Tools and diagnostic equipment at the truck workshop
From torque wrench to CAN-bus scanner
The size and complexity of heavy vehicles means that the equipment at a heavy vehicle workshop differs significantly from a regular car workshop. You work with much larger forces, heavier components and more advanced electronics, and both hand tools and diagnostic equipment are adapted to this.
§Power tools for large dimensions
Wheel bolts, axle nuts and other assemblies on heavy vehicles must be tightened with much greater torque than on a car, and this requires torque wrenches and pneumatic or hydraulically driven nut wrenches sized for the task. Incorrect or imprecise torque can in the worst case lead to a wheel coming loose while driving, so torque control is not a place to take shortcuts.
- 01Torque wrenches and pneumatic nut runners for wheel and axle work.
- 02Hydraulic jacks and axle jacks sized for several tons.
- 03PLACEHOLDER_78
- 04Specialty tools for spring brakes that require correct relief tools before disassembly.
§PLACEHOLDER_115
Much of the work takes place under or around a vehicle that weighs many times more than an employee, and therefore correct use of lifting equipment and hoists is absolutely central. The Labour Authority's guidelines on lifting equipment and on hoists describe the employer's responsibility to ensure that employees are not exposed to accident risk, and that sufficient training is provided in the safe use of the specific equipment before it is used.
§Diagnostic equipment
Because modern trucks communicate via CAN-bus and the J1939 protocol, a scanner that can connect to the vehicle's diagnostic socket and read fault codes from all control units is one of the most important tools in the workshop. The equipment is also used to calibrate electronic brake systems, reset service intervals, and update control unit software — tasks that previously required nothing more than a screwdriver and a wrench.
| Tool type | Typical use |
|---|---|
| Torque wrench/pneumatic nut runner | Re-tightening of wheels and axles to correct torque. |
| Diagnostic scanner | Error code reading and calibration of electronic systems |
| Hydraulic jack/axle jack | PLACEHOLDER_76 |
| Specialty tools for spring brakes | Safe unloading before separation |
Good tools are not a matter of convenience at a truck workshop — they are a prerequisite for the work to be both carried out correctly and without exposing yourself or colleagues to unnecessary risk.