Dumb noob question, I know, please don't shoot me. But I haven't had my truck long enough to know for sure and I'm trying to decide which set of tools I should part with.

So...Are the fittings on my 2001 Ram SAE standard 'Merican size, or are they metric? And I mean everything: body, engine, interior, suspension, etc. Please don't say 'both'. That will create unspeakable problems on the homefront.



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Yup, both. Sorry!

I guess you can get away with a good metric set most times...but not always.

 

Wait until it's time to bleed the brakes. My 99 dually has SAE 3/8 in front and 8mm rear. And the rear's are a PITB to get to if you want to use a bleeder hose. I gave up and just used a socket with short extension and let drool down the brake plate into a can.

 

Great, I was afraid of that. Well, thanks anyway folks!

 

Well, I'm an Expert at proving myself wrong. I went to bleed my fronts again today and that darn 3/8 wouldn't fit so I got the metric. I just know I used the 3/8 the other day on the same one.

 

They are both....

Toyota had it right way back...8mm, 10mm,12mm and all screws phillips regarding standard maintenance...made for a handy tool kit...I kept them in one smaller drawer in my box and usually only had it open when wrenching on one.

 

Kurt, the only objection I would have to that would be the Phillps screws. They are about the worst I have ever dealt with for stripping the heads when they get rusty. I wish I understood why Robertson screws are illegal in the US. All that ever resulted in was the invention of the Torx screw.

 

Robertson screws are used all over campers.

 

That is good, Robertson screws are the best. You can easily install them one-handed, they stay on the end of the screwdriver really well and when rusty you can usually get them out just by giving the screwdriver a good tap into the screwhead with a hammer.

 

Robertson is not necessarily illegal, it's Canadian, and patented everywhere. So the 'merkins came up with torx, their revenge for 1812 or something. I'll take Robertson any day.

 

Some may not know but you can get Phillips bits that have "teeth" on the extract side only of the flanges, good to have for the tough rusted in screws and if you use a speed handle you will break the bit before stripping the screw.

 

Busboy, I never though about it before but most of the 'easy outs' that I have used are the square kind with teeth on the extract side. They would be awesome for rough condition Robertson screws.