Essential Tools for Mustang Maintenance

Must Have Mustang Tools

Combination wrenches are essential for almost every job. What makes them so useful is their versatile nature. For instance, these wrenches feature both an open end and a box end. This can come in handy depending on the task. Box wrenches provide a tighter grip, while open wrenches offer flexibility of movement. All-in-all, I've used my box wrench for breaking many tough nuts loose. In general, a starter set should handle most tasks. Although they vary in price, I prefer the Craftsman brand. Yes, they are more expensive, but if you hang on to your tools as long as I do, you'll thank yourself 20 years from now.

Next up is the essential socket set with ratchet. These are very useful when taking care of tasks such as removing spark plugs from your Mustang. Just remember, it's always smart to have a few different sized extensions on hand. These will help you when you're trying to use the tool in hard to reach places. The three most popular sized socket combinations are 1/4-inch, 3/8-inch, and 1/2-inch drives. In general, the larger the size of the drive, the larger the size of job.

Torx sockets are also essential for the Mustang mechanic. They are available in both standard and metric sizes. These are great for removing trim screws on late model Mustangs, getting into parts of the dash panel, working on seat belts, the list goes on and on. As with any set, the more sockets you have on hand, the more tasks you'll be able to complete. A basic set should suffice, although I've had to go to the store on more than one occasion to pick up a specific torx socket that I didn't have on hand.

Most technical manuals specify the amount of torque you should apply to a nut or bolt. And example would be to apply 41 ft-lbs of torque. This tool allows you to torque to the specified setting without any question as to how much torque you applied. This tool is essential for many jobs.

From time-to-time, you'll find yourself in a situation requiring a little extra force. This is when the breaker bar makes its entrance. These are great for loosening over-torqued bolts, or anything else that won't break loose with standard tools.

If you plan to keep your tires in tip-top-shape and your Mustang running properly, you're going to need a tire gauge. They come in a variety of models, both digital and traditional. I personally prefer the traditional old-school gauge, as I seem to get more consistent results.

This tool will come in handy when, as its name states, you need to remove your oil filter. An oil filter wrench can help you reduce the time spend on an oil change. Just remember, you never want to use one of these to tighten an oil filter, only to loosen it!

A number of jobs will require you to work beneath your Mustang. That said, you'll need a safe way to elevate your Mustang so you can do your work. Not all ramps will work with Mustangs. This is due to the fact that most of these cars are very low to the ground, thus resulting in front-end scraping when trying to drive onto the ramps. One ramp that does work nicely is Rhino Ramps from Blitz. Jack stands are always an option, but driving onto ramps will save you plenty of time in the long run. Just make sure to always block off those rear wheels and set your emergency brake before you start your work.

These can come in handy for jobs such as airing up the tires, working with air tools, or just cleaning out the garage after a long day of work. They range in PSI (pounds per square inch) capacity as well as CFM (cubic feet per minute). In general, the larger the capacity, the more power you're going to have to do your work. There are a ton of these on the market, so shop wisely. I recommend listening to the compressor in the store to see how loud it is. Some air compressors are so loud, they're no fun to work around.