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Repair Work, I'm Getting Too Old

Beatnik

Beatnik

What's this ?
Took my truck to get a tie-rod replaced, rotors turned and diagnose/repair suspension squeak. Drove it away and it still sqeaked like heck, brakes were good though. $$$

Went back, they drove it, said they heard nothing. I got in and took the guy for a ride, they replaced an upper control arm bushing and bolt (bushing wasn't that old).$$$ Next day same thing.

I'm too old to roll around in the driveway beating out ball joints to figure this out. Seems to be the case unless your can afford to throw parts and labor at problems. Got out the harbor freight stethoscope, poked around in the parking lot at work. Lower bushings ? Beat out the other tie-rod that night and it was tight, no noise from either end.

120.00 control arm (new bushings and ball joint) and done in driveway. Wanted 150 labor to install. I feel like I've been beat up, sore, scratched, bruised....lol

Fingers crossed it's fixed.
 
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Fingers crossed here for ya too.
Shaddy tree mechanic-ing is getting tuffer every year for me too, not to mention having to still take it in to repair the stuff I tore up trying to fix something!
I've got a wee, little 'body work' project going right now and can't wait to see how much damage I end up doing.
 
I feel your pain.Thats why I bought a 2013 edge so I avoid that now.Just got it Krown rustproofed today.Im going to protect my investment as much as possible so I get maximum life and possible return if I decide to get another one in 4 years or so.
 
Beatnik said:
Took my truck to get a tie-rod replaced, rotors turned and diagnose/repair suspension squeak. Drove it away and it still sqeaked like heck, brakes were good though. $$$

Went back, they drove it, said they heard nothing. I got in and took the guy for a ride, they replaced an upper control arm bushing and bolt (bushing wasn't that old).$$$ Next day same thing.

I'm too old to roll around in the driveway beating out ball joints to figure this out. Seems to be the case unless your can afford to throw parts and labor at problems. Got out the harbor freight stethoscope, poked around in the parking lot at work. Lower bushings ? Beat out the other tie-rod that night and it was tight, no noise from either end.

120.00 control arm (new bushings and ball joint) and done in driveway. Wanted 150 labor to install. I feel like I've been beat up, sore, scratched, bruised....lol

Fingers crossed it's fixed.
Click to expand...
How old are you?

I feel like I am too old and wore out and I am just 50....I don't drink or smoke or do drugs.

I'm not feeling well any more and do Not know how guy's 15 to 25 years older than I do it.
 
Gets tough when you have to diagnose stuff like this by yourself. Hopefully put it back together to get to work the next day. Grab the part and crawl under it again.

I'm so glad I don't have to deal with rust ! There's 345k on that tie-rod. 110 plus ft pounds on those arm pivot bolts.

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Harvestor said:
How old are you?

I feel like I am too old and wore out and I am just 50....I don't drink or smoke or do drugs.

I'm not feeling well any more and do Not know how guy's 15 to 25 years older than I do it.
Click to expand...

I've only got five years on you, my knees are shot. Stand up move around all day at work, sit on my rump all night. Stairs are a pain.
 
I keep telling myself I am not too old. Gotta keep the young mindset! :thumbsup:

Yet I sometimes feel as though I was in a knock-down, drag-out fight after having worked on a car all day. I did all four struts yesterday. One thing I noticed is that I am slower than I used to be. The struts should have taken me a couple hours less. Yet I didn't hit any snags, never got frustrated (other than getting sore arms), and it all went smoothly. I have to do the same job on the other car now (same make/model/year), so it should go faster now that I know what to expect. I could also have sped it up had I gotten the impact wrench and air ratchet out to disassemble everything, but first I have to find the air tools! :D (That's another disadvantage of getting older--I forget where I put things.)

Every time I think about it, though, it is still a lot less expensive to do most work myself. If it requires tools or equipment I don't have, though, I have to send it out.
 
Yeah, finding the tools is hard sometimes. I had to battle a huge gear puller because I don't know where I put the smaller one !

Making use of the floor jack to break bolts loose and maneuver parts I used to just pick up and fight in. Took it apart, break time. Put it together, collapse exhausted. Test drive it to Whataburger.

I've had brand new shocks on the floor for years. I'll install them one day, but I'm sitting here on my rump again.
 
Serendipitous timing on this thread.
'Got a quote to do the rear struts on my Highlander so I could decide whether to repair before selling. Quote was almost $700.
Bought two complete units (ready to bolt in) for less than $150.
2.5 hours of labor tonight and they are in.
And my knee hurts.
So does my wrist. And the palm of my hand. My thighs feel like I climbed a ski hill. And I have a catch below my right shoulder blade.

Sigh.
 
Beatnik said:
And jumping up and down on the truck.

Click to expand...
Don't know what that sound is but it would drive me nuts. I would check out the easy stuff first like the sway bar bushings and take the shock loose.

Guessing, I'd say it's a control arm bushing.

Get one of these in 1/2 and 3/8 drive. Makes all the difference in the world. Instead of grinding away with a ratchet loosing up an interference nut, it's off in seconds.

1150.

dGfouzk.jpg


1355-XL 3/8

djXRTps.jpg
 
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skippy_ps said:
Don't know what that sound is but it would drive me nuts. I would check out the easy stuff first like the sway bar bushings and take the shock loose.

Guessing, I'd say it's a control arm bushing.

Get one of these in 1/2 and 3/8 drive. Makes all the difference in the world. Instead of grinding away with a ratchet loosing up an interference nut, it's off in seconds.

1150.

dGfouzk.jpg


1355-XL 3/8

djXRTps.jpg
Click to expand...

I have air tools, but I also have close neighbors, so I don't use them often. I fixed it, see post 5, it was bushings. Got the whole arm, bushings, ball joint setup at pepboys for 25% off by ordering online and picking it up. Moog for 110 plus tax.
 
Well done to anybody that can still do it. I won't go under cars anymore because it just hurts too much. Tightening or loosening anything just results in pulled muscles or worse.
 
I'm 52 and have built many old mopars......my kid just got an 02 grand Cherokee....he is learning the ropes well. He thinks if he can keep the jeep going ...I will give him my ol dodge 440.....I hope to see him worthy
 
Hmmm.

Maybe I saved something for later.
I’m 58.
I have little to no problem doing that work.
I just don’t want to do it any more and it sort of pisses me off to need it done.

I guess anger is more useful than despair.

I’m currently busting power transformers from scrapped AVRs with a hammer on an iron block to salvage the copper core. I found out I don’t need to grind the weld at all, just hit them hard and proper. It relieves stress and lets me work off some frustration.

I smoke and eat red meat and never “work out”.

I do work my ass off on DIY so perhaps I keep in shape between sitting on my ass at a job.

Stuff hurts but job’s gotta be done.
I heal well.
 
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