Converting the STi back to stock has been frustrating, but fairly straightforward and i feel a sense of satisfaction now that it’s done.
me: “I need this part for a 99 Civic Si, this part for a 97 Integra GSR, this part for a 98 CRV, and this part for a 96 Civic DX”
pep girls employee: “Maybe you should have less cars”
I always seem to be missing a tool that I’ve had in the past and swear that I throw it back in my toolbox. The most recent, a C-clamp to compress calipers when changing brakes.
My solution the other day, vise grips. It was rough, but I made do. There was just enough caliper material for the vise grips to grab on too while still pushing the piston back in.
Big :tup: to Jaegermeister for the vise grips I used to perform this task.
Now where’s my god damn C-clamp?!?!?!?
i usually use a huge pair of channel locks for calipers.
Brian
FWIW - I can feel your pain. (not regarding the tie rod ends, but the same regardless)
Projects are always fun when you’re doing an endless back/forth to somewhere to get something that wasn’t right to begin with.
And FWIW - 38k on original tie rod ends.
With most shops/dealers it certainly would have taken more than a few hours, and you would have ended up buying other parts as well as an alignment. Other than the time spent taking the car there, arguing with the service manager (who has probably never turned a wrench) on how you know it needs a tie rod end, then ultimately taking it back again when you realize that they f’d something up. Then when that’s all done you’d be pissed for a week because a $12/hr mechanic did your alignment and now your steering wheel is 5 degrees off, but they don’t want to fix it, or it takes three tries to get it right, so you end up going to a more reputable alignment shop and paying twice.
A few hours isn’t bad. I’m of the same school, my car doesn’t see another mechanic unless I have to.
Absolutely. Unless I NEED something done and don’t have the time or tools to do it, I do it myself.
Started doing my rear brakes last night, couldn’t get the caliper back in, said fuck it and taking it to a place today…
Bro, go to Autozone and rent the caliper tool that turns the piston as pressure is applied to it. Comes out great and the seal folds in perfectly, so much better then using chanel locks to turn the piston and cheuching the seal.
LOL I still remember the first autocross I went to and rode along for one of your runs. “Hmm, so that’s how you do it? Enter the turn already facing the direction you want to exit and slide through?”
You know you’ve got to twist the piston right?
Got the tool, cailper I think is completely locked up. lets just say my rear brake is medal on medal…getting it done sat. so not worried about it
I hope they are not the “Medals” you won at your spelling bee
extremly commen problem with turn back pistons on vws
ugh i go through this EVERY TIME i work on ANY of my cars…ever…it’s terrible.
but despite all the frustration, i can NOT ever justify paying $50+ per hour to have somebody do something i can do…
It take a bit to break it free initially, but then it just threads in fine. I drove my A4 around with SHOT rear brakes for about a week and they went back in just fine once I got past that initial breaking free. Don’t give up this easy.
Might give it a try again tomorrow night. Had to get into work today. Also it doesn’t help doing it in a garage the size of a tool shed. I would do it outside, but HOA’s are not a fan of it.
No there the ones I beat your mother with!
^ “they’re”
You should probably just take it to a shop.
That is another thing I DESPISE!!! Having to try and rush a repair on your daily driver, that is when stuff ALWAYS goes wrong