Jun 4, 2023
Fender replacement on the old malibu today. Who needs a body shop
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Fender replacement on the old malibu today. Who needs a body shop
I did awesome today
First of all, I spent half of the rest of my money before (God willing) a job comes through tomorrow, and bought these... which arrived today:
A ratchet set. A 2-ton floor jack. The spatulas are irrelevant to this story (though future stories will surely be delicious).
I amassed my new toys with the auto store rentals, including a torque wrench and a set of LARGE sockets (four sockets cost over a hundred dollars to rent. Happily, I get the money back when they are returned). With all the toys present, I SET TO WORK...
What you see before you is the break pad housing (like a grey caterpillar climbing up a wheel) and the majorly rusty thing is the rotor- I bought this car from a friend who lived in Mass for several years.
Sooo.... freaking!... difficult! One of tumblrs fav shows is LEVERAGE. LEVERAGE is a very important mechanical principle when your ratchet is so short D:
BUT IF YOU HAVE YOUR TIRE IRON HANDY AND YOU’RE CAREFUL, YOU CAN CREATE A LONGER LEVER ARM, AKA MORE LEVERAGE. (ngl, I was so Macguyver-would-love-me proud of myself).
I forgot that there were more bolts.... Also the angle on this one was heinous and things were getting covered in oil... so...
I FOUND A BIG OLD RUBBER BAND AND WRAPPED IT AROUND THE HANDLE TO MAKE SURE THE TIRE IRON WOULDN’T SLIP OFF.
*all the cackling*
I bounced and bounced and bounced on this thing. When I finally ‘broke’ the axle nut loose I landed on the ground in a tumble, BUT IT WAS LOOSE (hence the neighbor asking, “are you OK?” apparently you can’t help but scream when you take a tumble).
GRINDY McGRINDYNOISE aka a bad wheel hub bearing.
GOTCHA.
DA NEW ONE.
So...
Normally, a trained mechanic doing this kind of work will take about an hour to do the whole thing... Me? .....five.
If I’m completely honest, trying to get the tire back on (which should be NBD, am I right?) didn’t happen because for some reason the jack would not push the car high enough to get the tire lined up with the bolts.... which makes no sense to me as it was certainly tall enough to get the tire off in the first place. Fixing that tomorrow, but first I need a big ol’ C-clamp to get the brake pad caliper’s piston to GO IN ITS HOME.
Here are some things I learned:
LADIES (AND MEN WHO AREN’T TOO CONFIDENT WITH CARS): YOU CAN DO IT. SAVE THAT TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS, SPEND AN AFTERNOON WITH YOUR TUNES AND YOUTUBE, AND KNOCK THAT S**T OUT.
LEVERAGE
Straight angles are your friend. Keeping your force in a perfect perpendicular to the nut you are loosening gives you the best torque.
LEVERAGE
If you are using Youtube to do your before and after studies (and guide you DURING the process), make sure your phone/tablet is fully charged.
gloves (taliesin jaffe has nothing on the state of my nails right now)
LEVERAGE.
I ran two half marathons in February and a Tough Mudder less than a month ago. I feel as tired having done this as I did having run those!
Addendum to yesterday’s automotive work because sometimes you just need to celebrate.
At Home Car Mechanic
At Home Car Mechanic
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I’m gonna come into an auto shop want a very specific thing and then leave when they say it’ll take longer because only one person can do it. Like seriously auto work takes time. It’s also first come first serve and you’re a cunt lady
Every Which Way But Loose (1978)
Getting car stuff done.... I hate this I really do. If I didn't need a car to get around I prob wouldn't own one. The whole getting car work done just gives me anxiety. I don't know what's going on and constantly worried I'm being hustled.
29 July - Crushed by his Car
Be careful under there...Photo source.
It’s what everyone fears as they crawl under the car. Today’s story, short and sad, is best retold in full from its original source.
“John Oriol, 39…was killed Monday night when the car he was fixing at his home fell on him. Sheriff’s police said the body was discovered by his wife, Emilie about 10:40 p.m. Police said a scissors jack holding up the rear axle on the small foreign car gave way and the full force of the axle struck Oriol in the chest.”
Rough way to go.
From the Chicago Tribune, 18 November 1970. Source.