"webmonkees" (kayoteq-of-the-forest)
05/04/2014 at 13:32 • Filed to: None
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"webmonkees" (kayoteq-of-the-forest)
05/04/2014 at 13:32 • Filed to: None | 1
| 3 |
Working on the VW, installing top German-sourced brakes (folks, it's the first millimeter of reaction for whatever else is going on. take your time and don't scrimp. diy is not scrimp)
There's a logic, four points of contact and a couple of anti-vibration wedges but pretty straightforward. Goes together precisely with brakes made to MOT specs.
Backwards. I had put two rear pads on. I discover this with the wheel on, but not on the road. Back apart, zoink, back together. No caliper pressing this time.
So.. their design was precise, but allowed such errors to happen.You fool, you will learn from your incompetence.
My experience with Japanese cars is a narrowing to a precision. If you get this lined up with that, then harmony is achieved and completion is occurred.
Else it is all a mystery and one should step back and consider intent.
My narrower experience with American cars/ trucks shows that a hammer is a recommended part of the toolkit.
Italian.. French... Swedish. Korean. Australian. If they originated the design (not a 'world car') the culture is reflected in how that #(($# bolt turns, how durable it is, how precise it must be installed, and how much gasket is required.
Sometimes whole principles are off-kilter, so someone competent in one discipline will fail applying it to another. How many VW beetle engines were wrecked from otherwise decent mechanics? more than one.
Knowing a couple of curse words in the vehicle's native language can help, sometimes.
Am I talking nonsense? Well, yes, but what expectations do you have when you encounter a particular culture's mechanical products?
FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
> webmonkees
05/04/2014 at 14:05 |
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I think its getting to be less true as all cars get overly complicated and computerized in a push to eek out every bit of fuel efficiency. However, in my past I've worked on all the big three nationalities (German, Murican, and Japanese) I find American and Japanese are pretty similar, no nonsense and simple. I HATE working on german cars though. Everything its overly complicated and you need a special tool for just about everything (including changing oil). Just my experience.
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webmonkees
> FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
05/04/2014 at 18:24 |
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Yeah, I suppose I've been banging on these German cars so long that I'm grabbing the 11mm, 7mm hex key, 8 mm wrenches because I already have them on hand from previous muckering. I learned it's proper to have the correct tools or it breaks.
The Subaru, however, seems based on repairs using only the tool kit and a 17mm optional. Maybe a second screwdriver if something needs prising.
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FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
> webmonkees
05/04/2014 at 18:36 |
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I have many metric tools as my land cruiser is Japanese. The one instance I'm referring to was my roommates passat required a 33mm socket to get the PLASTIC oil filter housing off. It would have been fine if it were made of metal and I could have used a pipe wrench, but it would have broken had I done that. Instead, I was lucky my local ACE had a 33mm socket. There are other things, like requiring $20/gallon special coolant and all those damn torx screws. Oh and you need a computer to change the brakes because of the electric hand brake.