I have been reading quite a few posts in the few weeks since discovering this forum. Lot's of informations and great advices. One thing I have observed is that a lot of people seem to really have some great mechanical abilities, and some have ( I would be one of them) none... or at least in the automobile area. I go back and forth wondering if I should do my own mods or if I should hire someone to do it for me. I think doing it yourself is better as you get to know your car, but doing it without the right tools could be very frustrating. So my question is what should be the basic tools of the trade. I really want to emphasize basic as the "minimum" we all know it's easy to get carried away with tools, every trip I take to Home Depot prove that much Furthermore one of the reason to "doing it yourself" is to save money... If you save $200 on labour but spend $400 on tools you are not saving much money, especially if every new mod. require new tools...

So what are the "basics" tools one will need to install a suspension lift, or add a new bumpers. I am not talking about rebuilding an engine here... Also a lot of write-ups mention tightening a bolt by a certain amount lbs. of torque. I always wonder which tool tell you the amount of bs. of torque?

cheers.

 

this is an example for the Budget boast or BB of 2.5 inches you will need

What You Will Need
• 10,16,18,19,21mm Socket/Wrenches
• 7/16,1/2,5/8,13/16" Socket/Wrenches
• 3/8" & 1/2" Drive Ratchets
• 3" Ratchet Drive Extension
• 6"-12" Ratchet Drive Extension
• Ft. Lb. Torque Wrench
• Breaker Bar
• Crescent Wrench
• 21" Floor Jack
• (2) Tall Jack Stands
• Wheel Chocks
• White Lithium Grease
• Long Ratchet Strap

Took off WOL Write ups .... http://project-jk.com/jeep-jk-write-...ation-write-up

this is a pic of a Torque Wrench and a good set of tools

tools Craftsman 196 pc. Mechanics Tool Set 179.99

 

I got a gear works ratchet set for thirty dollars at sears. It has two tools, and they are metric, and they have eight sets of sizes, the small one is 7 on one side, flip it to get 8 and a ten and some other one... The large is a 16, 17, 18, and 19, or something close to it, and I use it on pretty much every mod.

And I have an adjustable wrench, which is frustrating to use sometimes, but it gets the Job done.... I need to get some lineman, or sidecutters, for the wires, and some snips, or a wirestripper, but if you have a set of wrenches, or a socket set, you can make do without a lot.

just wear gloves, and have steady hands, and a box of bandaids.....

 

A torque wrench tells you how much torque you are applying....its essentially a ratcheting wrench that can be set to "slip" once a paricular amount of force has been applied....an audible "click" is typically made by the wrench when you approach the right number, and you just get a second click to confirm you're there....or what ever the directions that come wiith the wrench say....some don't click, they just have a scale on them, and you turn the wrench until the needle points at the number you wanted, etc....there are some variations as to how to set them, and so forth.....pretty stright forward when you see/use it.

The best way to get what you need for a project is to join a local club....and use their tools....with them there helping you.

We call these "Mod Days"....you supply beer/pizza. Also a stright forward relationship....canbe anyone's house/driveway, etc...you all just pick a place and all meet there with your rigs, and help each other out.



Your sig is a bit vaugue as to where you are...but I would scroll down to the local sections here on this forum for example....and see if any seem close...and then post a "HELLO!" introduction thingie...and see where that goes.

If you are stationed at ice station zebra or something....look at the on-line instructions that come with the kits...the makers typically post them, and you can down load/read the parts list...which, for most kkits, includes exactly what tools you need to do the installation.

As you did not know what a torque wrench was...but had the acumen to realize you should...I'll assume you are ignorant rather than stupid...and that with a bit of guidance as to what the tools like like and what they're for...you'll be able to use them w/o a problem.



This is an old fashioned (Cheaper) beam type torque wrench....you tighten the bolt or what ever, and, the needle will be pushed over as you apply more and more torque...and you simply stop tightening when the needle is pointing at the right number.




This is a newer type of torque wrench, you twist the handle to set a scale to read the amount of torque you want...that's the clicky type I meantioned...a bit easier to tell if you are on target.





These are Hex Keys, or Hex wrenches, or Allen Keys/Wrenches, etc... to some people...Hex means 6 sided, like a hexagon, etc...so they are "L" shaped or "T" shaped bars with 6 sides....for fitting into 6 sided holes.




This is a Torx head....its a bit star shaped on the tip....Jeeps use Torx headed stuff a lot...like for the roof, etc. They get numbered with a "T" prefix for sizes...so a T-50 Torx is bigger than a T-25 Torx, etc...



Some screw drivers have tips that are like pointed "X" shapes...called Phillips Head screw drivers...the hole they fit into looks like an "X".

Or like a stright line...called a blade or flat blade screw driver...those fit in slot shaped holes, etc.

I suppose there are a variety...and I really have no idea how much you DO know, etc...

So - Experiment for you....go to a web site for a lift you MIGHT want...and example...and download the installation if it includes a list of neeed tools....

If you don't know what one looks like...google it/wickipedia it, etc.



Do find a club though...no matter what...you'll be happier that way.

 

Thanks. I want the list to be as generic as possible so that it is useful for most rather than fewer people. As far as myself, I do have quite a few tools, I can do basic carpentry, repair a wall, basic plumbing, basic electrical work... pretty much all the basic stuff one can do in a house. However I have never worked on a car, beside changing a tire... And I know that it is very much tool specific and can be quite an investment. As far as the lbs. of torque found in most write ups, it average anywhere between 20lbs. of torque to anything shy of 200 lbs. of torque.

 

Ah, but not every mod requires new tools. That is, eventually you get enough tools that you don't need to buy any, or at least anything beyond a specialty tool on rare occasion. Then being the shadetree mechanic pays off. After all: This isn't fishing where a pound of fish caught is easily ten or a hundred times what you would have paid for it in the grocery store!

 

I just had to say. Great info in this post and nice to see good honest answers to a guys question about tools. You'd half expect people to laugh at a guy for not knowing and just not help him. Good job to those that did. I have nothing to add, because the previous replies have done such a good job.

 

I've had the same set of Craftsman tools (except the 1/4'' extension) for 25 years. They were expensive then but the warrenty is great, break it get a new one. That's what I did with the 1/4'' extention.