Dunno how many negative Jalop points this gives me but

"CalzoneGolem" (calzonegolem)
09/17/2015 at 10:22 • Filed to: bullmobile

I figured out that if I worked a few extra hours of overtime and I can make what I’d pay my mechanic to install my rear struts. My fronts took me all day to do and I hear the rears are worse since they don’t turn.

DISCUSSION (24)

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > CalzoneGolem
09/17/2015 at 10:27

All the points.

Tbh I enjoy working on stuff (cars included) with a couple friends, by myself it gets tedious.

Wacko > CalzoneGolem
09/17/2015 at 10:28

I always thought that rear struts are easier to do than fronts, but that idea may come from the 90’s.

I always say to myself that sure i can do it myself, but sometimes I will pay when I don’t feel like it/don’t have the time / patience.

what car are you working on?

vondon302 > CalzoneGolem
09/17/2015 at 10:29

Know your limits

Snuze: Needs another Swede > CalzoneGolem
09/17/2015 at 10:30

Meh. I’d give you a zero, no net gain or loss.

I used to try and do everything myself, and gave my dad hell because all he did was simple stuff like oil changes and brake pads, just the basic stuff. But as I get older, I see why.

Wrenching can be fun... if it’s not your DD and you don’t absolutely have to have it ready to go to work Monday morning. And when you don’t have a lift, and all the proper tools, everything takes 2-3x as long. At some point you have to put a value on your time.

KatzManDu > CalzoneGolem
09/17/2015 at 10:34

Depends on the car and the setup. I’ve had an easier time with the rears in the cars I’ve worked on and needed to be very careful with the spring compressor and other items when working on the fronts...

Audi S4, A8, Honda Odyssey, BMW M5 (E39) and BMW 520d (E39.)

CalzoneGolem > Wacko
09/17/2015 at 10:34

http://oppositelock.kinja.com/tag/bullmobile

Ford Taurus.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Wacko
09/17/2015 at 10:34

I doubt it... The fronts, you lift the hood and there are your tower bolts. The rears are under everything. I don't know about his car, but I know some you have to pull the interior apart in the trunk/back seat area to get at them.

Jayhawk Jake > CalzoneGolem
09/17/2015 at 10:35

Honestly I don’t think you have to be into mechanical work to be a car guy. I really don't like working on cars that much, but I love driving them. Surely that's good enough

CalzoneGolem > Snuze: Needs another Swede
09/17/2015 at 10:35

Yeah, I’ll spend the time I’ll save working on Rat-L-Trap.

CalzoneGolem > KatzManDu
09/17/2015 at 10:37

It looks like it’d be harder to smash on the pinch bolt with a hammer. No spring compressors. I bought a quick struts with springs on them already.

CalzoneGolem > vondon302
09/17/2015 at 10:38

CalzoneGolem > Jayhawk Jake
09/17/2015 at 10:39

Nope. You should sell your car and get off this site.

Sometimes I love working on my car. I didn’t love doing the front struts.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > CalzoneGolem
09/17/2015 at 10:40

Good plan. Let the mechanic handle the tedious, necessary stuff. Use the time you save to wrench on something you enjoy that’s fun.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Jayhawk Jake
09/17/2015 at 10:42

I think it’s more the interest in mechanical stuff.

For myself, I enjoy working as a team with some people on a project, but by myself... I could hardly trust myself. I like taking things apart. I don't really like putting them back together.

Margin Of Error > CalzoneGolem
09/17/2015 at 10:55

I don’t work on my car either, but it’s mostly because I don’t have a car.

DoYouEvenShift > CalzoneGolem
09/17/2015 at 10:57

Ford Taurus? Buy quick struts since the stock springs are probably sagging. Also get new sway bar endlinks because they will break. Is there any rust?

Wacko > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
09/17/2015 at 10:59

normally you just remove the carpets / plastics in back. I think i recall easier in back is that most fronts where macphersons and you needed a spring compressor. The rears where normally just struts. Well on most cars I had.

CalzoneGolem > Margin Of Error
09/17/2015 at 11:01

That does simplify things.

CalzoneGolem > DoYouEvenShift
09/17/2015 at 11:03

Bought quick struts and already replaced the end links. Actually I’ve replaced all the end links except the front passenger because that one was much newer than the rest.

Rust is not bad for a New England car. I think it lived a cushy life before I got ahold of it.

DoYouEvenShift > CalzoneGolem
09/17/2015 at 11:30

Should all be pretty straight forward then.

shop-teacher > CalzoneGolem
09/17/2015 at 11:43

Eh, life is short. Don’t waste it doing drudgery that could be easily paid for. Spend that day doing something fun with your car.

Jayhawk Jake > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
09/17/2015 at 11:49

That’s fair.

I also agree on the team thing. I’ve done a very small amount of helping work on some cool projects with a mechanic. When I’m working with other people with someone that knows what they’re doing guiding the way, it’s fun. It also helps that those were in a giant air conditioned garage.

When I’m sitting on my dirty garage floor drenched in sweat with cuts on my fingers trying to get that one fucking bolt out all I can think is ‘why didn’t I just pay someone to do this for me’

WiscoProud > CalzoneGolem
09/17/2015 at 12:23

I enjoy working on my car, but I definitely do a skill/cost benefit analysis. For instance, I recently installed a small lift and did my shocks, However, I had a shop do the water pump and timing belt.

Time is money, and I don't have a full weekend to devote to a repair as much as I may like to.

luvMeSome142 & some Lincoln! > CalzoneGolem
09/18/2015 at 15:26

Saw the album cover and had to blast it in my office!