I swear, they do it just so that people will give in and take it to a dealership for maintenance work.

I went to replace the brake pads this morning (should be a straight forward replacement). I get the front in end up on two jack stands and manage to wrestle both tires on (the previous owner must have been a gorilla). Start looking at the calipers to figure out where to unbolt them and ...... hmmmm. What is this rubber thing where the bolts should be? Get that off, only to find out that it is in fact the bolt, but you have to have a special "Male" socket to un do it.

So....bolt everythign back up, and plan on buying some more tools. Gonna have to get done over a lunch hour this week.

Any other pit falls, or quirks I should be looking out for?

The good news. I was able to see just how low the brakes pads are. MAN!!! the ones on the passenger side only have about 1/8" left!!

 

I don't need any special tools to do my brakes

 

I don't think that it is a specialty tool, like said above. I've seen them everywhere. It's just an allen key but attaches to your socket wrench.

 

Not special, if you you have them. But definitely not a standard bolt size socket. I am just frustrated as this and my wife's jeep are my first Domestic vehicles to up keep, and it seems like I am constantly running out to buy new tools. My Toyota Landcruiser, 4Runner, and Tacoma could all be worked on with standard sizes.

Sorry for the rant.

 

This is a fairly standard tool to have, and sets come in every size you will need. You should try owning and working on a VW, now there's a company that likes to throw weird bolts and tools into the mix.

 

How is a Hex key, aka an ALLEN WRENCH a specialty tool?

 

Just be thankful it ain't like it was back in the 1950's and 60's.
If you worked on imports and American cars you needed standard sockets & wrenches.
English cars needed for Whit-worth sizes and the rest of imports was metric.
Three sets of sockets and wrenches to be able to work on cars!

 

I don't think he ment to say the tool is special but the bolt size, if you buy a set it will have most common sizes you will need. Or just go to the hardware store and just buy the 1 size you need for your breaks.

 

Sounds like Chrysler vehicles. I need two sets of tools to work on my Dodge truck.

 

i have a toolbox in the back of my truck, and my truck toolbox filled with tools.

its always good to keep a wide variety of tools on you.

and i think you can get theat hex socket for like 4 bucks at any autoparts store