[markILuv88PU]

I believe I have hundreds of sockets from 1/4" drive through 1/2" with an occasional 3/4" drive. As an ASE certified mechanic who worked professionally for many years I would agree with this suggestion from above,

"Starting out newbie mechanics can upgrade later. Grab the discounted tools. Whatever tools you break or if you strip something, you replace with quality tool to avoid that hassle."

Just don't go too obviously cheap, inexpensive is OK.

As to Impact vs. Chrome, typically impact are less expensive. Chrome are thinner walled, can work in places impact can't, and look pretty. This could make them more attractive to theft; know your environment.

Buy tool that you are happy to own and feel good to use. Buy a quality ratchet; if you pull out some teeth you sockets become useless.

I like the suggestion above about wiping them down with a light oil. It is good practice to take care of your tools.

Perhaps someone has a suggestion about an aerosol oil that could spray a mist on them?

 

[John Gi]

Thanks. For suspension work, such as the bolts that hold the steering knuckle to the struts, what socket sizes should I get?

 

[John Gi]

norm356, on my 1996 Tercel, I was rounding off lug nuts when I used 21mm. 13/16" fit perfectly and I haven't rounded a lug nut in years. My 2000 Camry likes 13/16" sockets, 21mm not so much. However, my 2006 Corolla won't accept 13/16", but 21mm fits perfectly.

 

[ed.]

I like the suggestion above about wiping them down with a light oil. It is good practice to take care of your tools.

I find that the grease/oil my hands produce on top of whatever grease or oil I get on them is enough rust protection lol

 

[Old Mechanic]

Old Mechanic, by torque spec to break the bolt loose, is that the same as the spec to tighten the bolt, eg 76 ft-lbs on my Toyota's lug nuts?

I had to do over 500 foot pounds to break a lug nut pick and pull gave up on and got two backing plates for a forum member whose were rusting to dust. I jammed an Estwing hammer into the spokes on the wheel to withstand that pressure from me jumping up and down on the breaker bar. The Kobalt 1/2 to 3/8ths adapter took that torture and the Snap ON short impact 3/8ths drive socket came out undamaged even after I drove it onto the buggered up lug nut with a 2 pound sledge hammer.
The suggestion was more for smaller fasteners. If you can't break them loose with the tightening torque, try the hammer and chisel persuasion before breaking the head off the fastener. That helps with dissimilar metal corrosion issues.
Might have saved me from a broken leg as well.
I wipe my tools off with almost any oil soaked rag I have around, guns too.

 

[norm356]

"For suspension work, such as the bolts that hold the steering knuckle to the struts, what socket sizes should I get?" 22mm

For suspension work: 12, 14, 17, 19, 21, 22, 24, 30

To remove the hard steering lines from the subframe you'll need the 12mm.
The 3 top support nuts from the strut to the strut tower are 14, as are the sway bars.
The calipers are held onto the knuckles with 17mm bolts, as is the front bumper reinforcement, and for a 3VZ engine, the banjo bolt for the hydraulic fan hose connection, and the MT diff cover bolts are 17mm.
The steering ball joints are held to the knuckle by 19mm, as are the A-arms to the subframe, and also the top of the strut rod to the top support. All of the rear suspension large fasteners are 19mm.
The ball joint to the A-arm has 3 x 19mm nuts/bolt.
The steering rack x subframe has 2 x 19mm bolts.
Lugnuts are 21mm
Those two big ones holding the strut to the knuckle are 22mm (I think they may be just about the only 22mm on the whole car).
The 24mm is for the engine oil drain, and the transmission/diff fill and drain plugs.
The deep socket 30mm is for the axle center nut x front hub

 

[AutoMechanic]

I thought the lug nuts on a Camry were all 21mm?

They are from what I have seen or 13/16

 

[AutoMechanic]

"For suspension work, such as the bolts that hold the steering knuckle to the struts, what socket sizes should I get?" 22mm

For suspension work: 12, 14, 17, 19, 21, 22, 24, 30

To remove the hard steering lines from the subframe you'll need the 12mm.
The 3 top support nuts from the strut to the strut tower are 14, as are the sway bars.
The steering ball joints are held to the knuckle by 19mm, as are the A-arms to the subframe, and also the top of the strut rod to the top support. All of the rear suspension large fasteners are 19mm.
The ball joint to the A-arm has 3 x 19mm nuts/bolt.
The calipers have 19mm bolts.
The steering rack x subframe has 2 x 19mm bolts.
Lugnuts are 21mm
Those two big ones holding the strut to the knuckle are 22mm (I think they may be just about the only 22mm on the whole car).
The 24mm is for the engine oil drain, and the transmission/diff fill and drain plugs.
The deep socket 30mm is for the axle center nut x front hub

24mm for engine oil drain plugs? Every drain plug on Toyota I have seen has been either 14 or 17

 

[John Gi]

Yesterday, OBWan wrote "32mm?? Any 32mm applications on Camrys or Corollas?

 

[borwish]

I know it's not what you asked about and I didn't read all pages, but have you looked at the Astro Pnuematic stubby impacts? I've got a set of 1/2 metric and like them quite a lot. There're only 30-35 bucks and come on a rail. They make a 3/8 version as well. Their smaller size mean they'll fit into tighter spaces and the wrench area means that you can then turn them with a 17mm or 22mm wrench in really tight areas.

 

[borwish]

I think 32mm is used on the valve cover nuts and the axle nut. That could be 30mm though, I don't recall.

 

[AutoMechanic]

I think 32 and 36 are used on the Toyota suv axle nuts but not Camry or Corolla

 

[John Gi]

Thanks, where can I find the Astro Pneumatics at the best price?

 

[Vangm25]

For the big tools, just buy what you need for when you need it. Rather for a lot of tools, buy what you need for when you need it.

 

[OBwan]

Yesterday, OBwan wrote "32mm?? Any 32mm applications on Camrys or Corollas?

That's because I can't remember the size for the axle nuts. Maybe the 32mm is BMW. Anyway, I always wipe them down and do a quick inventory before putting away. If they need it I hit my tools with PB Blaster.

 

[1975Toyota]

Do you use impact sockets mostly for suspension work, or are there other automotive uses?

What do you think about saving money and getting 3/8" drive shallow impact sockets instead of 1/2" drive?

Here's a link in particular:

3/8 in. Drive Metric Impact Socket Set, 8 Piece

Amazing deals on this 8Pc 3/8In Dr Metric Impact Socket Set at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

I already have a 1/2" to 3/8" impact adapter to use these sockets with a 1/2" drive impact, but a set of thirteen 1/2" is only $20 at Harbor Freight:

1/2 in. Drive Metric Impact Socket Set, 13 Piece

Amazing deals on this 13Pc 1/2In Dr Metric Impact Socket Set at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

Along these lines, what are your thoughts about different brands of impact sockets?

Thanks

I have had a set of Pittsburg Impacts metric back when they had truck load sales and tent sales for over 20 years. Never had one break. That said I have used them on 1986 4Runner, 1982 Starlet, 2003 Camry, 2007 Camry, 2008 Saturn Aura, 2001 Tundra, 1995 Tacoma,1995 Buick LaSaber,2001 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab and on and on......From 1992 until today I can count on 1 hand how many times I have taken a vehicle to a professional mechanic.In fact in the last 15 days I have replaced 7 wheel bearing in just my immediate families vehicles. I do wish they made some thin wall impacts for those tight spaces. If their impacts were junk I think I would of had one break by now. I have broken tools with just my own strength from many brands Craftsman, Eastco, Proto,Snap-On, MAC, Matco, Dowidat,SK Tools etc.....Like all companies some of Harbor Freights tools are really good especialy for the price and some are total junk no matter what the price point and some are just decent. In this case I have ZERO negative things to say about them.

I would say this I bought a set of flair wrenches and one wrench was not fully machined and I did not notice until 5 years latter it was one of the smallest ones. I had not problem swapping it out. 10 years latter the one I used the most on GM car's was starting to get a bit wonky so they gave me a brand new set that had 2 or 3 addition sizes, more Snap-On like contour and polish and they let me keep the old set! So Open the set before you pay for it and check each socket to make sure they are all nicely machined. If you break one which is a big if they have a forever warranty!

 

[1975Toyota]

I have had a set of Pittsburg Impacts metric back when they had truck load sales and tent sales for over 20 years. Never had one break. That said I have used them on 1986 4Runner, 1982 Starlet, 2003 Camry, 2007 Camry, 2008 Saturn Aura, 2001 Tundra, 1995 Tacoma,1995 Buick LaSaber,2001 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab and on and on......From 1992 until today I can count on 1 hand how many times I have taken a vehicle to a professional mechanic.In fact in the last 15 days I have replaced 7 wheel bearing in just my immediate families vehicles. I do wish they made some thin wall impacts for those tight spaces. If their impacts were junk I think I would of had one break by now. I have broken tools with just my own strength from many brands Craftsman, Eastco, Proto,Snap-On, MAC, Matco, Dowidat,SK Tools etc.....Like all companies some of Harbor Freights tools are really good especialy for the price and some are total junk no matter what the price point and some are just decent. In this case I have ZERO negative things to say about them.

I would say this I bought a set of flair wrenches and one wrench was not fully machined and I did not notice until 5 years latter it was one of the smallest ones. I had not problem swapping it out. 10 years latter the one I used the most on GM car's was starting to get a bit wonky so they gave me a brand new set that had 2 or 3 addition sizes, more Snap-On like contour and polish and they let me keep the old set! So Open the set before you pay for it and check each socket to make sure they are all nicely machined. If you break one which is a big if they have a forever warranty!

P.S> Mine are 1/2 inch drive!

 

[norm356]

"24mm for engine oil drain plugs? Every drain plug on Toyota I have seen has been either 14 or 17"

thank you, AutoMechanic, good catch

I just re-checked and you are absolutely right, only the manual transmissions have 24mm fill and drain plugs, the 3VZ, 1MZ and 5SFE engines all use 14mm oil drain plugs!
And, for completeness sake, the AT fill and drain plugs are 10mm internal hex drive.

 

[AutoMechanic]

"24mm for engine oil drain plugs? Every drain plug on Toyota I have seen has been either 14 or 17"

thank you, AutoMechanic, good catch

I just re-checked and you are absolutely right, only the manual transmissions have 24mm fill and drain plugs, the 3VZ, 1MZ and 5SFE engines all use 14mm oil drain plugs!
And, for completeness sake, the AT fill and drain plugs are 10mm internal hex drive.

No problem just making sure I wasn’t crazy

 

[1975Toyota]

I think 32 and 36 are used on the Toyota suv axle nuts but not Camry or Corolla

I seem to think I recently used a 1 3/8 inch SAE socket recently aka 35mm but I changed a total of 7 wheel bearings on a 2003 Camry, 2007 Camry and 2008 Saturn Aura combination of fronts and rears. Sadly I did those over about a 10 day span total over a 2 week time frame. So I do not recall which of the above used that! LOL I know a 32 would not do it because I carry a up to 32mm in my all metric handy dandy trunk tool box in my 2003 Camry and I had to actually go to my upright rolling tool cabinet and crack open the drawer with the big boy tools that mostly collect dust. My 2003 Camry was made in Japan and is a 5spd manual transmission but the 2007 is North American made and an automatic both have 2AZFE engines. P.S. My 1995.5 Tacoma still has it's original bearings front and rear.