im trying to peice together some of the must have tools that all of us 4x4 guys should have in our tool boxes.... ratcheting combo wrenches, impact gun and sockets, full wrench+ socket sets, 90 deg die grinder, torque wrench. what are some of the tools that you "MUST have" in your tool box??? im trying to peice mine together while im still at school so i go home prepared...
-gear puller(s)
-Engine tools (timing light, ring compressor, ring spreader, compression gauge, leakdown tester)
-A good set of punches and brass drifts
-feeler gauges (aka leaf guages)
-Set of Taps+dies
-Good measuring tools (micrometer, caliper... no cheap stuff either)
and any specialty tools for working on your particular truck
You are well on your way to a well equipped shop. I would add shop equipment like a welder, torch set, plasma, sawsalll, drill press, tubing bender and the like. At least a good hand grinder is a necessity.
I find that a small press is also a given for true 4x4 work -- a 12-20 ton one will suffice for home shop use. Pros need larger stuff, if only to speed up the work.
I'd then add specialized tools like a good ball joint/u-joint c-press (Snap On has a new one out that is WONDERFUL -- it has 98% of the coverage of the 4 OTC kits at half the price -- and has captured adapter rings and a C-press that can be easily clamped into a bench vise). Electronic test equipment like a code scanner, component tester, and a good meter -- plus some knowledge of what to do with them.
Some things are probably best left to others unless you have a lot of room and money like tire changers and balancers and machine shop equipment (mills and lathes, etc.). Generally you don't have to use them often enough to make up for the price you have to pay to procure them.
Finally, a tool that I almost consider indispensable these days is a 2 post lift... I don't have one now because I'm renting--but the minute I get my own place I will have one... They are down to under $2000 and worth every penny! You WILL use one almost every day if you have it.
keep the reply's coming guys these are good stuff.... im not looking for actual shop tools, just the stuff that you would never build another tool box without....
Open ended question. What are you working on? You doing electrical, heavy repair or just base maintenance?
Example:
A spindle nut wrench for a Dana or GM axle is worthless for a guy with a Toyota. Same with SAE tools in general.
Then there is the question of your level of repair work you are capable of. I do everything including building my own transmissions. Some stuff I have like assortments of gear pullers, press and some stuff I have made to serve as a home brew SST, There is no real point in you having if your not comfortable doing that sort of work.
I also have been in the electronic repair business. I have a $600 Metcal Soderstation.....you could probably make do with a $40 40watt iron from radio shack and do everything you want.
Good start for any person doing maintenance is going to be a set of open/box end wrenches, pliers, strippers etc. Good sockets and if you are on a tight budget...get a set of 6 point impact sockets before a fancy 200 piece socket set. So many people break regular sockets using them for torque ranges well beyond their design. Impacts will take a lot more abuse. You will get away putting 100lbft of torque on a 3/8s drive 1/2 inch socket to get off a rusty bolt.
Then my next recommendation is a Shop manual. That leads into this:
I recommend is getting a torque wrench. Most people way over tighten stuff. Get a feel for whats enough for a given size fastener. A good example is everybody likes to torque up the 3/8s nuts that hold a spindle to a knuckle on a D44. Guess what...your running more risk of it coming off from too tight then too loose.
I have seen people use breaker bars to install them on the trail. 40lbft is exceeding its rating. You use a breaker on it your making an easy 100lbft and running the risk of fracturing the stud. The machined tolerance of where the spindle goes into the hub is what carries the load...not the fawking nuts. Thats why you have to sometime persuade them off because of the tight fit. A 3/8 ratchet will provide plenty of leverage to tighten that. put the break it bar away!
Thats info you get from the shop manual is the torque values for given parts.
Get decent pairs of snap ring pliers and lock ring pliers for use on hubs and in t-cases, etc. I have also found that automatic wire strippers are invaluable if you are doing much electrical work.
the hub socket is good to have... I've used mine more times than I thought possible... also, I carry a piece of steel pipe the same diameter as my wheel bearings with a piece of metal welded on as a cap, about 10" long... use it to help push in bearings and just generally give me something to beat on instead of banging directly with a hammer on hard to get to parts...
One of the neatest things I'll never leave home without again is a disc brake caliper press... sure, a C-clamp works, but this thing makes the job so much easier...
Grim Reaper brings up an important point. A service manual for your truck(and any other vehicles) is great to have for important torque specs. Also, Snap ring pliers are pretty handy. C clups are found all over the place
It sounds to me like you are trying to put together a basic portable tool box that you can make most common repairs to your vehicle.
Here's some of what I would have to cover the basics. No parts or power tools in this list.
Socket and ratchet set metric/standard.
Open/Box end wrenches metric/standard.
Extensions.
Screw drivers slotted/phillips.
Pliers.
Snao ring pliers.
Adjustable wrenchs.
Vice grips.
Wire stripper/cutters.
Ball peen hammer.
Allen/Torx/Hex keys.
Volt meter or circuit tester light.
Jack.
Lug wrench.
U joint press.
Specailty tools common with my application,
Spindle nut socket.
Caliper piston tool.
Torx and allen wrenches for specific bolts.
Just make sure you have a socket, wrench, etc. to cover everything you might have to replace or repair and may not be a common item.
No offense to the other lists, but after you get the basics covered the other stuff is mostly just a luxury.
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