At 77, I'm not going to do any more work on car's or truck's unless it's the 1953 Chevy 3/4 ton truck we use to have! 
Just pay the mechanic!
- Thread starter Rastoff
- Start date
I have rebuilt a blown engine in a weekend in my younger days. But no more.
When you need a computer qualification simply to lift the bonnet (hood) it is time to call in the professionals.
My 2006 Ford Modeo has been back in the shop for a month after having the fuel pump replaced, again! (I run it mostly on LPG and the pump just circulates the fuel in the tank when running on the gas. If the petrol tank is too low (like it was for a few weeks) the muck in the bottom just gets circulated and jams up everything). For some reason the computer is shutting down the system when the temperature gets above cold.
Usually this would not be a problem but I just had the LPG tank removed and tested. It is empty an I need to drive 20 minutes to get LPG put into it. I nee dit to run on petrol for that 20 minutes. It has reached the point that the mechanic is advising we tow it to an LPG filling station so I can at least use the car until the matter can be sorted out.
When you need a computer qualification simply to lift the bonnet (hood) it is time to call in the professionals.
My 2006 Ford Modeo has been back in the shop for a month after having the fuel pump replaced, again! (I run it mostly on LPG and the pump just circulates the fuel in the tank when running on the gas. If the petrol tank is too low (like it was for a few weeks) the muck in the bottom just gets circulated and jams up everything). For some reason the computer is shutting down the system when the temperature gets above cold.
Usually this would not be a problem but I just had the LPG tank removed and tested. It is empty an I need to drive 20 minutes to get LPG put into it. I nee dit to run on petrol for that 20 minutes. It has reached the point that the mechanic is advising we tow it to an LPG filling station so I can at least use the car until the matter can be sorted out.
snowman
Member
Not "could be", they're definitely different. These don't have a tapered hole to be pressed into. The steering knuckle that's attached to the ball joints has tapered holes and I got those off with a solid rap of the hammer along with diligent application of a fork. However, the ball joints themselves are in a straight hole.
This is not my Jeep, but here's a pic of what installing a lower ball joint looks like:
If you look closely, you can see what the ball joint looks like.
Yes, sir; that's a different animal. I thought that might be the case. I just watched a YouTube video of the procedure you performed(endured?). So glad I've had a much simpler & easier task. I'm sure you're glad it's over with.
Regards,
Andy
Vulcan Bob
Member
After being a fleet mechanic for the Pa State Police for thirty three years I haven't touched a wrench to a vehicle since I retired Jan 25th 2008. Some of the above is why!
Spring Loaded
It was 1985 and my 1968 Lincoln Continental needed new front coil springs. A friend was in the wholesale parts business and got me a pair of Moog springs.
I didn't have a spring compressor so I took the car and springs to a local mechanic. He phoned me when the job was done. When I got there, he said, "Let me show you something," and walked me over to the concrete block wall near my car. There was a chunk of material knocked out of a block.
The mechanic was compressing the spring (big as a truck spring) and the compressor failed, ejecting the spring across the building and hitting the wall.
As the man said, "Let the mechanic do it!"
(Two golf bags and two bodies will fit in that trunk.)
It was 1985 and my 1968 Lincoln Continental needed new front coil springs. A friend was in the wholesale parts business and got me a pair of Moog springs.
I didn't have a spring compressor so I took the car and springs to a local mechanic. He phoned me when the job was done. When I got there, he said, "Let me show you something," and walked me over to the concrete block wall near my car. There was a chunk of material knocked out of a block.
The mechanic was compressing the spring (big as a truck spring) and the compressor failed, ejecting the spring across the building and hitting the wall.
As the man said, "Let the mechanic do it!"
(Two golf bags and two bodies will fit in that trunk.)
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Rastoff - don't forget to get it re-aligned. Also, though you won't want to hear this, if I'm replacing ball joints, I do everything. Wheel bearings, tie rod ends and steering ends. My philosophy is, if the ball joints are that worn, chances are the rest of the front end is too, and steering components aren't something I want to have let go while I'm driving down the road. I'd even seriously consider doing control arm bushings if the vehicle has them.
Like many here though, I'm reaching the age where turning wrenches is getting more laborious and I foresee a day rapidly approaching when I'll have to stop. My dad quit early - when he was around 58. I'm 10 years past that point.
Like many here though, I'm reaching the age where turning wrenches is getting more laborious and I foresee a day rapidly approaching when I'll have to stop. My dad quit early - when he was around 58. I'm 10 years past that point.
CustomChevyGuy
Member
I work at a dealership, and weekly see even the simplest jobs for techs turn into nightmares at the fall of chance.
To me every job always boils down to
1. Can I do it, without the frustration reaching the level of me not wanting to do the job any more?
2. Can I pay a tech to get it done right the first time and without having to figure out alternate transportation?
To me every job always boils down to
1. Can I do it, without the frustration reaching the level of me not wanting to do the job any more?
2. Can I pay a tech to get it done right the first time and without having to figure out alternate transportation?
italiansport
Member
I popped the freeze plug out of the back of a Jaguar engine as few years back and the 1st repair instruction was to pull the engine! Giving this some thought I located a spot behind the dashboard across from the freeze plug location. I drilled a hole thru the firewall, positioned the replacement freeze plug and used a piece of rod and a hammer to set it!
I do remember with nostalgia the days when you could raise the hood on a small block Chevy and replace the spark plugs while sitting on the fender with your feet in the engine compartment!
Jim
I do remember with nostalgia the days when you could raise the hood on a small block Chevy and replace the spark plugs while sitting on the fender with your feet in the engine compartment!
Jim
I'm mechanically inclined. I like tinkering with, well, everything. Since I was small I liked taking things apart. More than that, if something stumps me, I'll work on it until I figure it out.
I used to like working on cars. Not anymore. I mean, I can do most things myself and I have most of the necessary tools. Specialty tools I can usually get from the local parts store. But I'm not the spring chicken I once was and being hot, sweaty and irritated is not my thing anymore.
Thursday
My wife told me her Jeep Wrangler needed ball joints. Since it has 190K on it, it was reasonable and not just some mechanic trying to milk some business. I wasn't going to pay $800 to get it done though. I mean, how hard can it be? There are only 5 bolts and 3 nuts to remove/replace (10 and 6 counting both sides). The local parts store has the ball joint tool (to press out/in the ball joints) and loans it for free. What could possibly go wrong?
Friday
The lock on my safe breaks which created its own panic. Did nothing on the Jeep on Friday.
Saturday
I get started on the Jeep around 9AM. Everything starts off easy.
- Wheel is easy.
- The connecting rod comes out easy.
- The brake comes off easy.
- The drive shaft bolts aren't seized and the shaft comes right out. The nuts on the old ball joins come right off.
- The steering knuckle is on pretty tight, but with a fork and a hammer, it comes off relatively easy.
Now the fun starts. I put the ball joint tool, which is a puzzle to get set up properly, on the first ball joint and start applying pressure. This is basically just a giant C clamp. Wow, is this thing tight. Oh, I'm pushing it the wrong way. Duh. Turn everything around, get the right set up, but it's still not moving. My wife asks if I need a pipe. "Why yes darlin', that would be nice!" She's so thoughtful. Put the pipe on the end of the 1/2" drive ratchet and wonder of wonders, it starts moving. A few more cranks and one is out, three to go.
The lower one is more challenging because I didn't jack the Jeep high enough. We fix that. Configure the ball joint tool correctly and start applying pressure. Man, this one is much tighter than the upper. Take the tool loose and realize that I had it positioned wrong. In stead of pressing on the ball joint, I was pressing on the bracket. Duh again! Get it lined up properly and start applying pressure, but this one isn't moving. I've got both hands on the wrench and both feet on the frame, pulling for all I'm worth and it's just not moving. OK, mess with me will ya? I'm getting the torch. Of course the propane bottle is empty. Ugh! Off to ACE for a new bottle. Start heating the bracket, apply a little more pressure. More heat, more pressure. Finally, I hear a PING and it starts moving. Hooray! Both are out.
Reconfigure the ball joint tool and start inserting the upper. Goes in as easy as you can expect, still took a lot of pressure. Start installing the lower, but it's going in crooked. It was only then I realize the tool doesn't fit it exactly and is off to one side. After 10 minutes of trying to figure out a different way, I settle for pressing one side, then the other. This works to get it started and then it goes in OK, but still takes a tremendous amount of force.
Whew, both are in. Re-assemble everything and go in for some water and rest. Did I forget something? Yes, I didn't torque the ball joint nuts properly. Fortunately for me I can reach them by just crawling under the Jeep.
Crisis averted, but I'm gassed. What I thought was going to take about 1-2 hours has taken a little over 4 hours and I've only done half. Tomorrow is another day.
Sunday
I don't set an alarm because I'm wasted from yesterday. Remarkably I awake around 7:30AM. I get dressed and head outside only to find my wife has already removed the wheel and brake caliper for the other side. Yeah baby, this is going to go easy! Famous last words.
I remove the steering joint and axle. They come out easy. Hmmm, just like yesterday....
This time the steering knuckle is more difficult to remove, but a really big hammer and some serious whacks and it lets go.
I start on the upper joint, but this one is really tight. Again, both feet on the frame, both hands on the wrench aaaaannnndddd it starts to move. Whahooo only one more to go.
I get the tool set up and make sure it's in the right place. I start cranking on the tool, but no movement. OK, hit it with some penetrating oil and let it sit; still nothing. Seriously, both hands on the wrench, both feet on the frame, but this one is not moving. We get the pipe. I'm pulling for all I'm worth and still nothing. Break out the torch and heat the bracket, pull for more than I'm worth; nothing. I seriously thought I was going to break this tool I'm pulling so hard and it's just not moving.
I got nothing left. I need a break so, I go chill in the house for a while. Left the tool on with full pressure applied. Come back out to the sound of my wife beating on it with a hammer. Hey, at least she was hitting it in the right spot. Still no movement. I'm thinking we'll just have to live with this one because it's not letting go. Just when I'm ready to give up, I decide to give it one more shot with the torch and pipe extension. Heat it up, pull with everything I've got and....PING, it's starts moving. That's the last.
The new ones go in with relative ease. I say "relative" because it still takes a lot of muscle and I don't have a lot. Another 4 hours of work today.
Got it all back together (didn't forget to torque the nuts) and go for a test drive. Wonder of wonders, it's driving much better than it was. The old joints were obviously worse than I thought because the ride is dramatically better.
If you've read this far, I'm sorry there was no catastrophe to entertain you more. Still, this was one of the hardest jobs I've done and I've done a lot. The moral of the story is, it's probably better to just pay the mechanic. They have better tools, a lift and more experience. I saved $600, but it will take a day or two to recover.
Now, about that safe....
Did as you suggested. Truck needed ball joints and a few other little things so off to mechanic it's fixed but wallet needs time to heal.
OP
Rastoff
US Veteran
This is good advice. I haven't done all that other stuff, but I will get it done.
The tie rod ends do need to be replaced. Yes, I should replace them, but they're OK for now. Give me some time to recover. That's when I'll get the alignment done. Right now the Jeep tracks perfectly straight and the wheels are sitting straight. I know that's not the right answer, but one thing at a time.
This has a solid front axle so, no control arm bushings.
gtk
Member
357-RevolverGuy
Member
These modern cars have most of their parts assembled and put together by machines that have such tight tolerances. They make sure no ordinary person could take it apart and put it back together. I think it's all a scam so that you're forced to take it to the shop.
So your saying golf is a dangerous sport for the winning or losing team in the foursome?
Nice old land yacht. I had a friend with one of those, and we'd swap. I'd use his car for a date and he'd take my Corvette autocrossing. We both had fun.
