tool chests/grinders/saws/powerwasher etc etc. How does that stack up against your garage?