I will say the same rule applies to buying tools as it does for buying replacement parts for your vehicle. QUALITY QUALITY QUALITY. Cheap tools will break and will always do so when you need them most. And they will always break in a way that will always cause blood to flow from the knuckles.

 

Thanks everyone for the responses.

I did already invest in a good jack and some jack stands. Safety first.

I think I'm going to want a torque wrench that can do atleast 250 ft. lbs since it seems quite a few jobs require that (I know I need to drop the driveshaft to replace the pinion seal, and I need to replace another hub bearing).

I think I'm going to go with this one:
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...3055_200343055

My understanding is that I can't use adapters with the torque wrench though... so won't I want to get all 1/2in drive sockets?

 

I have an 3/8 and 1/2 torgue wrench,you can use an adapter but I would not put alot of torgue on a 1/2 to 3/8 adapter. I would buy 3/8 drive for now,you have more use for them and it is easier to get into all the places you need to. you can buy the 1/2" sockets as you need them,or buy a set now,they are not that exspensive.

 

BFH is your best friend

 

x2

 

x2 there are a lot of torx bits on the thing find some really big ones too, the throttlebody on my 87 is held on by #40 torx I think stopped me dead in my tracks when I started taking it apart to clean it up.

also x100 on the PB blaster.....might as well buy a case of it lol

 

Here is what we bought my little cousin last year for christmas. It has kept him mostly out of our tools now.
http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/p_101...Mechanic+Tools

You will never be done buying tools. And be careful where you store your tools. When I lived in nebraska I had a little over 4 grand walk out the door of my garage one weekend when I was outa town.

 

Anything that extends longitudinally from the torque wrench drive axis (ie--crowsfoot) will require use of a correction formula.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions... looks like I have a lot of things to add to my Christmas list this year.

 

breaker bar. when i did my lift there were bolt that would have never come out even with an impact gun. breaker bar is a godsend

 

you will need a 36mm socket for hub nuts and a 13mm 12pt socket to remove those hub bolts.

then get yourself a ball joint press kit. you can use that to replace your u-joints, which you'll be doing quite often.

other than that, a good set of average tools, impact sockets, the BFH and a decent bench vise to hold your junk while you hit it with the BFH.

oh, and a few bags of kitty litter, non scented. that's for your spills while you do your oil changes and the oil filter slips out of your oil covered fingers from digging out the drain plug, and splashes in the drain pan.

 

PB blaster and a breaker bar--two best things i have added to my collection of tools..

the PB blaster doubles as cologne

 

If the only other option is gear oil, hey...