One thing always leads to another on my Ex...

[hotkarl]

Just venting...

Made a valiant attempt at doing pads and rotors today in the freezing cold.
While trying to break loose the caliper bracket bolts my 3/8 ratchet took a dump. Then I was pleasantly surprised to find that my 1/2 drive 15mm socket was totally M.I.A.
So the job is dead in the water til next weekend I suppose.
Sucks. Damn those caliper bolts are tight.
And, while under there found the p/s end link busted.
So now it's pads, rotors, AND end link.
Good news is, my hubs seem to be nice and tight.
Just sucked to jack it up, yank the wheels and calipers and not be able to do the job. Especially since it was around 30 degrees out.

I've found that every thing I do on this vehicle leads to something else, no matter how cut and dry or simple it may be, it's always something else. I don't think I've ever went to do a repair and not had to fix something else.

Oh well.

 

[Joe Dirt]

That's why you're a glutton for punishment...

 

[hotkarl]

I was gonna change that sig because of my new found love for this baby, but now I'm beginning to wonder...

 

[Joe Dirt]

Who knew- Explorers can read?!

 

[safn1949]

The thing is if you get rid of it and buy something else,you will have to fix it also.It never ends,you would fall out if you knew how much money I have in my 94 just in maintenance and repairs....about $4000.But I like it.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Only $4k? You're not trying hard enough...

 

[Fixitorelse]

Pretty sure this applies to all vehicle repair, or repairing anything in general! One thing always leads to another. Grab a beer and say oh well.

 

[2TimingTom]

You're sure you're doing "lefty loosey", right? And it's kinda backwards since the caliper bolts are installed coming at you instead of going away from you (that makes sense, right?) More than one time I've tightened the crap out of a bolt like that only to realize I was going the wrong direction.

And try not to use a rachet to break bolts loose- get a breaker bar. I have a 3/8" breaker bar that's about as long as my longest 3/8" rachet- but stronger. I use it all the time to break bolts loose.

Are the rotors loose? Without a wheel bolted on, they should float around a little even with the caliper still on. If not, hope you have a big hammer to knock those off. Mine didn't come off without a fight. Put some anti-sieze on the backside of the new rotor and if you ever need to take off the rotor again, it'll come right off.

 

[hotkarl]

This is my second set of rotors, I put them on 5 years ago, but they got skunked from a bad ball joint last year, so I'm finally getting around to replacing them again. I grabbed the socket and a breaker from work.

Of all the used cars I've owned, this one in particular has the most unforeseen and additional surprises than any other.