The differential gears were badly worn the mechanic said. I had to order new complete sets of gears (ring gear and pinion set & inner/spider gear set) plus a complete bearing set.
And it STILL didn't come with a freaken crush sleeve!! I had to call up Napa today to place an order.. which won't come in until Tuesday they said. I ordered TWO crush sleeves for good measure. I can return the extra if it's not needed. Better to be safe than sorry.
Cost is well over $1000 now. But at least it'll be all new and should be good for the life of the van now.
My adventures living out of a 1985 El Dorado Class C with my pittie mix, Lucy.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Brake job? Nah.. rear end rebuild
Okay... so I took my van in for a $120 brake job and it's turned into a $500 complete rear end rebuild pretty much.
Brake shoes, wheel cylinders on both sides, all the seals, spindle nut kits of course, right side inner bearing is rusty (has a small rust ring on the right axle). The mechanic is going to have to pull the differential cover to get at the inner bearing he said. The axles were almost bone dry for lubricant but the differential DID have some oil in it still thank goodness.
Considering he's only charging me $250 labor for everything... I guess I can't complain. But I did do almost all day running around trying to source the 2-9/16" socket (for the spindle nuts) and the parts. But I couldn't even find in-stock spindle nut kits or high quality brake shoes, so I ordered them on RockAuto today with 2 biz day shipping so maybe they'll come Friday if I'm lucky. I also ordered the differential cover gasket via priority mail from RockAuto on a separate order due to the way it was trying to charge me for shipping on the same order.
I will be taking the drums in for turning on Friday. I took them in yesterday but they we're fully disassembled so they couldn't do it. I had to bring them all the way back (17 miles..) for them to be taken apart the rest of the way. I'm replacing all 16 lug studs (8 each side) since they all had to be knocked out from the drum anyway for turning. It probably has the original, nearly 34 year old lug studs so I think I best replace them all while I have the chance. They may be a bit stretched by now.
I'll replace the lug nuts later when I get the new tires due to already spending WAY more than I planned on this job.
Brake shoes, wheel cylinders on both sides, all the seals, spindle nut kits of course, right side inner bearing is rusty (has a small rust ring on the right axle). The mechanic is going to have to pull the differential cover to get at the inner bearing he said. The axles were almost bone dry for lubricant but the differential DID have some oil in it still thank goodness.
Considering he's only charging me $250 labor for everything... I guess I can't complain. But I did do almost all day running around trying to source the 2-9/16" socket (for the spindle nuts) and the parts. But I couldn't even find in-stock spindle nut kits or high quality brake shoes, so I ordered them on RockAuto today with 2 biz day shipping so maybe they'll come Friday if I'm lucky. I also ordered the differential cover gasket via priority mail from RockAuto on a separate order due to the way it was trying to charge me for shipping on the same order.
I will be taking the drums in for turning on Friday. I took them in yesterday but they we're fully disassembled so they couldn't do it. I had to bring them all the way back (17 miles..) for them to be taken apart the rest of the way. I'm replacing all 16 lug studs (8 each side) since they all had to be knocked out from the drum anyway for turning. It probably has the original, nearly 34 year old lug studs so I think I best replace them all while I have the chance. They may be a bit stretched by now.
I'll replace the lug nuts later when I get the new tires due to already spending WAY more than I planned on this job.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Starter died
A month ago the started acted like it was dying or had a low battery. Finally though, it got the engine started.
Fast forward to a few days ago. I tried to cranking it and it turned over slowly then not at all. It just made a very faint humming sound you had to put your ear near the starter to even hear. It was deader than a doornail. I took it in to O'Reilly and had them test it to be sure. I got a new (rebuilt) one with a lifetime warranty for $60, tax included. I put it on yesterday.. problem solved.
Taking it in to get the rear brakes done this morning just a half mile down the road from my house.
Fast forward to a few days ago. I tried to cranking it and it turned over slowly then not at all. It just made a very faint humming sound you had to put your ear near the starter to even hear. It was deader than a doornail. I took it in to O'Reilly and had them test it to be sure. I got a new (rebuilt) one with a lifetime warranty for $60, tax included. I put it on yesterday.. problem solved.
Taking it in to get the rear brakes done this morning just a half mile down the road from my house.
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