4 car mechanic dilemmas How to choose tyre service and car repair tools

This is something that almost anyone thought about. Here comes the list of 4 dilemmas that every car mechanic faces – who wants to get the right equipment.

One issue to start with. It’s impossible to find a complete list of car repair equipment. The more you work the more tools you would need. However, there are things you need to consider while looking for tools.

Dilemma #1 New or used?

You repair cars. No matter what you think about the current cars, you would surely agree on 1 thing. When you get a new car, you’re looking for being calm and sure about the car’s being trouble-free for a few years. Let’s say the car is able to drive for 100-150 thousand kilometers. A new one would be able to do that without trouble

And when you buy a second hand car, this would always be a Russian roulette. Even though you are a car mechanic and you are able to check some of its most important parts, you won’t dismantle the engine. Right?

As a car mechanic you would be able to repair car problems. But really – do you want to waste your time on this? You certainly know how much time it takes to find the right parts, particularly when we talk some non-typical ones. Obviously, you won’t cover labor costs but you still need to pay for the parts.

The same pertains to used car repair equipment. You won’t be able to check whether an impact wrench, car lift, wheel balancer, tyre changer or other tools are fine. And then – you get the tools and something goes wrong. Would it help to have a premium badge on? Remember that there are many parts due to incorrect use of the tool.

Don’t forget that nobody in their right mind would ever replace tools that are fine. People do so because

• tool does not work fine (parameters are not sufficient)
• tool has broken down (and it’s too expensive to fix it)

Obviously, you can repair just anything. But don’t forget that when the tool is unable to work, you’re not making money. You’re losing them instead. Picture this – you bought a second-hand two-post lift. A certain part has broken down and you do not know what to do next. You’re unable to work, as you won’t be able to move the lift to another place. It may turn out it’s an easy job. It may turn out that finding the part that has gone bad is too expensive.

And when you buy a new tool, you won’t have to worry about it. If any problems appear, you can always rely on the seller.

To sum up – if you look for a car repair equipment and you want to have hassle-free operation, it’s safer to get a new one. After all, you’re not buying a two-post lift/impact wrench to let them be unused.

Used tools – a waste of money

Getting a second hand car service equipment you pay load of money. If the equipment works then it is fine. Getting used ones you realize that you wasted money – the tools do not work and fail to make money. And you also have to pay extra money to get them fixed – when they broke down, for instance. So, it’s more expensive than getting a new, even budget, equipment.

But…

Dilemma #2 Are budget tools worth it?

You remember cars made in Korea like 15 years back? They were poorly made. Rusting like crazy, so it was not a good idea to get them. Let’s forget about the design, too. And now? Check the Korean cars right now. They do not differ from the ones made in Europe.

And we’re not telling you that these cars are extremely good. But just think how much work they must have done to be successfully sold in Europe, where people can get German, Swedish or French cars.

Still inconvinced? Consider choosing a car for taxi. You’re certainly often asked about the best car for tough jobs. Like for driving on taxi. What would you recommend? Take Dacia. A new one is priced similarly to a used Mercedes. Obviously, it would not look that well and it has poor equipment.

On the flipside – be it Dacia, be it Skoda, be it Mercedes. They would always get you where you want to get. Do you really want a Mercedes for that?

Plus tot that, servicing a Mercedes would definitely be more expensive than a Dacia. Just consider the part prices.

Why are we talking about this? These rules apply to car repair equipment too. They are not supposed to be feature-packed. They should be able to make money for your business.

If you expect them to have tough time at your service, it’s more important to look at the parameters.

BRAND IS LESS IMPORTANT – PARAMETERS ARE IMPORTANT

Obviously, you can pay many Euros for an impact wrench. The same pertains to tools chests, for instance. But – if you can’t see too much difference between these, why pay for the brand?

Are Chinese tools worse?

Oftentimes you can read that car repair tools made in China or other Asian countries are worse than premium ones when it comes to quality. But don’t forget that almost every industry has their own factories in China. That’s the way the market works these days. And don’t forget that many factories that manufacture the premium brands offer the cheap equipment.

Shortly – it’s not important where the tool comes from. The way it is done is more important. Strict quality control at every step that we apply in REDATS factories, means we can be sure about their quality.
Obviously, you can find tools not made in China. But there is a problem – the price – these tools are 2-3 times more expensive than the ones made in China.

Dilemma #3 REDATS opinions – what is it really like?

While looking for car/tyre service tools it’s always a good idea to find reviews about the brand. Where to look at? At any place where you can meet people who deal with the equipment. Be it Facebook groups, be it online discussion boards, be it reviews on various marketplaces.

How to read these opinions? Look for certain details. Just the “not recommended” note is not enough to resign from buying the equipment. Be sure to read the negative reviews thoroughly.

Dilemma #4 Service support

Obviously, you are looking for new tools, so there should not be any problems. However, you should be making sure that the seller provide you with technical assistance in case any problems appear. Don’t be afraid to ask them about it.