[goochlove]

If you could recommend a few tools to start doing general maintenance and repair what would your toolbox look like?

I'll start with a few obvious ones.

Ratchet 3/8 & 1/2 drive
19mm socket (oil)
drainage pan
flat head (prying shit away)
Phillips head

 

[Electron Man]

8mm and 10mm triple square bits. These are good for removing Passat door lock modules (8mm) or removing bolts (10mm) from the inner CV joint while swapping axles. I bought a "disposable" set that has 6, 8, 10, and 12mm sizes for around $8-$10 from O'Reilly's or Advance Auto...might find these at Harbor Freight. These bits resemble a torx bit, but have twelve "points" instead of six.

Selected sizes of 3/8" drive allen sockets (6mm - various bolts), (8mm - brake caliper carrier bolts), (14mm - outer CV joint bolt)

Torx drivers: T15, T25 and T30

Large pair of Channel Lock or other slip joint pliers for releasing the serp. belt tensioner when those belts need changing.

Strap wrench: for that stubborn oil filter.

Passats lend themselves more to "I'll buy that tool only when I need it." versus spending ~$200-$300 on a set of tools with everything included...of which you'll probably only use ~20 percent of to work on the Passat.

 

[Iowegian]

I'd skip the 1/2" sockets and use 1/4" and 3/8". The 1/4" size is adequate for most bolts up to 15mm or so which willl be the majority of the ones you need. 3/8" should cover you up to 19mm. Beyond that there are just a few high torque bolts/nuts and when you need a part, I'd just buy an individual socket/hex driver/etc. For these few sizes, you will probably also want a good quality breaker bar.

You'll want a set of different length extensions as well for each socket size. I really like the ones that have a bit of swivel on the tips. They work quite well and can help out a lot when quarters are tight, which they often are.

 

[Roostre]

A good floor jack and a set of jack stands. Don't trust the widowmaker factory jack for anything other than a paper weight.

A service manual. The Bentley is the gold standard and can be had in the classifieds for reasonable price.

An extendable magnet and inspection mirror.

Use a 17mm open end wrench to release the serpentine belt, it won't slip off like a channel lock pliers is prone to.

Also, buy the Autozone hose clamp kit. Eventually you will be replacing the one time use clamps, and it is much easier to go to your kit than having to run to the autoparts store. I don't remember who suggested this, but I picked it up on this forum and it has saved me a lot of headache. http://www.autozone.com/gaskets-and-miscellaneous-fasteners/hose-clamp/koehler-70-pcs-type-f-stainless-steel-hose-clamp-rack-includes-10-pcs-each-of-4-6-10-12-20-28-and-36-sae-size/649200_0_0

 

[goochlove]

Roostre check Harbor Freight for hose clamps. I got a pack of forty all different sizes for 4 bucks

 

[goochlove]

Also, I'd like to drive home the point of replacing the factory jack. A good friend of mine got trapped under his car, with his leg pinned when his factory jack decided to shit the bed. Luckily it was just a few months in a cast and physical therapy.

 

[Roostre]

This is somewhat related; I glued the Passat letters that I shaved off my trunk lid onto my toolbox.

 

[Ray]

Breaker bar


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[sirwired]

The HF hose clamps are not the Stainless Steel like the AutoZone kit, and HF does not include larger sizes.

To add to the toolkit: Absolutely add a USB->OBD II cable connected to a laptop with the free VCDS-Lite software. This'll be like $15 from any number of sources.

 

[JayTheSnork]

I'll disagree with the notion that you don't need a 1/2" ratchet and sockets, and I'd never use a 1/4" ratchet on a 14mm or 15mm nut - use a 3/8" on those, and your hands and body will thank you for it later.

I have a drawer for 1/4" drive stuff (ratchets extensions, sockets), a drawer for 3/8" drive stuff, a drawer for 1/2" drive stuff, a drawer for big tools (air impact wrench, air ratchet, pry bars, mallets and the like). I have 3/8" allen sockets as well as allen wrenches, 3/8" and 1/2" torx sockets, torx and regular screw drivers in another drawer, all sorts of pliers in another drawer. I have strap wrenches and other oil filter wrenches. the point is, I use all of them at some point or another...

I browse the local Harbor Freight store (one is 5 minutes away), and if I see something I might need, I just buy it.

 

[ylwagon]

Also, I'd like to drive home the point of replacing the factory jack. A good friend of mine got trapped under his car, with his leg pinned when his factory jack decided to shit the bed. Luckily it was just a few months in a cast and physical therapy.

I've relayed the story of how my widowmaker slipped on smooth garage concrete, shooting out against my palm, which out of instinct was behind as it began to move. I ended up in the E.R. from that, and couldn't feel my thumb or adjacent finger until the nerves regrew.

 

[4zfed]

A good set of ratcheting combination wrenches 8 - 19mm, pry bar, ***** for clipping the single-use clamps, voltmeter, torque wrench, regular and deep sockets.

 

[jjpark]

Lot's of beer and good music :thumbup:

When jacking any car up and working under it I always use jack stands and before getting under it I try to rock the car side to side and front and back to make sure the stands are secure. I never just eyeball it. If tire removal is involved I slide the tires under the sides for added protection.

 

[captain_video]

I'll disagree with the notion that you don't need a 1/2" ratchet and sockets, and I'd never use a 1/4" ratchet on a 14mm or 15mm nut - use a 3/8" on those, and your hands and body will thank you for it later.

I have a drawer for 1/4" drive stuff (ratchets extensions, sockets), a drawer for 3/8" drive stuff, a drawer for 1/2" drive stuff, a drawer for big tools (air impact wrench, air ratchet, pry bars, mallets and the like). I have 3/8" allen sockets as well as allen wrenches, 3/8" and 1/2" torx sockets, torx and regular screw drivers in another drawer, all sorts of pliers in another drawer. I have strap wrenches and other oil filter wrenches. the point is, I use all of them at some point or another...

I browse the local Harbor Freight store (one is 5 minutes away), and if I see something I might need, I just buy it.

Everything Jay said. Harbor Freight has a decent 24" breaker bar and inexpensive torque wrenches. Get both a 1/2" and 3/8" torque wrench because you'll use them a lot. I only buy impact sockets as they are much more durable than the pretty chrome plated sockets. They're also 6-point sockets vs. 12-point, which are less prone to stripping bolt heads because they apply more surface area of the socket to the bolt head. HF has a huge selection of impact sockets. You'll need both standard and deep sockets.

Get a set of Torx sockets and Allen-head sockets. Autozone has some them along with a set of extra large 1/2" Allen-head sockets for removing axle bolts and 12-point triple square wrenches for removing inner CV joint bolts.

Get some metric box wrenches. Most sets tend to leave out 16mm and 18mm wrenches for some reason and VWs have hardware in both sizes. A 5/8" wrench is the same as a 16mm so get one of those if you can't find a 16mm wrench. I highly recommend a set of Gear Wrenches for getting into narrow spaces where you can't use a socket wrench.

I rarely use a 1/4" socket wrench unless it's a special situation. Vice grips are a handy thing to have on hand as well. I have an oil filter wrench that is actually a vice grip wrench with a really wide, curved mouth. A telescoping magnetic pickup is great for grabbing those dropped bolts and nuts in tight places. Nut drivers are great for loosening hose clamps.

For brake bleeding you might want to invest in a Motive pressure bleeder and a small box wrench to loosen the bleeder screw (I think it's like 10 or 11mm).

The more you get into car maintenance the more tools you will accumulate. Start with the socket wrenches and box wrenches as well as the torque wrenches. A screwdriver set with interchangeale bits is really handy to have, especially for removing interior trim and door panels. Some plastic pry tools will keep from marring the interior parts. You can find cheap sets on ebay.

You'll definitely need a good floor jack and some jack stands. I'd also pick up a set of Rhino ramps. They're low profile and fit under the front bumper so you can drive the car up onto them without shifting the ramps in the process. Great for doing oil changes.

 

[sirwired]

As a "nice to have", if you rotate your own tires, the $40 electric impact from HF is a huge time-saver. Until you get one, you don't realize what a time-sink it is to break all the lugs before jacking, and ratcheting the lugs out after it's in the air, and ratcheting them back in before letting the car down. (When putting them in, I just blip the trigger to loosely spin them in; I still latch them down with a torque wrench when they are back on the ground.)

I'm sure it wouldn't last a pro a week, and it's not going to perform miracles on rusted or hi-torque bolts, but it does wheel lugs just fine.

 

[smac4th]

As a repair technician I am spoiled by getting to use my air tools all the time on jobs. As DIYer having air tools or electric tools is a huge luxury to have when working on my car, regardless of brand. If you are not using the electic or air tools for daily use HF should be sufficient

 

[AndreasPassat]

As a repair technician I am spoiled by getting to use my air tools all the time on jobs. As DIYer having air tools or electric tools is a huge luxury to have when working on my car, regardless of brand. If you are not using the electic or air tools for daily use HF should be sufficient

As just a regular guy who works on Passats on the side, having air tools is more than just a luxury. It's a huge time saver and knuckle saver!
I don't know how I lived without air power before I got my compressor.
I also do realize though that I am spoiled with most of my available resources.

 

[Iowegian]

Since the OP probably has enough info by now, I'll just add that I also have a compressor and air impact. I only use it when I have to but I do LOVE my Milwaukee 1/4" electric impact driver.
+1 on the quality of Harbor Freight hand tools. I'm sure some of their stuff is pretty cheesy but I've had no trouble with their impact sockets. Except! the 3/8" drive metric deep socket set does NOT include a 15mm. PITA that one.

I started my mechanic life with Craftsman tools way back when and had 3/8" and 1/2" socket sets. Still have them but I almost never use the 1/2" drive anymore. If the torque is that high, I reach for the air hose or more likely, a good quality breaker bar. I live in CO so rust is not an issue except for exhaust so YMMV but I like the smaller size of the 1/4" drive and use it for nearly anything up to 13mm. I also use 3/8" - with the electric impact driver and 3/8" impact sockets, whenever I can I like the cordless stuff so much I am thinking of adding a 3/8" drive angle wrench, eg a Milwaukee 2457-20.

 

[mr.loops]

As just a regular guy who works on Passats on the side, having air tools is more than just a luxury. It's a huge time saver and knuckle saver!
I don't know how I lived without air power before I got my compressor.
I also do realize though that I am spoiled with most of my available resources.

So true!

I installed a 60 gallon compressor in my garage for auto work - such a time saver

I also like to have cordless impact for my auto wrecker visits

 

[JayTheSnork]

afaik, there are no 15mm bolts on a B5/B5.5 Passat...