What are people using/recommending? Mine just gave up the ghost after an unfortunate combination of oily fingers and a concrete floor. I could use a better unit anyways, as mine has never been the most accurate.
Does anyone have any good suggestions for brands/models? Also, what other 'tools' do you consider essential for your auto-racing related travels/days? I have a checklist of my own, but I'd be curious if I'm on the end of under-packed, over-packed, or just about right...
I use an analogue Longacre gauge. No batteries, easy to bleed off pressure and it has a rubber bumper around the periphery because Longacre knows racers.
Intercomp 4" huge face, 100psi, rubber impact sleeve, easy to bleed fractional psi, uses regular air fittings so you can change the hose/fitting or mod it to accept the air compressor with a T fitting at home. Not cheap.
I tend to throw enough tools in the box to fix basic stuff that can go wrong. Analog pressure gauge as noted by Keith. Aluminum racing jack from HF.
That last one stands out in my mind because at a National Autocross event it looks like an ad for HF in the paddock area.
Longacre here as well. I like the gauges with the swivel chuck.
If I'm going to end up changing pads at the track, I really like my Milwaukee cordless ratchet to undo the caliper pins (floating calipers). It's easy to toss in a tool bag, as opposed to the cordless impact wrench for the lugs, which works great, but it's more than I want to take to the track in my two seat tool box (Z4 Coupe).
Other tools:
Aim Solo predictive lap timer. It's self contained so easy to move from car to car when coaching others or racing myself.
Leather "Cattleman" gloves for changing HOT brakes. Those mechanics ones do not buy you enough time before heat soaking and 100F WV heat + 9hr race length makes for some seriously hot stuff to touch when everything isn't going your way.
Every charger attachment known to man and one of those new battery jump packs. When there is no electricity in the pits and you forgot to charge up the impact gun battery or left the ignition on in the diesel all night... it will actually do it. No kidding.
EAR PLUGS!!!!
Kylini
HalfDork
9/12/16 10:44 a.m.
I'm a huge fan of QuickCar. It's easier to read and has more padding than Longacre's gauge. Anything that swivels is great though.
SPS has it for $30.
Kylini
HalfDork
9/12/16 10:53 a.m.
For normal tools, I have a roll with every metric wrench from 8 mm through 22 mm. I have two long 21 mm wrenches because my front suspension requires two to disassemble. I also carry a quality 3/8 socket set (deep and shallow; all 6 point impact) and a ratchet, breaker bar, and impact to use them. I also have a set of small bent pliers (great for body panels) and assorted screwdrivers (from JIS for nice stuff to crappy standard for prying stuff).
For "weird" stuff, I carry a huge set of channel locks (for when you can't find the coilover wrench and just don't care anymore). My inappropriate wheel stud kit consists of a few spares, a crappy open nut plus "spacer" to pull bolts through (again, inappropriate but it works), and an 8 lb. sledgehammer to "press" them out. The sledge is also great for... uh... last minute fender rolling?
Mike
Dork
9/12/16 11:04 a.m.
Has GRM ever done a comparison test on tire pressure gauges?
Joe's Tire gauge
Had a few people recommend this gauge. I love it. The Bleeder valve is very useful since I'm mostly dropping pressures between runs.
I use an SMC IS30 transducer in a custom box. Because I had one laying around and it looks cool.
Jerry
UltraDork
9/12/16 12:06 p.m.
I asked our local SOLO chairperson for a recommendation, and decided to chuck the 2-3 cheap ones I had. Wish I could pull up the link at work, but I bought a Long Acre one with analog dial, .5# increments, glow in the dark face, liquid filled, etc for about $40.
When I was working in racing, I had a "pit road kit" which was a backpack with my McDaniel Controls tire pressure gauge (I bought it from RPX at an IMSA weekend, think it was like $100, best clear gauge I have ever had), Intercomp Pyrometer, BSR shock can pressure tool, inferred temp gun, multiple spanner wrenches for ride height changes, tape measure to make rough ride measurements on pit road, 45 degree Knipex pliers to make ARB blade changes (perfect for 997/991 GT cars), and just assortment of knubby phillips and flat head screwdrivers.
Oh, Kevlar heat sleeves!!
The Hoff wrote:
Joe's Tire gauge
Had a few people recommend this gauge. I love it. The Bleeder valve is very useful since I'm mostly dropping pressures between runs.
I use this one as well. Works well, has a good bleeder valve. And it glows in the dark too!
Thanks guys. I'll add a tool that takes up almost no space, is light, and has saved mine and a bunch of fellow racers' bacon a couple times at the track-
A strong telescoping magnet. You can even get them with a LED light at the end of them. Invaluable.
Another happy Longacre gauge user here.
Woody
MegaDork
9/12/16 3:58 p.m.
I just bought a Longacre last week after using the same Accugauge for the past 30 years without ever having it calibrated and feeling bad about that. I was motivated by a sale email that I got last week advertising them for $18.99, but a closer look revealed that that the cheap one didn't have a "Hold" feature. I really liked that on my old one so I upgraded to a deluxe Longacre for $36.76
Discovery Parts Sale link.
I have used these to keep all my stuff dry at the autocross and the track. Many times it looked like a nice day, only to have a storm roll through unexpectedly. Best part is, you can hand them out to anyone nearby who was not expecting the rain. They also work as a poncho, a seat cover, a convertible top and for policing your garbage.
In reply to pinchvalve:
Those are great to have on setup pads on all four corners. When the car sits on them, the tires dont bind up, so you have instant reflections in the changes you have made in ride height, camber, toe, ect...
ordered the longacre unit with the hold feature. Thanks Woody!
Tire pyrometer.
a tire pyrometer and pressure gauge should go together.
kb58
Dork
9/13/16 1:42 p.m.
wvumtnbkr wrote:
Tire pyrometer.
a tire pyrometer and pressure gauge should go together.
Off topic, but how useful is tire temperature when it's often measured many seconds - or minutes - after cornering. Tire wear and pressure seems like a better indicator of overall tire condition.