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Mechanics across the spectrum demand all sorts of innovative and powerful tools. Whether it’s a specialty tool designed to assist in engine maintenance or a massively powerful impact wrench with plenty of breakaway torque, numerous important tools, instruments, and equipment factor into the modern workshop. Maintaining the right balance of equipment isn’t always easy, and finding new gear to provide coverage for the kinds of work you do or want to branch into in your own garage can be tough at times. For many home mechanics looking for supportive gear, price can be a major barrier. Some of the most sought-after brands among professionals cost an arm and a leg for even the smallest pieces of equipment. This might seem like it only leaves the scraps for us mere mortals. But there’s hope yet.

Plenty of excellent tools and equipment can be found at outlets across the marketplace without breaking the bank. One resource with great value is Harbor Freight. The tool retailer carries a huge stock of products and owns a range of in-house brands that bring essential functionality to users at accessible prices. These five essentials can go a long way to diagnosing and fixing issues under the hood, and they’re all tools or equipment that I have personal experience with. I can attest to the value they bring to users, both in the auto mechanic arena and beyond. Fortunately, excellent options are available from Harbor Freight, and all for prices under $25.

The breaker bar is a hand tool that delivers brute force when you need it the most. This piece of equipment tends to rest in the back of your toolbox, but when you call upon it, unrelenting durability and consistent performance are absolutely required.  Breaker bars act as an alternative to the standard ratchet wrench. When a bolt is stuck, seized, or otherwise immobile, it’s entirely possible to break your ratchet before you exert the necessary torque to get the fastener moving again. Breaker bars deliver the solution to this problem. These characteristics might suggest that the breaker bar is an expensive tool, but it doesn’t have to be.  

The Pittsburgh Pro ½-Inch Drive 25-Inch Breaker Bar is available from Harbor Freight for $22 and offers a huge, 25-inch length to provide excessive leverage on even the most stubborn fasteners. This tool offers a one-directional swivel in the ratchet head to minimize the moving parts involved in turning a fastener. From here, the main component of the tool is a chrome vanadium steel lever arm that weighs nearly 2.5 pounds and provides ample length and heft to multiply your turning force. This tool also features an oil-resistant, cushioned grip to give you a comfortable and ergonomic hold on the end of the bar.

Identifying and resolving battery issues and other electrical problems in your vehicle can be time-consuming and immensely frustrating. Electrical work on the whole involves plenty of testing and troubleshooting. This makes it a problem area with plenty of common mistakes lurking for repairers and mechanics. Much of the trouble diagnosing the electrical issues under the hood comes from the complex systems involved. There are so many wires found within even the simplest vehicles on the road today, and trouble can be hiding at the power source or in numerous midpoints between the battery and the features it powers.

The Cen-Tech 100 Amp 6/12V Battery Load Tester is a testing solution that can help take the guesswork out of this process. The tool allows you to check your alternator, regulator, and battery, as well as offering diagnostics on your engine’s starter, all common issues that can impact your vehicle’s ability to start up and drive. Your battery is one of the culprits to inspect when dealing with a car that turns over but won’t start. With a battery load tester in your arsenal, checking this potential source of your trouble is incredibly fast and seriously simple. The tool can be used with both 6- and 12-volt systems and allows testing of numerous electrical components that play a role in starting and maintaining power in your car. It’s available at Harbor Freight for $18, representing a steal for such a crucial diagnostic tool.

The Pittsburgh Pro ½-Inch Drive 16-Piece Socket Set comes in just under the $25 threshold set here. It’s currently listed for $24.99 at Harbor Freight and offers excellent value for its cost. The set includes 16 pieces, with a breaker bar and extension to allow for high torque needs and access to recessed areas. The kit also comes with a storage case with space for each piece, and 13 sockets in common sizes ranging from 11mm to 28mm. It’s also available with SAE measurements instead, which range from 7/16-inch to 1-1/4-inch. The set is made of chrome vanadium steel, providing a polished finish and a durable build that won’t easily wear out, even through heavy use. It also happens to be one of the best socket sets available at Harbor Freight.

This kit is an ideal choice for those early in their career or building a home garage toolset. It runs a ½-inch drive, allowing for significant force to be applied to the tool and its accessory inclusions. As a more aesthetic feature, the ratchet handle is built with a classic taper to its design, something that many users will prize in their collection. My own ratchet features a very similar visual format that foregoes the softened grip, and I appreciate both the responsiveness of this approach and personally love the look. Every homeowner, mechanic, and general fixer needs a ratchet set in their toolbox, and this is a phenomenal choice for those looking to pair a low cost of entry alongside a solid tool set.

The Bauer 20V 0 to 160 PSI Inflator is a significantly valuable power tool that won’t cost much to bring into your arsenal, much like many other affordable Bauer options. If you’re already a Bauer system user, the bare tool costs just $20 at Harbor Freight, making it a seriously impactful solution at a very reasonable price point. 

The Bauer offers fast inflation in a compact body. It’s built with a pistol grip handle and a high-pressure hose measuring 19 inches to allow for easy access to valve stems, even when recessed into a wheel well or other hard-to-reach areas. It also features strap slots that make it easy to hang or attach to a tool bag for storage or on-the-go carrying requirements.

The inflator has enough power to deliver consistent air pressure to pump up car tires, and it can also be used for more delicate tasks like blowing up air mattresses and pool toys. This makes it a good solution to have on hand for both work in your shop and as a portable inflation option when you go on road trips or take time away from the grind in your own backyard. The tool features a pressure gauge on its back end, making it easy to read and allowing you to stop inflation at the required pressure. It also includes onboard storage for nozzle accessories and needles.

Storage solutions aren’t always hyped up as much as high value power tools, but they are just as important as the equipment used to get the job done. Without proper storage and organizational solutions brought into your workshop, it can be difficult or even impossible to find the gear you need in a timely manner. This can grind your progress to a halt, stopping you from working on your own project car or limiting your ability to tackle paid jobs involving other people’s vehicles. A poorly managed shop is one that won’t do a lot of business.

An easy-to-use solution that can make a huge impact in your routine tasks is the U.S. General Magnetic Power and Air Tool Holder. This tool-holding solution can accommodate two standard-sized tools and one large addition. It features powerful magnets on the back to secure the holder to any kind of steel cabinet or shop cart you might use on a regular basis. It’s available from Harbor Freight for $20. The magnetic connection allows you to move this organizational staple into any position that might benefit your workshop and flow. Moreover, the magnets feature a rubber-coated finish to prevent scratching or damage to your equipment, adding to the value of this storage customization option.