Working on my truck..

[davedlg 0]

It sounds like beteen me and Derek's thread we could start the Ford Ranger Maintenance forum here. I have had an entertaining few days working on my 98 ford ranger. Warning: Long-winded story to follow, if you want, skip to the last few paragraphs.

On friday afternoon I got out of work at noon and decided to do some maintenance on my truck. I planned on doing an oil change, fuel filter change, air filter change, new serpentine belt, new front (disc) and rear (drum) brakes. So it's off to the auto parts store for all the parts. Back at home I start taking all of the parts out of the bag and discover that they didn't give me all the parts I needed. So it's back to the auto parts store for the second time.

First I decide to do the front brakes. Having done this chore before, I was confident. I carefully pulled out all the bearings and soaked them in touluene to remove and clean all the old grease. I made the mistake, however, of soaking the front bering seal in the toulene. When I pulled the bearing seal out, the rubber on it had begun to dissolve in the toulene. It looked useable, but if this seal were to fail, it would let dirt into the wheel bearings potentially causing them to fail and causing the wheel to fall off at likely the most inoppurtune time. Not wanting to be a canidate for the darwin award for getting in a spectacular crash for failing to buy a $4 part, I elected to replace the seals. So it was back to the auto parts store (in my friend's car) for the third time.

Having finished the front brakes and bearings, I moved onto a few simpler items. I replaced the air filter, which I am happy to say went without incident. Next I replaced s-belt. When I pulled off the existing belt, I found that it was still in quite good shape and didn't really need to be replaced. I decided to use the new one anyway. Unfortunatly the new one that the auto parts store gave me was a little too wide once I got it on, so I pulled it off and put the old one back on. Next I decided to tackle the fuel filter. I depressurized the fuel lines and located the fuel filter. One problem though, how in the hell do you get that thing off. With a little research, I discovered I need a special tool to remove the fuel filter. So it was back to the auto parts store for the fourth time to return the belt and get a fuel filter removal "tool". If you have ever seen the $10 piece of plastic they sell to you to remove the fuel filter you will know why I hesitate to call it a tool.

So, the next morning (I ran out of light the night before), I still have an oil change and the rear brakes left to do. Knowing that I was supposed to meet my girlfriend around noon, I got up early to give myself three hours to complete the tasks at hand. The oil change went quickly and I even managed not to drip a single drop of oil on the garage floor - I was quite proud of myself. All I had left at this point were the rear brakes, I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. I had never worked on drum brakes before, but it didn't seem like they could be very difficult. So, I started on the first side, removed the tire, and the brake drum slid right off. Hmm...there sure seemed to be a lot of small springs and pieces in there. I decided to carefully and slowly take the brake system apart so that I could remember how to put it back together. Half an hour later, I was still trying to get the first spring off. I finally managed to wedge a few screwdrivers under the spring and pop it off. Next I took the second spring off. When I managed to pry the second spring off, the whole thing came apart. Springs, brake shoes, and a whole assortment of little metal pieces, washers, and other parts flew everywhere. Ok, I thought, "so it's apart, now I just need to get it back together with the new brake shoes." As soon as I took the new brake shoes out of the box, it was immedatly apparent that they were entirely too small. So, it was back to the auto parts store (in my roommates car) for the fifth time to exchange the brake shoes and buy a spring removal and installation tool.

When I got back home, it was immedatly apparent that I had no idea how the whole thing came back together. I needed to look at the other side to find out. I didnt have another jack stand, and my roommate had lent his to his friend, Justin. So it was off to Justin's house for the jack stands. He didnt have them at his house though, they were in his other friend's garage where he had been working. So, off to my roommates friend's friend's garage to get the jack stands. I confessed to Justin, that I thought I was in way over my head with the drum brakes. He offered to help if I would buy the beer. So, it was off to the liquor store for a case of beer.

Back in our garage, we couldn't get the other brake drum off. All three of us took turns pounding, prying, lubricating, and heating the brake drum with a torch in an attempt to free it from the axle. In the course of doing all this, the brake drum cracked. We finally managed to get the drum off with all three of us working it, but of course it had do be replaced, since we destoryed it in to process. So (you guessed it) back to the auto parts store for the sixth time. Only problem, our auto parts store didn't carry it. So, it was off to another auto parts store several more miles away.

I finally got the brakes reassembled at about 5pm. (remember how I was supposed to meet my girlfriend at noon...) It was such a pretty sight to see all those springs and pieces back where they belonged!

In the end it took 14 hours of my time, 6 trips to 3 different auto parts stores, and about $200. I was covered in dirt, grease, oil, gasoline, and brake dust from head to toe. I had to take a shower and bring a tub of fast orange into the shower with me to get clean. Did I save time? No way. Money? maybe a little. Would I do it again? sure, it was a hell of an adventure.

As for today? I am off to the dropzone.

[Hooknswoop 19]

Hey Dave, I need to replace my rear brakes, wanna come over and play?

Derek

[bozo 0]

You know...as a former mechanic I wont go into all your mistakes....the first one is trusting ANY parts store guy to know shit.
What I would like to mention....you do know toulene will kill you , dont you ?


bozo

bozo
Pain is fleeting. Glory lasts forever. Chicks dig scars.

[skydiverbry 0]

Can you say "MIDAS"

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Growing old is mandatory.Growing up is optional!!

D.S.#13(Dudeist Skdiver)

[davedlg 0]

Well, I now have the tool and the knowledge. I'm up for another adventure

[davedlg 0]

Quote

You know...as a former mechanic I wont go into all your mistakes....the first one is trusting ANY parts store guy to know shit.
What I would like to mention....you do know toulene will kill you , dont you ?


bozo

The guy who I eventually got to help me is an aircraft mechanic, so I am confident I did it correctly in the end.

When I went to get the seals, I took one look at them and told the parts store guy they wern't right...otherwise it would have been yet another trip to the parts store. I always take the part into the store when it is an option. Unfortunatly it was kinda difficult to check the brake shoes when they were still on my truck.

I've used toulene for raft repair quite a bit. I try to avoid skin contact with it (I wear gloves) and I work in a very well ventilated area. And yes, having gone through some very tough hazardous waste remediation classess in college, I am very aware that toulene can be quite toxic. I like it because it cleans grease easily and is volatile enough that it won't affect the new bearing grease.

[Cornholio 0]

Heh, sounds like me. The first time I did my rear brakes on my Toyota many years ago, I ran into the same problem - "How the fuck do you put this back together?" But after removing the drum on the other side, and getting the proper spring tool, it was pretty easy to re-assmble. Funny how the job becomes a lot easier when you have the right tools, huh?

I have to say though, with my latest truck - 2000 Jeep Cherokee, I didn't have the time or the patience to do it myself, so took it to Midas.

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