I'm a DIY'er, backyard mechanic, home fixer upper as I'm sure many of you are as well. My JKU has 112K miles on it now and things are needing repair/replacement, etc. When I feel I can diagnose and fix things myself, then I rather do it myself to save a few bucks as well as feel comfortable/confident that the job was done right with the care and caution because I own these items. There are a lot of great and helpful write ups and Youtube videos posted by others which provide a lot of insight of the type of project you're getting yourself into before doing the work yourself. However, what I ALWAYS find is that no matter how prepared I am going into a project, in feeling that I have the right parts, equipment and tools needed to do the job, I always run into some circumstance along the way where I discover there's some additional tools are needed. The write-ups and videos will say something along the lines of, "It's simple, it should take you only 30-60 minutes to do." My experience has always been drastically different, where I feel I must be the most unluckiest SOB ever with my projects, because my projects never go quite as easy as described and the list of needed tools provided only seem to work out in the best case scenarios.

I always feel I have enough tools and the right tools to do the job but that just never seems to be the case once I start doing the job. My grandfather was a self employed handy-man, heating/cooling repair-man where I inherited many of his tools after he passed. He would often craft his own tools if he didn't have one that worked for a specific job. I have many wrenches that are welded in peculiar shapes and sizes. My father was a DIYer mechanic who passed, where I inherited many of his tools as well. I've purchased many of my own tools in addition to my inherited tools. So here I am a 3rd generation DIYer but I find I still am going out to purchase more tools for each project and/or to make the job easier. So do we ever find where we have enough tools? My wife asks me this same question every time I'm doing a project on my JK or around the house. I have a Harbor Freight 2 miles from where I live, where I find myself there almost every weekend because I'm in need of some additional tool that I didn't know I needed. My wife thinks, I'm making up excuses just to go there and purchase something because she feels I have an addiction. I'm almost starting to feel she's right.


Here's my most recent projects on my JK and I'll share my experiences as well in regards to additional tools needed.
- Replace entire brake system (Mopar front BBK install + rear rotor,caliper, pad replacements).
- L/F ABS speed sensor replacement.
- Front/Rear differential cover replacment
- Door lock actuator replacements
- O2 sensor replacements

I can't be the only one. Please share your DIYer project experiences as it relates to needing additional tools. Does needing to purchase additional tools ever end or is this truly an addiction that will never end?

 

Upgrades and maintenance on a jeep never ends. It only escalates. Therefore, the need for more/better/different tools does the same.

At this point I'm just short of a vehicle lift.

 

A lift would be awesome but I don't have the room.

I have too many tools already, or actually just not a big enough garage/shed. When I installed my lift I had to buy the jumbo sizes of wrenches and sockets. Even with all my DIY projects over the years I never needed a wrench or socket larger than an inch before as I never really did suspension work beyond shocks or owned any tractors. I never broke a Craftsman breaker bar or 1/2" drive Craftsman ratchet before I bought my YJ. Finally got to use those lifetime warranties. But additionally I'm finding easier ways to get things done watching how to videos. I scraped my diff RTV sealant off with a razor blade until I saw a guy do it with a die grinder with metal prep disk. So I had to go buy those for example. And each trade has its own set of tools which makes it tough for us jack of all trades. I do my own plumbing, electrical, carpentry, roofing, painting, flooring, masonry, landscaping, etc. so it all adds up to consuming all of my available space so I totally get where you're coming from.

 

Yep. Same boat but we also have a 1 ton diesel truck so had 3/4" ratchet set because of that. I, too, do home repairs so have that stuff too.

 

They have 3/4" ratchets?! Dammit! Haha...just kidding. I actually just bought a 3/4" breaker bar. Unfortunately I don't have any 3/4" sockets and sheared a 3/4" to 1/2" adapter in half.

 

Hahaha... I know that feeling. I use a 48" piece of pipe slipped over a 3/4" ratchet for a breaker bar to change out the ball joints on the F350. Which, speaks volumes about Fusion4x4 1-ton axles as they are F350 parts!

 

Here's my 02 Sensor replacement experience.

Symptoms: Check Engine Light comes on, engine has been running rough and sluggish at times.


Tools already on-hand:
- Torque Pro app, Android Tablet, OBD-II Wifi adapter.
- Multiple 7/8in ratchets, sockets, and wrenches (O2 Sensor is 7/8in Hex bolt head)

Pre-Planing tools needed:
- 7/8in. O2 sensor Socket
- 1/2in ratchet
- OBD II diagnosis analyzer

This is needed because the 02 sensor has wires attached to the top of it and you need a 7/8in socket partially cut-out to allow the wires to slip through the socket.

I was able to diagnose the CEL being caused by the O2 sensors after the catalytic converter using Torque Pro OBD II app tools. An additional tool which I already had to further diagnose and eliminate the catalytic converter as being the problem was a laser thermometer taking temp readings on both sides of the catalytic converters.

Actual O2 sensor removal experience:
O2 sensors are located on the top-side of the exhaust pipes (ie not a straight shot for a socket to access). Various extensions and universals may be needed to get a grip on O2 sensor. O2 sensors are in a harsh climate environment exposed to heat and rust, sensors will likely be seized into exhaust. At 112K miles, you can count on they are most likely seized and they were.

Passenger side O2 sensor removal: Started with the O2 socket, extension, and 1/2" ratchet working from the bottom side. This thing wasn't budging. Went out and purchased some rust penetration lubricant (+1 Tool). Sprayed it multiple times, let it set, still wouldn't budge. Pulled out my already owned 1/2in Impact wrench. After a few hits of the impact wrench, it finally broke loose. Installation was a breeze, using the O2 socket, extension and 1/2" ratchet.

Driver side O2 sensor removal:
After getting the learning experience from removing the O2 sensor on the passenger side, I went through the same removal steps for the driver's side but this time the impact wrench didn't work. I tried using a breaker bar instead, which didn't work. I then tried an open end 7/8" wrench. Open end wrench didn't have enough bite on the hex nut and would slip. I had to cut the wires of the O2 sensor (no turning back now) and flipped the wrench over and tried using the closed end of the 7/8" wrench. An Angled closed end 7/8in wrench was needed due to the sensors top mount location and needing space to move the wrench. Used a dual open/closed 7/8" wrench with angled closed end. I still couldn't budge the sensor, more leverage was needed, time to look for a pipe. I didn't have any pipes that would fit over the open end of the wrench for additional leverage. I went out and purchased a dual closed end wrench (+2 Tool) which had angle ends 7/8" and 13/16". This allowed me to put a pipe over the 13/16" end for more leverage while getting enough bite on the 7/8". SUCCESS!!!! If this didn't work, the next step would have been going out to purchase an acetylene torch to heat up the exaust pipe near the sensor to soften the metal.

Tools actually used for O2 Sensor diagnostics and replacement (removal/installation):
- OBD II scanner
- Laser Thermometer
- 7/8in O2 sensor socket (New Purchase)
- 9in 1/2in Drive extension
- 1/2in drive ratchet
- 1/2in breaker bar
- 1/2in drive impact wrench
- 7/8in open/closed dual end wrench
- 7/8in + 13/16in" angled Closed end wrench (New Purchase)
- 16in length of 1 and 5/8in OD Pipe (for leverage)
- Rust penetration oil WD-40/Liquid wrench (New Purchase)
- Wire Ties (replacement O2 sensors come with longer wires, need to take up the slack)
- Pliers (need to pull those wire ties tight in those hard to reach areas above exhaust and drive-shaft)
- Wire Cutters (need to cut those wire ties, and cut old O2 sensor wires)
- BFH (Yep, tried hammering on those wrenches when they wouldn't budge)
- 10mm open end wrench (need to disconnect battery, to reset engine light)
- Various screw drivers (need to pry up those battery connectors)

So yeah, to do this job it would typically take 30-60 minutes with minimal tools. Due to the obstacles of dealing with the location of the O2 sensors being on top of the exhaust pipes thus limiting working space and dealing with O2 sensors which are likely to be seized, then this turned into a 2 day affair trying out and purchasing multiple additional wrenches to actually get the job done.

 

I just did that this weekend. I used an electric multi-tool with a flexible scraper end, then the areas I couldn't quite reach with the multi-tool, I used a hand scraper.

Speaking of electric multi-tools. I know HF is not the best quality of tools but since you can get them between $10- $15/ea from HF, my multi-tools have become a single use type of tool since it becomes a hassle to change ends on the multi-tools. So I now own 4 different of these multi-tools with different ends on each.

 

Haha...Imagine what people with just one vehicle go through.

I buy Liquid Wrench by the case (did I mention the YJ?) so I always have that. And I use the handle off my floor jack for a cheater bar to save storage space. Works pretty good. It can snap 1/2" drive stuff no problem.

 

Yeah I use the multitool to undercut door jambs when installing hardwood floors. A perfect example as I used to use a Japanese flush cut hand saw until that came out.