[CanukGMC]

I've always bought a chiltons or haynes with all my vehicles, and in the end I just end up getting mad at them and buying the FSM (factory\dealer service manual). It all depends on the depth of work you plan on doing, normal maintenance and the like will be found easily in a hayes\chiltons, but other stuff might not.

THE BIGGEST complaint I have with both hayes and chiltons (currently I have a chiltons for the jimmy) is they reference things but never actually show the info. For example, I've been trying to figure out how to adjust the adjuster screw on my 98's steering box. There's nothing under steering or the gear box itself. So I looked under troubleshooting and under "Excessive play in the steering system" it says one of the answers is "Adjust the steering gear box adjuster screw, for information and procedures on this see chapter 10". So I goto chapter 10 DESPERATELY trying to find the info I've been digging for and it is not listed ANYWHERE in chapter 10! Cha10 sure enough has how to remove the gear box, how to remove the pump, etc, but NOTHING about the set screw. I know from working on the adjuster on my jeep YJ that you can't just "horse them down" and think it's fixed, they are usually torque to VERY specific INCH lbs values, too much torque=blown box. Chiltons says they have the info, but alas it's no-where in there.


Sorry I got on a rant there. If you plan on doing most of the work yourself get a FSM, if you plan on doing joe-weekend warrior work that is not in depth more than changing brakes, then get a chiltons.