Tools

I am going to start doing my own work on my truck- brakes, rotate tires, fluids, etc. Other than a jack, what are the tools that I need to buy to do this? I am planning on getting everything that I can from Harbor Freight. Thanks in advance!

 

Just to name a few.

Jack stands.
Back dolly (creeper)
Metric socket set
Metric wrench set
Socket to impact adapter 1/2, Qtr, in drive.
Metric Alan key set
Breaker bar
Cheater bar or 4 ft pipe
Torque wrench
Socket universal joint
Gloves
Anti seize
Blue loc tite
Red loc tite
Shop towels
A tarp
Dry and wet vac
Air compressor for tires
Brass hammer
Mallet
Hammer
6lbs sledge

Torque Spec booklet

Beer
Boom box

 

I’ve been able to do quite a bit of small type jobs with:

- ratcheting wrench sets (I have both metric and standard)
- socket set with misc sockets in 1/2 and 3/8” drives
- torque wrench
- floor jack

I just got a battery powered impact wrench and an impact socket set so that’ll help going forward

 

Start with a rolling tool chest, then start filling it up.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ckets-and-wrenches-for-2nd-gen-tacoma.158302/

 

This is a good list. Start at the top and work your way down as you can afford it. I've never needed a tarp because fortunately, I have a garage. You can tailor the list to your needs, but you can do a lot with a couple of jack stands, ramps, and a decent socket and wrench set. Get a good 1/2" breaker bar too, one that you can slide a piece of 3/4" black pipe over for a cheater bar. This will help with some of the more stubborn fasteners.
I'd include an oil drain pan and a decent funnel. I've made various funnels out of Heat bottles and fuel injector bottles, but if I'm thinking correctly, I usually use those when changing the oil in my mower.

 

I use a tarp for when rust or debris falls on my garage floor, or when lube of any kind spills. Makes for easy clean up, and when you can’t find that fucking 10mm.

Had my cheapo grease gun exploded on me yesterday. Least to say, everything is now properly lubricated.

 

I have the tools linked below.

Deep well socket set - (It also had a 24mm) Shallow set 3/8 & 1/2 w/adapter 1/4” 1/2” Extendable ratchet (yes it will break lugs loose. And the brake caliper bolts too) Jack - As for a good 3/8” ratchet. I’d go to Lowe’s and get a good budget friendly craftsman.
I don’t own an Icon, so I can’t advertise on those.

The cheap ones from HF suck. Too clunky for fine work.

I’m still shy on HF jack stands after the recall they had.
I bought a set from advanced auto w/lock bars.

 

After 40 years of owning Toyota trucks, I have a small toolbag always in the truck. Metric sockets, deep wells have been mentioned. Wrenches, some doubles for popular sizes. Small hammer, vice grips, thread file, chisel, stiff & sharp putty knife. Small hacksaw, pliers, diagonal cutters, wire stripper.
Don't forget the digital multimeter, OBD module and phone app.

 

This thread is a great resource too
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...nches-for-2nd-gen-tacoma.158302/#post-3207085

 

Where are you located? I can possibly show you what I have.

granted. What I have is built up from being a mechanic on a different brand. In the beginning I spent a short time as a lube tech. That is its own set of tools. And less wage to buy them.
Or as a shop hand using shop tools that gave me an idea.

if it’s DIY it does not have to be the nicest shit.
nice tools are for good fast results repeatable all day every day if you’re working on a car owned by a doctor who expects it and pays for it.
Like a snap on torque wrench that’s set and forget. It’s faster.

I used to not like the idea of a small generic tool set.
But then when I got the $100 DeWalt hand tool kit case from Costco I was surprised by how much it was able to do. It does have limitations for things where more tools are needed

say I’m out and about. With a 15 minute pause somewhere. I need to put my ditch light brackets back on. I can just go grab those tools in the truck put them on conveniently without having to go all the way back home and looking for stuff.
Obviously bigger jobs it’s not enough.

even in the mechanic world. I’ve found snap on sockets soft and wearing out. With most guys including myself tending to buy other brands besides big name tool trucks for most things to save money.
Whether that be harbor freight,
Grey pneumatic
Sunex
Knipex
Whether that’s a decent competitor, superior, close, or in the case of DIY good enough.
Only reason I had/have snap on dual 80 ratchets is because
1. Bought them used cheaper
2. The dual 80 ratchet mechanism gives more teeth for tight spaces
3. They keep their value. I could sell for what I paid. Used is competitive to the price of new Icon tools. Some of which I also have.

for example. Pick sets from icon. Warranty at many harbor freight brick and mortar locations. Way better priced than sets from a tool truck

large Husky toolbox. Or harbor freight one. Cheaper.
unfortunately there are mechanic jobs that exist that despite $230 door rate, may pay $20 an hour. Less than 10% to do the work.
At such a wage, it makes 0 sense to spend $500 on a single pick set. Or whatever high amount they cost.

if you get cheap shit you’ll probably find it to work. If you find you want something nicer then you’ll upgrade it and maybe keep as spare in the truck.
Or research and go for something decent first. Estwing mini sledge from Home Depot with anti vibration handles for example.
A cheap click style torque wrench is surprisingly accurate. They’re just more of a pain to use

jacks I have a badlands, hi lift, and big red torin truck jack stands from Amazon. I don’t trust HFT jack stands risking my life to save $5.

 

HF has some decent punch and chisel sets too. For the stuff you 'beat on', they have some decent stuff.
I also have a chunk of brass rod that I use on occasion, when I need to beat on the end of an axle shaft or something on which I don't want to damage threads.
I have a Kobalt socket set that I've been pretty happy with, but my favorite 3/8 ratchet I have is a Duralast swivel head, longer than standard unit I got with some points I'd saved up.
Regardless of brand, a longer handled 3/8 drive ratchet is really handy.

 

When you rotate tires, all 4 tires will be up. So 4 jack stands. Something to think about. There’s unspent energy, gravity. I’ve found myself under a car, glance over and 2 of my jack stands are leaning over, I was younger and stupider.

Fluids, very basic. Drain pan with the adequate capacity, funnel, 14mm socket, ratchet, extension, and maybe a filter wrench.

If you plan to tackle the drum brakes, there’s plenty of brake specific tools. They’re all not necessary but you’ll be cursing and cutting yourself less with them.

For the disc brakes it’s much easier and nothing brake specific I can think of except having a way to collapse the calipers pistons. I use 2 vice grip squeeze clamps. Then you can use them for other stuff.

Brands, I guess harbor freight has improved over the years. Still use common sense. Ask is it gonna break? Will it hurt or kill me? I’ve had good luck with Home Depot husky & lowes kobalt. I’ve used kobalt 3/8 sockets daily for about 12 years, broke 1, and 1 is badly discolored from battery cleaner. The laser etch crap is wearing off all of them. I have a mix of brands sk, snapon, matco, proto, Armstrong, gear wrench, etc. I refuse to buy anything that says craftsman on it ever again. Some of the guys I work with have nothing but snap on, guessing in the 90-140k neighborhood, insane.

Like tacotuesday1 said, a generic tool set can be a good start. From there you can add what you need.

For a tool box, shop around. Cheap drawer slides will fail after you put weight in them. Get something bigger than you think you need. It fills up quickly. I can say my $2400 snap on box has been disappointing. Even after paying extra to add extra slides in every drawer.

Cheater bars, I know, sometimes it’s the only way. If I get caught using one at work I’ll be in trouble. So there I have to find a different way. A couple guys have 1” impact wrenches. Or I have this extender I can use.

$19 K Tool International 49403 Universal Wrench Extender Adaptor, 1/2" or 21mm Hex Drive, Drop Forged Body with Heat Treatment, Extendable, Black

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001GS0ZBY?ie=UTF8

 

I don’t think I’ve seen wheel chocks mentioned yet.

 

Buy basic tools, rent special ones from AutoZone.

I own a u-joint press kit that I might use once every 10 years, if even that. It's a heavy sucker that I keep around because I'll need it some day, but I hate the space it takes up.