30 replies to this topic

[Captn_Awesome]

So guys just interested in who does what to their vehicles.

Me I do all my lube, oil and filter minor servicing.
I leave suspension to the experts mainly because I've never had the opportunity to DIY
Body work I leave to the experts
Major mechanical I leave to the experts.

I'll do belts, change an exhaust, change diff oil, t-fer case and g-box oils, filters. Grease drive shafts that kind of thing. I've never done bearings on a car but I'd be interested in giving it a go if I had someone more knowledgable with me to give me a hand. I've adjusted tappets in the past but it was with someone showing me what to do and watching me and thats was quite a few yeasr ago so I'd probably be hesitant to DIY myself without someone giving me a refresher.

I've pretty much taught myself most stuff through trial and error (sometimes costly - especially in the early days when I could afford it the least!). My old man is really not mechanical at all. Changing bearings on a trailer is about as mechanical as he gets - even then I pretty much prep his boat trailer before the season cause I know he'll forget. Thankfully a lot of myself taughtness comes from stripping a vehicle as a youngster - thankfully mum and dad had a BIG shed. LOL.

So what do you do and where did you learn?
I expect there will be some guys on here who do everything and others who checking the radiator or oil level is getting too technical.
I wonder if enought "man" stuff is being taught at schools in 'shop' classes? I know at my school shop was basically a waste as the teacher knew SFA.

[hsvmonarogen3]

everything now cause i dont trust the pricks up here to ruin another car of mine.

[Spink!]

I do everything, my cars don't go to mechanics unless I need a specialist tool which I don't have. I did the bearings in the driveline / diff of my skyline myself, but had to take the driveshafts to a shop to have the bearings pressed on, because I don't have a bearing press.

Learnt by doing and reading

[hsvmonarogen3]

google and car specific forums are your friend!

[gafm01]

I do everything myself or help of friends who know The Classic Mini's. Mech these days don't know much and just buy new and swap them and still can't find the actual fault so you pay 4 time the price. They keep trying to locate the problem so their time just keeps escalating and more dollars in their pocket. I have purchased all the tools I need at the fraction of the price of labour and I'm more knowledgeable on how a car works. If it does brake down out on the road I can't trust No Real Mech Available unless it Does need a tow

[TERRA Operative]

I do everything, except machine work (machining engine blocks and heads etc) and welding, and only because I don't have the machines and I'm still learning to weld.

Gonna be rebuilding a FWD auto box soon, as well as the supercharged engine and manual gearbox for my Levin.

[Big_Valven]

There's not much I don't tackle on my car these days. I like taking responsibility for my own car.

[Jnr]

hsvmonarogen3, on 19 August 2011 - 03:18 PM, said:

everything now cause i dont trust the pricks up here to ruin another car of mine.

Have u tried 4x4 place in the LIA in tom Price? Ashburton 4x4? I used them earlier this year when we stayed in tom price. Seems pretty good to me and seemed busy

Jnr

[ubernoob]

I do whatever needs doing but I'm a heavy vehicle mech and working on cars sucks because there is no room and all the parts are of poor quality.
That being said I loved working on Minis because there is so much room* compared to these stupid new FWD POS barges that are on the road now.

I'm really keen to learn how to paint properly, after modding and stitch welding my last Mini's front subframe I had it blasted and painted it myself and it came up pretty good(the second time).


*Except for master cyl clevis pins and master cyl mounting nuts.

Edited by ubernoob, 19 August 2011 - 07:21 PM.

[hsvmonarogen3]

Jnr, on 19 August 2011 - 07:15 PM, said:

Have u tried 4x4 place in the LIA in tom Price? Ashburton 4x4? I used them earlier this year when we stayed in tom price. Seems pretty good to me and seemed busy

Jnr

no i havent but have heard nothing but good things about them. but after the stuff up with para based mechanic that cost nearly 6k im not going to rush into taking it anywhere. if i cant do it i will take it somewhere, but that is after i have attempted to do it.
cheers tho!

[OMR10]

I do eveything myself .

[Captn_Awesome]

Where have you guys learned how to do the work you do on your vehicle?

[Cide]

well thanks to google and in particular youtube, i have just recently learnt how to do my brakes

[Captn_Awesome]

Brakes is a really good one to learn to do as a LOT of savings can be made here and its really not that hard (at least not discs - not sure about drums - they're next on the learning curve...)
I haddn't thought about youtube! I actually got a mate who used to work at a dismantling/wrecking yard to show me how its done.
Admittedly thats just pads. I havent taken rotors off to have them machined but even that I doubt is that hard?
I actually think that I'm going to replace my rotors with the brakes from a 4.8L in a slotted format to increase my braking when towing as the patrol has crap brakes and its not uncommon for me to be hitching 2t plus onto the old bus and it can be a bit of a hair raising experiance under brakes.

[hsvmonarogen3]

pussy.

draw bar on out 6t trailer snapped. only held on by 2 right angle 50x50 steel. how lucky was that it didnt come off the back of the truck when doin 100! pineapples everywhere, everywhere i look around.