Learning to wrench

[harbiison]

Hey all,
Since buying my TJ i’ve wanted to learn to wrench like some of you because i don’t want to have to rely on others to help me with my car. The hard part is that my dad isn’t really in my life and my stepdad is the typical stepdad who gets mad when i use his tools and doesn’t like to work on my car or even teach me. I figured i’d pose this question because a lot of you are older and way wiser than some 17 year old. Also how did you all learn to wrench. Thanks Dylen!

 

[DaveF]

Hey all,
Since buying my TJ i’ve wanted to learn to wrench like some of you because i don’t want to have to rely on others to help me with my car. The hard part is that my dad isn’t really in my life and my stepdad is the typical stepdad who gets mad when i use his tools and doesn’t like to work on my car or even teach me. I figured i’d pose this question because a lot of you are older and way wiser than some 17 year old. Also how did you all learn to wrench. Thanks Dylen!

I never learned growing up... and I spent most of my life with cars that I couldn't afford to be down so I had them under warranty. Part of the Jeep experience now is that I'm in the same boat you are, learning to wrench on my Jeep.

Best part of this forum is that there are plenty of people willing to help you learn, just don't be afraid to ask!

 

[Bsulzberger]

Hey all,
Since buying my TJ i’ve wanted to learn to wrench like some of you because i don’t want to have to rely on others to help me with my car. The hard part is that my dad isn’t really in my life and my stepdad is the typical stepdad who gets mad when i use his tools and doesn’t like to work on my car or even teach me. I figured i’d pose this question because a lot of you are older and way wiser than some 17 year old. Also how did you all learn to wrench. Thanks Dylen!

Just start wrenching. I’ve been doing it’ since I was a teen and had some help from my dad early on, but most of what I’ve learned is from just jumping in and working my way through it. I’m still learning how to do things today which is why I’m on this forum, lots of good advice here.

 

[harbiison]

I never learned growing up... and I spent most of my life with cars that I couldn't afford to be down so I had them under warranty. Part of the Jeep experience now is that I'm in the same boat you are, learning to wrench on my Jeep.

Best part of this forum is that there are plenty of people willing to help you learn, just don't be afraid to ask!

You’re so true. Joining this forum seriously showed me that their are so many awesome people all over. This community is unlike any other

 

[jjvw]

Buy yourself a decent wrench and socket set, a 3 ton floor jack and a pair of 6 ton jack stands. That will get you pretty far. A torque wrench and a 3lb hammer will take you further. Add and replace tools as needed and try to buy good quality when you can.

Even though I grew up in a wrenching family, I have actually learned more from forums and YouTube than anywhere else. Almost anything that can be done to a TJ has been documented somewhere. Research everything you want to do.

Generally speaking, if it comes apart, it will go back together. Getting the feel for how things work takes time and experience. But you will save yourself a lot of agony if you don't force things. Penetrating oil or a MAPP gas torch will loosen most stuck bolts.

Don't be afraid to try a repair. It's already worn out or broken, so you can't make it worse. Figuring out the small fixes will lead to understanding more difficult ones.

A Jeep is an education, let it teach you.

 

[harbiison]

Buy yourself a decent wrench and socket set, a 3 ton floor jack and a pair of 6 ton jack stands. That will get you pretty far. A torque wrench and a 3lb hammer will take you further. Add and replace tools as needed and try to buy good quality when you can.

Even though I grew up in a wrenching family, I have actually learned more from forums and YouTube than anywhere else. Almost anything that can be done to a TJ has been documented somewhere. Research everything you want to do.

Generally speaking, if it comes apart, it will go back together. Getting the feel for how things work takes time and experience. But you will save yourself a lot of agony if you don't force things. Penetrating oil or a MAPP gas torch will loosen most stuck bolts.

Don't be afraid to try a repair. It's already worn out or broken, so you can't make it worse. Figuring out the small fixes will lead to understanding more difficult ones.

A Jeep is an education, let it teach you.

I’ve never seen the idea of if it comes apart it will go back together. I like the approach of just diving in and learning all that I can. I knew buying a Jeep would be more than just a car i’d hop in start and go. I never wanted that I want something I can make mine. Thank you for advice you’ve given me encouragement and confidence and I appreciate that!

 

[jjvw]

I’ve never seen the idea of if it comes apart it will go back together. I like the approach of just diving in and learning all that I can. I knew buying a Jeep would be more than just a car i’d hop in start and go. I never wanted that I want something I can make mine. Thank you for advice you’ve given me encouragement and confidence and I appreciate that!

Before I bought the Jeep 8 years ago, I really hadn't done much automotive work beyond helping my dad early in life. There was a long gap in between. But the courage to take things apart and put them back together has been something that I have always had and have made use of in many areas of life. I can't tell you how many things I have fixed by doing this. And I often can't tell you how exactly I did it. Just that it works again. For now.

 

[harbiison]

Before I bought the Jeep 8 years ago, I really hadn't done much automotive work beyond helping my dad early in life. There was a long gap in between. But the courage to take things apart and put them back together has been something that I have always had and have made use of in many areas of life. I can't tell you how many things I have fixed by doing this. And I often can't tell you how exactly I did it. Just that it works again. For now.

That’s funny because I’m in a Advanced 3D design and construction class in school and the teacher said I’m his best student so I can design but not transfer that skill over just yet. Many things are to come in life if you work towards them and that’s how I feel about my Jeep I bought a project for a reason.

 

[Bsulzberger]

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, it’s going to happen and you’ll learn from it.

 

[MountaineerTom]

Buy yourself a decent wrench and socket set, a 3 ton floor jack and a pair of 6 ton jack stands. That will get you pretty far. A torque wrench and a 3lb hammer will take you further. Add and replace tools as needed and try to buy good quality when you can.

@harbiison , this is good advise.

If you need to do something, since you’re new and learning, search or ask here Before you start that way you don’t do something wrong and make it worse. There’s nothing wrong with not know what to do. We all learned at some point either by necessity or just wanting to. It’s great that you’re wanting to learn though.

Get metric and SAE tools. You’ll need both for various things.

There are factory service manuals in the Resources Forum.

 

[harbiison]

@harbiison , this is good advise.

If you need to do something, since you’re new and learning, search or ask here Before you start that way you don’t do something wrong and make it worse. There’s nothing wrong with not know what to do. We all learned at some point either by necessity or just wanting to. It’s great that you’re wanting to learn though.

Get metric and SAE tools. You’ll need both for various things.

There are factory service manuals in the Resources Forum.

Getting a decent set of tools is next on my checklist forsure now.

 

[RubiconRic]

That’s funny because I’m in a Advanced 3D design and construction class in school and the teacher said I’m his best student so I can design but not transfer that skill over just yet. Many things are to come in life if you work towards them and that’s how I feel about my Jeep I bought a project for a reason.

That's great man. I had a Mustang GT in high school that my dad never let me wrench on (in hindsight, probably for good reason!), went to college for engineering, and bought my Jeep my sophomore year so I could learn the practical aspect. I designed my own bumper in CAD, fab'ed it with a buddy, and it was a gratifying learning experience. Like others have said, forums and YouTube is how I've mainly learned, along with wrenching with a mechanically-inclined friend every now and then. Don't be afraid to apply what you're learning conceptually to your rig and always follow your gut when working on it, e.g. if something doesn't seem right or isn't going according to plan, (most often) brute force isn't the answer and you should re-assess whether you have the right tools, right technique, etc. Don't be afraid to start off with Harbor Freight tools or even visit flea markets for old Craftsman or similar tools, because you can always upgrade later.

 

[Cheetokps]

I started out in a similar position when I bought my jeep, and I've learned so much since then, mostly from this forum. I bought my jeep in September and before then I had never even changed my oil. Now I've gotten comfortable enough to replace my brakes, change out u joints, etc. mostly on my own and built up a decent tool collection along the way. Having to fund a tool collection as well as jeep maintenance and mods is not easy with a minimum wage job but at least I saved money doing stuff myself

 

[1o1proof]

I got the bug from family but really started learning when a friend and I got into cars. we started small and kept going further in what we would attempt to do. Sometimes it went great...other times not so much.

All the above advice is sound and worth listening to. i didn’t notice it mentioned but, and I’m sure some will laugh, YouTube has a video for about anything you can dream up. Just make sure and watch more than one, there Is a lot of great info but also a lot of bad.

Good luck and welcome to the club!

 

[MountaineerTom]

Getting a decent set of tools is next on my checklist forsure now.

I don’t remember who, but someone recently posted about a nice little tool set they got that had quite a bit of stuff in it and came in a carrying case.

 

[InOmaha]

I was the opposite. My dad made me fix things on the farm. I remember working on the inside of a combine in the summer with my brother when we were in elementary and middle school. Because we fit inside.

Take an auto shop class if you're really interested.

I still take things apart assuming I can fix them. If not, I strip them of parts and move on.

YouTube was not a thing so I learned a lot through Chiltons books and factory service manuals. If you can visualize a 2D diagram, it's a huge skill.

 

[2001slvrstntj]

Agree, forum “how to” and YouTube are your friend and as mentioned ask here for guidance before you start so others can tell you what to watch for and other advice. So glad a young guy like you wants to learn, get some tools and go for it....good luck

 

[jeepguy03]

I'm about to turn 31, and while I tinkered with dirtbikes and engines a bit as a teenager, I never really worked on cars until I was 18. Forums and youtube are huge resources. Pretty much any job you are looking to do you can watch a video on youtube about how to do it. Buy a basic mechanic's tool set from somewhere like Harbor Freight and you will have a good start. I didn't learn how to wrench from anyone, it has all been self taught through the resources mentioned above as well as tinkering. It's definitely a valuable skill to have, because it allows you to troubleshoot and problem solve other things in life.

My career is in the technology field and I'm sure it has something to do with me learning how to troubleshoot problems.

 

[Pokahpolice]

Most of us learned the same way you are now. Stealing dad's (stepdad) tools and listening to him bitch but doing it anyway. You have a way better source to learn than we did as teen. You can find a video or forum post on just about anything you want to do these days. My advice is keep stealing stepdad's tools and just keep wrenching. There really isn't any special sauce outside of interest in doing it yourself...and you already have that.

 

[Tray Burge]

Hey all,
Since buying my TJ i’ve wanted to learn to wrench like some of you because i don’t want to have to rely on others to help me with my car. The hard part is that my dad isn’t really in my life and my stepdad is the typical stepdad who gets mad when i use his tools and doesn’t like to work on my car or even teach me. I figured i’d pose this question because a lot of you are older and way wiser than some 17 year old. Also how did you all learn to wrench. Thanks Dylen!

Two rules for wrenching.
1. Have the right tools.
2. Know what you're capable of doing and what you're not capable of doing.
"A wise man knows his limitations." Clint Eastwood