Hey I just bought a 97 4runner with 185k miles as a project vehicle. I am just learning how to work on trucks and would love to do most things in my garage.. I have a lot of maintenance and preventative measures in mind. Things like water pump, timing belt, spark plugs, trans fluids, diff fluids and such.. but my question is what kind of tools should I purchase to begin doing these things I'm young and just bought my first house with a garage so I'm wondering what to buy to get my tool set started. Any suggestions would he helpful ill probably just get like craftsman brand stuff but where do i start and what do i need
tool advice
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SJC4Runner
Member
If your doing timing belt your going to want a good torque wrench for the crankshaft pulley. Don't forget the all important piece of pipe that can slide over your wrench/breaker bar so you can break stuff free that is not being reasonable. You will probably also need Metric Alan wrenches/or sockets if your changing trans/diff oil. PB Blaster is nice for those rusty nuts. A ODB2 reader can be invaluable to have around on a high mileage truck so you can check it and not have to worry about it being serious or just :uzi: smog crap. When you buy sockets 6 sided sockets would be preferable to 12 sided under most situations because the 6 sided socket will "grip" more and less chance of rounding off.
2nd the jack stands. Jacks are for lifting the vehicle. Jack stands are for supporting the vehicle. Don't get under the vehicle without it being on jack stands or at least a tire that it can fall on instead of you!
2nd the jack stands. Jacks are for lifting the vehicle. Jack stands are for supporting the vehicle. Don't get under the vehicle without it being on jack stands or at least a tire that it can fall on instead of you!
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Stick Figure
New member
Most people start with a basic set of Craftsman stuff. Older Craftsman is good, the newer stuff, well a lot of it is made in China. While not all China products are bad, there does seem to a higher chance of problems with their tools.
I honestly would suggest doing a bit of research and buy some used stuff, flea market, craigslist, auctions, etc are all great places to add to your tool collection.
check out The Garage Journal and some of the similar websites for classifieds and reviews. just be warned they can be very addictive, before you know it you'll have two really expensive hobbies.
I honestly would suggest doing a bit of research and buy some used stuff, flea market, craigslist, auctions, etc are all great places to add to your tool collection.
check out The Garage Journal and some of the similar websites for classifieds and reviews. just be warned they can be very addictive, before you know it you'll have two really expensive hobbies.
LittleCaesar
New member
Make sure to get a pair of both 6ton and 3ton jack stands.
+1 with Singtoe on finding SnapOn, Bluepoint, etc. at a pawn shop. I still wrench a 20 year old set of Craftsman sockets.
A metric set of flare nut wrenches comes in handy.
+1 with Singtoe on finding SnapOn, Bluepoint, etc. at a pawn shop. I still wrench a 20 year old set of Craftsman sockets.
A metric set of flare nut wrenches comes in handy.
As much as I hate to say it… We ran to Wal-Mart to grab a socket set in a pinch and have beat the living hell out of a set of Stanley sockets and ratchet for quite some time without them giving up. We are not kind to tools, so if they can survive Scotty and I, they will probably survive anything you can throw at it.
If you don't wrench a lot, some of the "junk" tools actually work out quite well.
You just have to use common sense. If it looks and feels like a piece of sh*t, it probably is.
All that jibber jabber said… There's a Craftsman kit that a couple friends have that has a box with I think two or three drawers that has just about everything you'd need and would last you forever. That's the route I would go as most of the stuff I use daily is Craftsman with a handful of Snap-on here and there.
I'm done rambling now:nerd:
If you don't wrench a lot, some of the "junk" tools actually work out quite well.
You just have to use common sense. If it looks and feels like a piece of sh*t, it probably is.
All that jibber jabber said… There's a Craftsman kit that a couple friends have that has a box with I think two or three drawers that has just about everything you'd need and would last you forever. That's the route I would go as most of the stuff I use daily is Craftsman with a handful of Snap-on here and there.
I'm done rambling now:nerd:
SCRunner12
New member
Here's a thread I created a year ago and it had some really good info. I'm slowly working on my tool collection, but I have a long way to go. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/general-discussions/74231-what-tools-do-i-need.html
ryankmasuda
New member
I agree. The nice part about Craftsmen is the lifetime warranty. Just take the broken hand tool to any sears or Craftsmen dealer and they will replace it. I had to do this once with my 3/8" ratchet broke. Be careful how long of a pipe you use for leverage.
A.Wilson013
New member
Check craigslist man!
I got a Husky tool kit from Home Depot for like $100 and it's incredible what all I have been able to do with it. It's mostly sockets, but also has a screwdriver set, and a few wrenches.
The one thing I don't have that I have rented from Autozone a dozen times probably is a torque wrench. A good torque wrench is expensive, but man are they handy.
About once a week I will search for "Craftsman Tools" and "Snap on" on craigslist... There are some screaming deals, but more often then not there are so many tools in a kit that they are still too expensive.
Edit** My Husky 3/4" drive ratchet broke the first time I used it. Everything else has worked wonderfully. It also has a lifetime warranty, I just have not used it yet.
I got a Husky tool kit from Home Depot for like $100 and it's incredible what all I have been able to do with it. It's mostly sockets, but also has a screwdriver set, and a few wrenches.
The one thing I don't have that I have rented from Autozone a dozen times probably is a torque wrench. A good torque wrench is expensive, but man are they handy.
About once a week I will search for "Craftsman Tools" and "Snap on" on craigslist... There are some screaming deals, but more often then not there are so many tools in a kit that they are still too expensive.
Edit** My Husky 3/4" drive ratchet broke the first time I used it. Everything else has worked wonderfully. It also has a lifetime warranty, I just have not used it yet.
BrianSD_42
New member
SOBER is one of the best of TOOL.
For working on your car I think you should try to get some Craftsman / Dewalt / Channelock if you have the $$. I have some tools by Huskey but they are definitely lower quality.
Amazon.com is actually a very good place to shop for tools.
For working on your car I think you should try to get some Craftsman / Dewalt / Channelock if you have the $$. I have some tools by Huskey but they are definitely lower quality.
Amazon.com is actually a very good place to shop for tools.
So thank you for some of the replys I appreciate it.. now I was wondering I am going to be putting my tool set together slowly and want to buy quality tools but want to save money .. I:girl: was wondering what are the most common size fasteners on 3rd gen runners .. if Iwas going to piece together good wreches and sockets what sizes would i most likely use on a regular basis
Sixpack577
New member
Wrench and sockets are cheaper by the set, and if you buy them individually, sooner or later you'll get stuck on a project without the one size you need. Gear wrenches are nice for tight spots too.
I'm 34 and a former mechanic, and I started buying tools in high school.
As said above, just start with a good Craftsman metric set. 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2" drive ratchets and sockets, metric wrenches, metric allen wrenches or sockets, a 1/2 drive torque wrench(foot pounds), a 1/4 drive torque wrench(inch pounds). GOOD screwdrivers!!!! Snap-on, Mac, Matco, and some of the Craftsman. You'll find out in time the value of a good screwdriver vs. a cheap one that twists and bends.
Snap ring pliers, needle nose pliers, channel locks, vice grips, a big ball peen hammer, dead blow hammer, a quality punch set, test light AND a good magnet!!! As well as a good prybar, and a pipe to put on the end of a 1/2" drive breaker bar.
As you get more tools you'l need a good tool box. Brand isn't so important as long as it's made well, no real flex or flimsyness to the cabinet, and most of all, ball bearing drawer slides.
Buy a box bigger than you need if you can afford it too, because if you continue to work on things, you'll be amazed at how the box fills up as you accumulate tools over the years.
Harbor freight and Northern tools have some junk, but they also have alot of good quality stuff at cheap prices.
twitchee2
Member
Well after using Habor frieght junk for a couple years i finally started buying good tools that will last me a lifetime. I found this set and its a great starter IMO. Its ALL 6pt sockets. It goes on sale from time to time for 269.99 but all in all im very happy with it.
edit. link might be helpful
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00933207000P?prdNo=16&blockNo=16&blockType=G16
edit. link might be helpful
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00933207000P?prdNo=16&blockNo=16&blockType=G16
Maxil
New member
I try to get good ones but can't afford and don't use them enough to get brands like Snap on. I mostly get Kobalt because like husky they pretty good tools and have a lifetime warranty. I think I even have some of the newer stanleys because they also have a lifetime warranty on some.
Before my dad died he had a workshop full of nothing but snap on and craftsman tools. It irritates me to think that just about all of them were stolen by so called friends of the family. I have only a handful left, but they sure are tough tools!
Before my dad died he had a workshop full of nothing but snap on and craftsman tools. It irritates me to think that just about all of them were stolen by so called friends of the family. I have only a handful left, but they sure are tough tools!
JohnsD90
New member
My 192 piece craftsmen set says made in USA on it, as do most of there regular hand tools, when you buy the cheaper sh*t that's made in china, they have the basic the pro then the lower line which I believe is made in china and called evolve.
Stick Figure
New member
Look again .. this is a change that started about a year ago when SK went bankrupt that's who was actually making a lot of the Craftsman stuff. SK was bought out by Ideal who is re-introducing the brand, but Craftsman had to do something in the mean time, and China was the answer. All of the "professional" wrenches, including the line wrenches, 60deg off sets etc. Walk into a Sears and look at a lot of the COO on their packages. Its probably close to a 50/50 split at this point.
The evolve **** isn't even a consideration, and not worth mentioning as a tool.
