The hits just keep on coming!!

Proto is/was made by a snap on company IIRC? When I changed truck tires they's the only company that offered a
thin wall 1 1/4 dayton socket. Are they still around now? Are dayton wheels still around too?

 

I definatly would never spend that kinda money on box if i didnt do it for a living. Its nice when u have 300 pounds in the top draw and can open and close with ur pinky. Heck if i never wrenched id prolly just have the 150 craftsman set inthe plastic case and a few other things in a bag bought from harbor freight( which is exactly what i carry on the truck). Alot of snap on stuff imo is way over priced. However wrenches and sockets(non impact) i swear by. When it comes to impact sockets,3/4 and 1" stuff ill by harbor freight and northen till the sun goes down. The metal is so think it doesnt matter for the most part. Craftsman has alot of great tools as well.

Now in no way was i saying ppl need this and should work on their trucks themselves. This is all stuff i had from a previous job that just so happens to benefit me in my current endeavor. Doesnt hurt my grandfather was a mechanic and i have a garage at my dads with press, tourches,compressor. I dont plan on working my truck forever. Not my favorite thing to do on my off time by far. You could say i definatly didnt get into this the "correct" way, so im blessed i have the means to take care things and put that labor money in my savings account. I fully plan on getting to the point where i can let someone else take care of it so that my off time is my off time.

 

Snap-On is priced specifically because they KNOW it will be replaced three or more times in the live of the tool. So THAT is why it's so expensive. They PLAN on replacing it that many times.

The difference in tools for me is in how they fit the fastener. My lesson in life on quality tools came when I was fixing to grind off a bolt that was rounded off and my craftsman wrenches weren't doing the job. Another mechanic handed me a snap on 6 point socket and it took the rounded bolt right off.

The sockets and wrenches are tighter so they sit lower on the face of the nut or bolt away from the points. Why it's called "shank drive".

It's also why I will never buy a 12 pt socket or wrench anymore either.

 

Isnt that the truth.

 

12pt tools have their place, just not for very tight or stubborn fasteners.

 

Tires & brakes really don't require any "special" tools. A socket large enough to fit the lug nuts. I use a pair of 30" tire spoons to mount & dismount tires. A simple box wrench backs off the slack, pull the old shoes off, put the new shoes on....might need a long screwdriver or pry bar to get the last spring in place during installation....but it all goes together easy enough. Drum brakes on a semi are easier to change than drum brakes on a car.

I like Craftsman tools, too...never had a problem exchanging them when they broke. No questions asked. Before I found a 3/4" drive 40" breaker bar at Rural King, I used to use a 3/4" drive 18" T-slide with a cheater pipe slipped over the end of it. I'd wrap a chain around the cheater pipe and use a 2-ton engine hoist to break the stubborn lug nuts loose. Of course by the time I'd get done breaking the 3 or 4 that wouldn't come off with my 3/4" impact, that T-slide would look more like a J-slide. Walk into Sears, set it down on their counter, and as soon as they picked their jaw up off the floor, they'd go get me another one. No questions asked.

Craftsman makes 6-point wrenches, & sockets, too. I try to use a 6 pt. whenever possible, but there are some applications where you NEED a 12 pt. For example, you aren't going to remove the bolts on the drive shaft without a 1/2" wrench or socket in the 12 pt variety.

...and for the really rounded off bolts, I have a set of external EZ outs....reverse splined so that they cut into the damaged bolt head or stud to grip it as you turn it to the left to back the bolt out.