Dammit

"Logansteno: Bought a VW?" (logansteno)
04/30/2014 at 17:46 • Filed to: None

The van failed inspection. Needs new rear drums, like not just pads, the entire drum has to be replaced. And I have a cracked front brake line. Glad to know one of the most vital parts of my car are fail worthy. For the shop to fix it: $650. I guess I'll be learning how to change and bleed brakes soon. Until then, we're getting a battery for my dad's truck, so I'll be driving that.

DISCUSSION (22)

Clown Shoe Pilot > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/30/2014 at 17:49

Luckily, brakes are easy. Drums are a little more of a PITA than discs, but still easy.

Is your cracked line in the hard line or in the rubber section? Hopefully it's in the rubber - those are a lot easier to replace - do them IN PAIRS.

Also, I STRONGLY recommend a power bleeder. See if you can rustle one up somewhere to borrow. It makes the bleeding part 100,000,000% easier.

buford-t-justice > Clown Shoe Pilot
04/30/2014 at 17:52

Rent one from your local auto store.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Clown Shoe Pilot
04/30/2014 at 17:52

The line was the rubber section. I guess those get a little worn after 20 years. We're probably just gonna do an all around brake job on the whole thing.

Power bleeder. I'm sure my dad knows a guy who owns one.

RazoE > Clown Shoe Pilot
04/30/2014 at 17:55

Just don't press on the pedal after you have the drum off. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

The Real Dacia Sandero > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/30/2014 at 17:55

Went and got inspection yesterday. Tie rod ends are bad($120), steering rack boots are bad($90 for ones that actually fit), Third brake light was out(Needs a new seal for the light $18), and my aftermarket vent windows aren't dot approved, so I have to swap in the old ones and then swap back after inspection.

Also, I need new engine mounts ($90), my stock manifold is rattling(fix is new $450 header+$90 heatshield), and my timing belt is making a weird noise.

Old cars suck sometimes...

Kinja'd!!!

Will with a W8 races an E30 > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/30/2014 at 17:56

Oooh, drums. Replacing the shoes is a great way to get introduced to working on cars and decide you hate it. I promise, most of working on cars is much more fun than rebuilding drum brakes, but few projects will teach you as many tricks so cheaply and with so little risk (if you screw it up it will be obvious BEFORE you try to drive it).

Replace the wheel cylinders while you're in there - if you have to do lines and shoes you're only 2 bolts away anyway, and they're cheap and usually worn out.

PS9 > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/30/2014 at 17:58

You complain, but be glad you live in a state that wants people to not drive around in stripped chassis on wheels. Down here in anything goes Florida (and this weather can chow down on a bag of dicks by the way...) I've seen morons driving around with Grand-Theft-Auto levels of damage to their cars. I'm talkin' no body panels, no hood, treadless tires about to fucking burst, brakes squealing louder than Olivia O Lovely at a gangbang, bottomed out suspensions on their way to ripping the fucking car in half through the bump stops over the shitty never-gonna-get-repaved roads.

Even the bus company drives broken shit on the roads, man. The fucking bus company.

Driving down here next to these people is genuinely dangerous. I didn't even mention the nouveau riche Audi douches who can't afford a truck rental for a few hours, and instead choose to haul their 55' ladders home by mounting it across the rear doors throught the open window, then just drive around like a portion of their vehicle doesn't now extend into the other fucking lane...

Will with a W8 races an E30 > Clown Shoe Pilot
04/30/2014 at 17:59

Speed bleeders if you're willing to spend the extra $10/corner. They make bleeding brakes incredibly easy, and are still cheaper than a good power bleeder.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > The Real Dacia Sandero
04/30/2014 at 17:59

They handed me the estimate and I literally laughed out loud. Half the value of the car to change the brakes. Half that cost was labor! My manifold is rattling, too.

They really can suck some time.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Will with a W8 races an E30
04/30/2014 at 18:00

I'll probably check out everything while I have it apart and make a list of things that need to be replaced. My dad warned me the drums are going to be a pain in the ass most likely.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > PS9
04/30/2014 at 18:02

And my parents wonder why I'd never want to live in Florida.

Will with a W8 races an E30 > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/30/2014 at 18:04

Depending on the car you can sometimes get a kit to do it all. Definitely replace the drums and shoes, and if the drums are bad you should probably replace the wheel cylinders (they're cheap). Only things left after that are the springs, adjusters, and parking brake mechanism, all of which rarely go bad.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Will with a W8 races an E30
04/30/2014 at 18:06

The shop was going to use a kit to do it, so they're out there. The drums and shoes have to be replaced to pass.

Will with a W8 races an E30 > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/30/2014 at 18:09

Oh, one last thing - speed bleeders will make you wonder why you ever tried to bleed brakes the old fashioned way.

http://www.summitracing.com/search/brand/r…

The Real Dacia Sandero > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/30/2014 at 18:10

Yeah, the guy walks over to me and explains everything. The total was $380 and they were only gonna do one side of the tie rods and boots. My Miata is a performance car, and chances are, if one is bad the other will go soon. Also, they added a 4 wheel alignment even though the rear suspension would never be touched...

The rattle is so loud that you can hear it over the exhaust, and mine is upgraded and kinda loud.

I'm doing the work myself with upgraded parts for less. And I have a lifetime alignment at firestone. I kinda knew it needed to be replaced, it just sucks when you're forced into it.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > The Real Dacia Sandero
04/30/2014 at 18:12

I had no idea the brakes were as bad as they looked. The van stopped just like it always has, but there was so little material on the shoes, you could see the tops of the screws that hold them on.

The Real Dacia Sandero > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/30/2014 at 18:19

Well, you ran them to the total end of their life.

Most of the braking is done by the front, especially if the van is front heavy. Likely, braking has lowered over time at a rate that wouldn't really be noticeable unless you were really getting on the brakes a lot.

Your boy, BJR > RazoE
04/30/2014 at 18:28

WHERE WERE YOU WITH THIS INFO DECEMBER OF 2012?!?!?!

RazoE > Your boy, BJR
04/30/2014 at 18:50

HAHA, broken nose?

Squid > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/30/2014 at 18:54

Take pictures and do one side at a time. it makes it so you have a reference to put the drums together. drums aren't terrible but they can get frustrating if you get ahead of yourself.

Your boy, BJR > RazoE
04/30/2014 at 18:57

Failed lab at school.

tromoly > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/30/2014 at 19:10

Drums are easy, just be patient and make sure everything is assembled correctly, and give yourself plenty of time to relax putting them together and you'll be fine. First time I did rear shoes on my Rambler (+1 wheel cylinder, but that's not important) it took about 3 hours from removing wheels to driving away, including a food break.