ToyotaCare Expired... Buy Tools for DIY Maintenance?

I just brought in my truck for its 25k mile service, even though I've had my truck for less than 2 years, which means I will have to pay for maintenance if I bring it back to Toyota (or any mechanic, really).

So is it time that I go out and buy a reliable floor jack and jack stands?

I have a socket wrench set and a torque wrench already, but what other tools should I get?

Any brands to stay away from? Any advice for changing rear and front differential fluids?

I have a MT. Is it recommended that I do my own inspections/maintenance on the transmission/clutch?

 

Get yourself the oil filter tool kit from MotivX.

 

I agree, The MotivX kit is some of the best money, I have spent on tools. The drain valve and hose make draining the filter a mess free task. You will need a 24 mm socket for the rear diff and transfer case and a 10 mm Hex for the front diff. A good torque wrench if you don't have one. My bad I see you said you have a torque wrench (TMB).

 

All I will say is that you will never regret investing in some quality tools. And you don't have to buy them all at once. My tool collection spans 40 years. Start with the basics you need to take care of your vehicles and go from there.

 

Get good name brand tools. Craftsmen , SK etc. Stay away from Harbor Freight crap. You'll end up loosing a eye god forbid. Start looking on Craigslist . Even if the tools are old and used, they will be good especially if they have made in USA stamped on them. You will need a assort of metric open and boxed wrenches. A couple of adjustable wrenches, vice grip pliers. A hammer ,googles ,HEINEKENS bottle opener. You get the message.Do not forget a good screwdriver set also.

 

https://www.motivxtools.com/search?...+Filter+Wrench+-+Fits+Toyota,+Lexus+and+Scion

 

Do whatever you are comfortable with...
It will save you money. If you are ever unsure then have the techs do the maintenance.

 

Craftsman and Milwaukee Tools are decent. I do my own work and some others as well. I save thousands on doing all my own work, and then you have that knowledge of not being ripped off when the oil change places try and upsell you their bullshit.

 

New craftsman tools are junk. New set I bought the ratchet broke within 20 mins of normal use. Stanley bought them I do believe, and are now made in gina. eBay has tons of listings for older craftsman sets that were made in America , and they were awesome. Only good thing I can say about craftsman still is at least they still honor their warranty. But nonetheless , who wants to drive to their nearest craftsman dealer while in the middle of a job with the truck tore apart because your tool broke? Not me. Oh, and stay away from Harb freigh jack stands.

If you don’t have an air compressor , just get a Milwaukee 1/2 m18 cordless impact and a set of short and deep metric impact sockets for tire removal. And a good open end wrench set.

 

Your mentioning eBay reminded me of Pawn Shops. @gabababariel I highly recommend visiting some local pawn shops in your area. I had never been one to frequent them and I am angry it has taken me this long to do so. A LOT of tools available for purchase, like mechanics fell on hard times and pawned their Mac or Snap On tool sets. Visit a few pawn shops in your area and get a feel for who has what and the going rates for things. I am going to check my local pawn shops from now on before I consider buying something retail. I'm only talking about wrenches, screwdrivers, impact sockets and the like. I'm not sure how comfortable I would be buying power tools that may have been abused.

My $.02.

 

I bought a used snap on 1/2 in air impact off eBay for $120. Cost like 700 new. Has been working for me for like 2 years now. Win some lose some it’s all the same to me

 

Love the drain tool/hose. The MotiveX filter wrench must’ve slipped a bit for me and the filter got stuck in the tool. I couldn’t break it free. I just left it and it broke free when reinstalling but almost got stuck that way, too. I may look for a different wrench but the drain tool/hose is a winner.

 

I have HF floor jack and Walmart stands for about 2.5 years servicing 2 vechicle. Got a lift done in the garage with those and other miscellaneous tools from HF and Costco.
I don't see how I would lose an eye/legs...even after a few Heinekens

 

Ramps are much easier for oil changes

 

I agree with the pawn shop route. And Estate sales. A lot of us boomers have collected quite an assortment of good quality hand tools. I can almost see my wife paying someone to haul mine off when I go.

 

Harbor freight has tons of good tools. No sense in spending extra where you don't need to.

When I lived in CA and VA, pawn shops had everything. Granted, back then you could actually find deals there.

As for advice on "how to's" there is a sticky at the top of the 3rd gen section for general maintenance. Give it a look. It covers the dif's and everything else too.

 

I had a bunch of old craftsman stuff and it was good. It got stolen so replaced it and the new craftsman stuff was garbage. I’ve pretty much sold or given it away now. The tolerances left a lot to be desired and after a couple stripped bolts I was done with them.

Nearly all my stuff is tekton now and it’s been great. All the power tools are Milwaukee

 

As a professional technician, I can say spend good money on the right tools. I have a mix of Mastercraft, Craftsman, SunX, Proto, and very select Snap-on and Mac tools. Look for quality tools that offer lifetime warranty. If it breaks then go get a new one. Spending huge money on expensive tools does not make you a better mechanic.

 

Is that still true after Stanley bought the name? Conventional wisdom was that SEARS Craftsman tools were Chinese crap (agree with that) but Stanley/Kobalt were USA based and they used to be a supplier of USA Craftsman tools.

IDK for sure, was bummed to see your ratchet. I have 60+ year old Craftsman tools (Dad's set) and it's sad to see them decline like that.

 

I keep some cheap Harbor Freight stuff around in case I have to make a Bastard Tool too, I can cut up or weld a wrench or socket and not care about it.