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Episodes of a rust belt (hack) mechanic

Yesterday was a day of progress followed up by an exercise in futility. The new rotors fit like a glove, the new calipers wen on without a hitch and things were looking good.


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And then came time to bleed the system. Poured just shy of a full bottle of brake fluid into the reservoir, hooked up the Motive brake bleeder, pressurized the system and then......

Freaking Niagara falls over the rear end where the rear hard line connects to the top of the center flex line. :E: Donned the goggles, contorted myself again in ways I should not be contorted, disconnected the line, tried to ensure the hard line is properly seated in the flex line and it still continues to drip. :needhug:

UNCLE! I'm throwing in the towel. There comes a point when I have to ask "What is my time worth?" and that time has come. I put the wheels on, loaded the front calipers, rotors, flex lines and shocks in the back and pulled it out of the garage. Our cars are now in the garage for the first time in two months. I need a weekend that's really a weekend so I'm calling the shop on Monday and taking it down.

one big EXERCISE IN FUTILITY.
Dang Bro, that is horrible news. It really looked good on there. But sounds like we have the same luck. Something simple like changing only plug wires and plugs. Can turn into chase down the miss it never had before. Leaving mechanics scratching there heads "I dunno what it could be". Ah yes, life is good LOL!!! Hope you have a great weekend.
 
So did you get it back on the road yet. Where was it leaking at.
 
So did you get it back on the road yet. Where was it leaking at.
Not yet. I need to take it to the shop still. I hope to take it down there tonight. It's leaking where the rear line coming from the master cylinder connects into the center flex line over the differential. It's the one that loops back, over top of the mounting area of the spare tire. I think I may have cooked it too much with the bolt buster in my attempt to free the bolt without snapping the line.

I've contorted myself way to much to mess with it, especially seeing as I have an ice pack on my lower back as I type this.
 
Thanks I thought maybe it was the axle lines, which I am about to order.
 
Finally got Bumblebee back from the shop. I feel like such a loser because I could have done most of what they did. Front left hub assembly replaced (I've done that before) and they installed my front brakes (rotors, new calipers and flex lines) as well as my sway bar links. Really the only thing I couldn't do was re-flare that top rear line going into the center flex line. That being said, when I told them I just couldn't handle contorting myself on the floor any longer he said "I don't know how you did it. I can't stand working on the floor." I'm just sure the way it had all been going that I would have busted the front hard lines to install the flex lines so I'm probably better off. The brake light is still on (it came on when I blew the rear line). He suspects it will go out after I drive it a bit. I will say, the brakes feel the best since I've owned it. I got the Raybestos slotted rotors and Police pads out back and heavy duty truck pads up front.

Oh and to top it off, I had to get a new battery today too. Now that it's back and and running, I think it's time for me to kick back a little and enjoy the summer. Time to mount the kayak and bike racks. (y)

Well, I do need to put some love into my Bimmer then take it to my Bimmer specialist to fix whatever the transmission guy messed up a year and a half ago. I sense we'll be heading back to the office in late summer/early fall and that's my main driver. At least it doesn't see salt so it doesn't have all the challenges as our typical rust belt rides.

On that note, it's time pop a brew. :cheers:
 
Glad you got it back on the road.
:woohoo:
 
Gladyou got it figured out and sorted. I musta missed this. I agree with the sentiment that I have no idea how some of you guys do what you do on the ground. Especially with how impatient I am, jacking it up takes up valuable lazy time!

But, I do also see the value in it. I was already looking at jacks for my 2500, but now with a 1500 and a tahoe joining the family, methinks im going to consider a quick jack. lol. So much work to catch up with, and at this point, I probably can save $800 on fluid exchanges alone in the next 6 weeks. Let alone brakes.
 
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Gladyou got it figured out and sorted. I musta missed this. I agree with the sentiment that I have no idea how some of you guys do what you do on the ground. Especially with how impatient I am, jacking it up takes up valuable lazy time!

But, I do also see the value in it. I was already looking at jacks for my 2500, but now with a 1500 and a tahoe joining the family, methinks im going to consider a quick jack. lol. So much work to catch up with, and at this point, I probably can save $800 on fluid exchanges alone in the next 6 weeks. Let alone brakes.
Normally I can handle working on the ground though I would prefer a lift. This last one with how I had to contort myself to reach the brake line above the the spare tire area drove me beyond my breaking point.
 
Sometimes you have to ask yourself is it worth my time to do it myself. Like a oil change pay someone 50 bucks or pay 30 for the oil and filter then do the nasty dirty job yourself.
 
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Sometimes you have to ask yourself is it worth my time to do it myself. Like a oil change pay someone 50 bucks or pay 30 for the oil and filter then do the nasty dirty job yourself.
Yep, this one far exceeded the worth it to do it myself equation.
 
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