Man day
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,375
Likes: 424
Man day
Did you ever get caught up in a vortex of car repairs? Sure you have.
Mine started innocently enough with the semi-annual front tire swap. I got up early on Saturday (the wife is away) and pulled the front wheels off and took them to the local tire shop. They did them immediately which is way faster than I had planned. Since I had the front end up and I had the extra time I took a look at my front brakes. They are original with 102K miles and that's pushing it even for me. So I picked up some ceramics for the front and rears. I'll do the rears some other time.
The driver's side went very easy and so did the passenger side. Now the bottom of the passenger side front fender has never lined up well so I decided to pull the inner fender well to check out why. Also there is a rattle in that fender that is really annoying. After pulling off the access panel I could see that a bolt was missing that holds the middle of the fender to the cowling. After checking every possible location in the house for a similar bolt I finally went with a little screw and nut. Then I had to re-do the connection on the bottom of the fender because it was based upon the bulging fender profile. I also was able to cleanout the elusive and shy passenger side udder.
Fender looks good now but the rattle is still there. I find the cove inner backing is only attached at the front and rattles against the fender at the back. So I use an unused EZ Pass velcro to attach the back of the cove backing. Success! Front wheels back on. I don't really want to drag the floor jack back out again so I pickup the back of the car and start on the rear brakes.
Like every sports car I've ever owned this parking brake has sucked since day one. So while I've got the calipers off, I pull the caliper brackets off then the rotors. I adjust up the parking brake shoes and remount the rotors, brackets, calipers and new pads. Seems like a shame to do all this without flushing the old brake fluid so I pull out the vacuum pump and suck out the brake fluid and refill with new. As I wipe off the master cylinder I see right next to it is the clutch master cylinder so what the heck I do that too.
On the test drive I hear that blower motor squeal that my wife mentioned so I pull the passenger footwell apart and lube the blower motor bearing. Also the clear targa top has been rattling so I adjusted that too. By now it's pitch black and I'll have to put off that HID kit install til the next day my wife's away.
Mine started innocently enough with the semi-annual front tire swap. I got up early on Saturday (the wife is away) and pulled the front wheels off and took them to the local tire shop. They did them immediately which is way faster than I had planned. Since I had the front end up and I had the extra time I took a look at my front brakes. They are original with 102K miles and that's pushing it even for me. So I picked up some ceramics for the front and rears. I'll do the rears some other time.
The driver's side went very easy and so did the passenger side. Now the bottom of the passenger side front fender has never lined up well so I decided to pull the inner fender well to check out why. Also there is a rattle in that fender that is really annoying. After pulling off the access panel I could see that a bolt was missing that holds the middle of the fender to the cowling. After checking every possible location in the house for a similar bolt I finally went with a little screw and nut. Then I had to re-do the connection on the bottom of the fender because it was based upon the bulging fender profile. I also was able to cleanout the elusive and shy passenger side udder.
Fender looks good now but the rattle is still there. I find the cove inner backing is only attached at the front and rattles against the fender at the back. So I use an unused EZ Pass velcro to attach the back of the cove backing. Success! Front wheels back on. I don't really want to drag the floor jack back out again so I pickup the back of the car and start on the rear brakes.
Like every sports car I've ever owned this parking brake has sucked since day one. So while I've got the calipers off, I pull the caliper brackets off then the rotors. I adjust up the parking brake shoes and remount the rotors, brackets, calipers and new pads. Seems like a shame to do all this without flushing the old brake fluid so I pull out the vacuum pump and suck out the brake fluid and refill with new. As I wipe off the master cylinder I see right next to it is the clutch master cylinder so what the heck I do that too.
On the test drive I hear that blower motor squeal that my wife mentioned so I pull the passenger footwell apart and lube the blower motor bearing. Also the clear targa top has been rattling so I adjusted that too. By now it's pitch black and I'll have to put off that HID kit install til the next day my wife's away.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 593
Likes: 9
From: San Antonio Texas
Did you ever get caught up in a vortex of car repairs? Sure you have.
Mine started innocently enough with the semi-annual front tire swap. I got up early on Saturday (the wife is away) and pulled the front wheels off and took them to the local tire shop. They did them immediately which is way faster than I had planned. Since I had the front end up and I had the extra time I took a look at my front brakes. They are original with 102K miles and that's pushing it even for me. So I picked up some ceramics for the front and rears. I'll do the rears some other time.
The driver's side went very easy and so did the passenger side. Now the bottom of the passenger side front fender has never lined up well so I decided to pull the inner fender well to check out why. Also there is a rattle in that fender that is really annoying. After pulling off the access panel I could see that a bolt was missing that holds the middle of the fender to the cowling. After checking every possible location in the house for a similar bolt I finally went with a little screw and nut. Then I had to re-do the connection on the bottom of the fender because it was based upon the bulging fender profile. I also was able to cleanout the elusive and shy passenger side udder.
Fender looks good now but the rattle is still there. I find the cove inner backing is only attached at the front and rattles against the fender at the back. So I use an unused EZ Pass velcro to attach the back of the cove backing. Success! Front wheels back on. I don't really want to drag the floor jack back out again so I pickup the back of the car and start on the rear brakes.
Like every sports car I've ever owned this parking brake has sucked since day one. So while I've got the calipers off, I pull the caliper brackets off then the rotors. I adjust up the parking brake shoes and remount the rotors, brackets, calipers and new pads. Seems like a shame to do all this without flushing the old brake fluid so I pull out the vacuum pump and suck out the brake fluid and refill with new. As I wipe off the master cylinder I see right next to it is the clutch master cylinder so what the heck I do that too.
On the test drive I hear that blower motor squeal that my wife mentioned so I pull the passenger footwell apart and lube the blower motor bearing. Also the clear targa top has been rattling so I adjusted that too. By now it's pitch black and I'll have to put off that HID kit install til the next day my wife's away.
Mine started innocently enough with the semi-annual front tire swap. I got up early on Saturday (the wife is away) and pulled the front wheels off and took them to the local tire shop. They did them immediately which is way faster than I had planned. Since I had the front end up and I had the extra time I took a look at my front brakes. They are original with 102K miles and that's pushing it even for me. So I picked up some ceramics for the front and rears. I'll do the rears some other time.
The driver's side went very easy and so did the passenger side. Now the bottom of the passenger side front fender has never lined up well so I decided to pull the inner fender well to check out why. Also there is a rattle in that fender that is really annoying. After pulling off the access panel I could see that a bolt was missing that holds the middle of the fender to the cowling. After checking every possible location in the house for a similar bolt I finally went with a little screw and nut. Then I had to re-do the connection on the bottom of the fender because it was based upon the bulging fender profile. I also was able to cleanout the elusive and shy passenger side udder.
Fender looks good now but the rattle is still there. I find the cove inner backing is only attached at the front and rattles against the fender at the back. So I use an unused EZ Pass velcro to attach the back of the cove backing. Success! Front wheels back on. I don't really want to drag the floor jack back out again so I pickup the back of the car and start on the rear brakes.
Like every sports car I've ever owned this parking brake has sucked since day one. So while I've got the calipers off, I pull the caliper brackets off then the rotors. I adjust up the parking brake shoes and remount the rotors, brackets, calipers and new pads. Seems like a shame to do all this without flushing the old brake fluid so I pull out the vacuum pump and suck out the brake fluid and refill with new. As I wipe off the master cylinder I see right next to it is the clutch master cylinder so what the heck I do that too.
On the test drive I hear that blower motor squeal that my wife mentioned so I pull the passenger footwell apart and lube the blower motor bearing. Also the clear targa top has been rattling so I adjusted that too. By now it's pitch black and I'll have to put off that HID kit install til the next day my wife's away.
I wish I had as much ability and resolve as you do! I am proud of you and only wish you lived closer to me so that some of that could rub off on me! Nice job and congrats! Good Luck.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 367,775
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From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
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You did have a busy, but very productive day.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
This is what's called "Preventative Maintenance" and I applaud you for making the effort and doing it right. So many people don't do the simple things you did, then they start complaining about how this is broke or that doesn't work and so on.... 
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Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 18,643
Likes: 14
From: Norman Oklahoma - The Only State in the Union with no Blue Counties!
Only a few short years ago my eyes would have glassed over reading this and most threads such as yours. I knew very little about my Vette. Thanks to many here on this forum I have gained enough knowledge so that I needed and purchased a WAY bigger toolbox and tools! I can't believe how much I have learned.
Great Man Day!
Great Man Day!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,912
Likes: 46
From: Severn Maryland
MD Events Coordinator
2015 C3 of Year Finalist
Cruise-In X Veteran
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St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19
I wish I had that much time to spend with my mistresses!!!
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 22,703
Likes: 798
From: Hillsborough NC
NC Events Coordinator
My wife rates my jobs on a cursing scale. A "one sonuvabitch" job went pretty smoothly. A "two sonuvabitch" not so much. A "three sonuvabitch" job is a PITA and a "four sonuvabitch" means it's time for professional help.
Chasing down rattles, squeaks and vibrations is often a "three sonuvabitch" job. Sometimes it gets raised a degree of difficulty with an f-bomb between the "threesonuva" and "bitch." You are to be commended for your patience, especially if it didn't involve cursing.
Chasing down rattles, squeaks and vibrations is often a "three sonuvabitch" job. Sometimes it gets raised a degree of difficulty with an f-bomb between the "threesonuva" and "bitch." You are to be commended for your patience, especially if it didn't involve cursing.
!!I know you were tired,,aching but well satisfied. Major congrats to ya!!!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 825
Likes: 66
From: Baltimore Md
once I'm in the mood, I can't leave well enough alone!
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 23,220
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From: HOUSTON
St. Jude Donor '06 thru '15, '19
I love spending time in my garage, it might be with my car, my wife’s car, the Suburban or a friend’s car but its always enjoyable. Sometimes I like to go at it alone, other times it s nice to have a friend or two over. I am off next week so I am hoping to have some car time, I do have some woodworking to do so I know I have garage time!
Last edited by mojo1; Dec 13, 2011 at 06:34 AM.
