If you're like us, you do a fair bit of wrenching on your vehicles and often may find the need for some special tool or item to get a job done. Sure, we have some specialty tools, but there are times when it's quick and economical to improvise something yourself. This month we'll give you a quick look at some dirt-cheap tool tricks we like to use around the shop and out in the dirt. Whenever I replace a bearing on one of my vehicles, I keep the old one and tear it apart. I keep the steel bearing races, stripping away the balls or rollers and any cage or seals it may have. Over the years I've accumulated a small collection of various sizes. These provide you with "tubes" of various diameters that can be handy for use with a press or as round stock for making specialty tools, as you can easily weld to them.Whenever I replace a bearing on one of my vehicles, I keep the old one and tear it apart. PVC pipe, couplers, and caps can be useful as seal drivers. You can usually find a size close to what you need, or grind it a bit to size to fit. We've used various PVC pieces to tap in everything from axle seals to motorcycle fork seals. You can use them whole or cut into halves if needed. The relatively soft material can be used without fear of damaging aluminum parts.PVC pipe, couplers, and caps can be useful as seal drivers. You can usually find a size cl Sooner or later, you definitely come across tasks where you need to drive in a bearing race, a seal, or just persuade a part with a sharp tap to it. A couple of brass bars purchased at your local metal supply make great hammer drifts. They are safer to use than striking with steel and won't splinter badly the way a block of wood might.Sooner or later, you definitely come across tasks where you need to drive in a bearing rac The next time you're at a garage sale or flea market, you might want to pick up some cheap wrenches in a few common sizes you use. Or, maybe you already have some cheap ones you no longer use. In any case, they can be useful to have around when you're working on a nut or bolt in a confined area. Simply cut the wrench you need to a stubby size and save yourself time and busted knuckles working in that tight space.The next time you're at a garage sale or flea market, you might want to pick up some cheap I carry a Hi-Lift jack when out on the trail, but still have a small bottle jack in my tool kit, as well. There are plenty of times when the small jack can be used under an axle more effectively than using a jack on a bumper or slider. The one downside to the bottle jack can be its tiny top post. Welding a scrap piece of box tube or angle to the top can help better engage it to an axle tube or differential.I carry a Hi-Lift jack when out on the trail, but still have a small bottle jack in my too By Jay Kopycinski Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!
