All replies today will be tinged with salt.
I'm really effing grumpy at my car and myself.
#oldcarssucksometimes
Discussion
Eh get mad at the car. Yourself don't need the salt
Nope. It's my fault. Being lazy with maintenance put me in a bad spot. I just hate working on cars these days. But... I'm not paying someone else to do it. So... I screwed myself. 🤷♂️
#newcarssucktooihatemysubarurightnowtoo
Old cars can suck, but at least you can repair them if you know how to use tools. Working in the light duty truck industry for the past 7 years taught me all that glitters is in fact not gold. At least you don't need a dealer computer (or better yet your own software/hardware sometimes) just to replace a fuel injector or a shift solenoid.
whats wrong with it today?
Rear drums. Again, my own fault. I knew I needed to replace the shoes for a while, but, I was lazy.
I also needed to replace the wheel cylinder, and the brake line seized to the fitting.
I wasted a day trying to flare the line only to learn that:
A. The steel in the line was tough enough to not allow me to do a proper double flare, and
B. The lines use an effing bubble flare which I can't do since no one has the tools in stock to do that and on a holiday weekend no one can get it.
Obviously, the double/inverted flare wouldn't have sealed even if I had gotten one to take, but...
I found a line at a parts start with the correct fittings and flares so I'll be starting to put everything back together once the thunderstorm passes. 😡
Yeah gets me every time. After like a dozen brake jobs, I did finally spend the big money on a nice hydraulic flare tool from Matco I kept screwing up the flares or breaking the tools.
This weekend was brakes for me too! I ceased (they seem to have freed up) both drivers side calipers last week (they had like 500 miles on them since new OEM install) out of nowhere. My entire brake system (except abs module) has less than 5000 miles on it.
Did you try throwing your wrenches as hard you can yet?
Or punching an already dented part of the car?
I assume you already tried repeating your mantra 1000 times
“MFing piece of shit!”
If you’ve done all that you will just have to suffer until after dark, thinking you’ll get it done sooner. You’ll feel better in 5-7 days
There was much muttering and percussive maintenance performed.
Update:
Wheel cylinder finally effing replaced with a new line that I found at autozone that was exactly the light length!
The autozone spring kit is... Weird. The tension clips that hold the shoes in place are way, way too strong. I reused the OEM clips.
I just tested everything. Everything works as it should. I'll be able to get home tonight and to work tomorrow.
The wheel bearings certainly need to be replaced. They aren't loose, but spinning the hub by hand, they are stiff. The grease is likely solidified after 375k miles. It's time to change them. Thankfully, a fiend has a lift and a big air compressor. I'll be ordering parts and will get pretty much everything else in the rear changed out.
I'm relieved but also really annoyed and more than a little worn out.