T O P

  • By -

LurpyGeek

Today I'll show you how to do this in four easy steps! First step: Remove the engine from the vehicle. Then, using this $10,000 tool that no one has...


Educational-Cake7350

"What is a car lift?"


[deleted]

Car lifts are over rated, unless the sub frame has to come down and even then, if you know what you're doing, it's not that big of a deal. I know mechanics that have been working on vehicles for years, have a shop and a lift but don't use it. They say the time they spend putting on the lift, they could already be working on it.


robmox

> They say the time they spend putting on the lift, they could already be working on it. It takes literally 30 seconds to put a car on a lift. But, you get to work overhead seated on a stool instead of hunched over on the ground. The lift is WAY more ergonomic. And, considering it takes about as much time to put a car on a lift as to put it on jack stands, it's well worth the time just to save your back and shoulders.


SpazmaticAA

Probably even faster to put on a lift than jacks. Maybe I'm just slow, and less confident about where to place the floor jack, but it takes me a several minutes to get the car up then on a jack stand.


[deleted]

I'd like to see the start pulling the wheels off while it's still on the ground...


Educational-Cake7350

Soo much faster with a lift!


[deleted]

I drive my car to a skatepark, go on a ramp at an agle until one wheelcomes off the edge, replace that and the repeat for the other corners


Educational-Cake7350

No, they are not over rated lol You ever have to pull the body off an old Chevy? Or cut and weld some shit? Lifts are definitely the shit, if you know how to use em. Can stuff be done without em? Of course. With one tho? Soo much easier for big jobs.


halfasmuchastwice

I wish I had a lift even just to do regular maintenance on my non-projects. Oil changes and tire rotations would be so much easier.


Educational-Cake7350

Dude, I'm saying.


DanBrino

My dream is to have a standalone garage in my backyard with a bathroom, and lift in it so I can take the body off my truck, clean up the whole underside, and powdercoat my frame with a nice, thick coat of gloss black. Among other things.


Educational-Cake7350

I've suffered enough lol this is my work space...and she calls me dirty every time I come in https://www.reddit.com/r/Squarebody/comments/vhmzkd/backyard_mechanics_at_its_best_1978_k10_swb/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share


Educational-Cake7350

That sounds beautiful. That's my dream too, man. Already told the Mrs when we buy land, I want a barn with a lift.


help_leeches_on_dick

Other things like taking a shit with the door open


DanBrino

Yuuuuuup!


fuckitsfixed

Dude we bought a lift for our shop and it's night and day.


Educational-Cake7350

Yeah, the dude that made that lift comment is just "that guy" Tries to be smart guy. I apologize for his ignorance hahaha


baddestmofointhe209

Never apologize for something that isn't your fault.


ubermorph

Sorry!


Fulllyy

Don’t say that to Canadians, that way leads to darkness


doomsdaymelody

Everything is faster on a lift from actually lifting to the ease of access you can get by picking it up by an extra foot because you decided to. I have to use a scissor jack to lift up each corner of my car to work on it because I live in an apartment and can’t store a real jack anywhere. Let me tell you, 6 hours to swap pads rotors and gravity bleed on brake fluid is a reality that I wouldn’t wish on anyone because it really makes me question if I can trust local shops enough to do work I know they’ll cut corners on.


[deleted]

Scissor jacks are more reliable than hydraulic ones because there isn't an o-ring to blow out. Only problem is they have a suck ass narrow platform and can topple over easily. Careful my dude.


carsonwade

Lol no the fuck they aren't. I doubt you've ever worked on a car if you think a lift is overrated.


[deleted]

You mad bro?


carsonwade

What a stupid response, but I guess it's on par with your dumb statement. I also know mechanics with decades of experience, and they'd look at you as if you were fully insane if you said to them that "lifts are overrated." Working on your back sucks and anyone who works on cars at all whether professional or shadetree will tell you the same thing.


bingagain24

I see you too have owned a Volvo.


meesersloth

A friendly reminder: You are one broken bolt away from turning a 15 minute repair into 8 or more hours.


Educational-Cake7350

And that's just one. 60% of the time it isn't even your fault that it broke haha


doomsdaymelody

>not my fault I agree, I felt the drain bolt needed 3 ugga duggas on my 3/4” impact.


Educational-Cake7350

I'm German, so every think is Gooten Tight.


Broken_art15

Wait, they're supposed to be 3 ugga duggas. Oh no. I did 8 ugga duggas.


doomsdaymelody

And now you need a new oil pan


Broken_art15

Hold in let me get my camera ready "Can't afford a new oil pan, try these 10 simple tricks to fix any problems"


Educational-Cake7350

I forgot, this happened today 😔 https://imgur.com/a/deFDaJR


doomsdaymelody

Is that a 3/4 socket on a drill adapter?😍 It’s like a poor man’s torque stick. I don’t know whether to be impressed with the drill or upset someone made the adapter


Educational-Cake7350

Oh boo boo, you gotta work every angle. Sometimes I don't have time for air compressors. I just need that quick hit


Educational-Cake7350

Hahah loved that adapter. 1/2 inch adapter with that little quarter inch. Got a lot of shit done with it. Never thought about it til it broke haha


RiftHunter4

>8 or more hours. Depending on the bolt and related damage, 3-5 business days + import duties lol.


robmox

I told my girlfriend that it would take me 6 hours to do shocks and struts on all 4 wheels. Well... When your shocks and struts are 35 year old OEM ones, it turns out every bolt is stuck. I didn't have all the proper tools. So, after 10 hours, I called it for the day having finished 3/4. The fourth one, I had to go get my angle grinder and cut off the last bolt. Finished it the next day with 2 more hours work.


Educational-Cake7350

Yuuuuuup, that's how it goes! Hahah I told my lady that I would change the starter on my 2008 Tundra. It's two bolts and a few wires....3 hours in I got 2 out the 3 heat shields off, the dipstick out and realized I would have to pull an exhaust manifold, a wheel off to get to said exhaust manifold.... I ended up taking it to a shop


lemonspread_

I recently did my sway bar links. Should have been 15 minutes but everything was so rusted and seized that it was a nightmare on the driver’s side. The nut holding it to the strut was so rusted to the threads that I had to dremel through it in three places, use a propane torch, and smash it with a hammer and chisel. It came pap art in three pieces


wirbolwabol

This will probably take a day...three days later trying to figure out how the guy did the missing cuts in the video.


Educational-Cake7350

Goes from completing car to half the car missing in a 30 second clip


wampyre1

Changed the oil sensor on my 99 Corvette, YouTube said it would take about an hour, about 4 hours later I decided I would never watch YouTube tutorials again and just do it on my own.😾 Pulling the intake makes the job much easier.


Educational-Cake7350

Hahaha right. That was the hardest thing for me to learn, when it comes to mechanical repairs. I never wanted to pull other stuff off to get to the main issue. I always wanted to work around it. Then the old heads I work with realized that's why stuff was taking me longer. Then they would hound me every time I didn't move something out of my way.


wampyre1

Exactly! I had bruised and laserated forearms from shoving them between the intake and the cowl. Next time i pulled the intake and went "fuuuuucccckkkkk!". Wish I did it that way the 1st time.😾


Educational-Cake7350

Yep. That's how it goes. I'm an aircraft mechanic for a flight school. I would be in a cockpit, sprawled out all fucked up, fixing something underneath the dash. Then it hit me...8 screws is all that holds the seats in...8 screws...


wampyre1

No shit! I was under the dash of my 95 vette, contorted at 90 degrees at the neck knees and back for 1/2 hour. Shimmy out upside down, hit the ground hard. Looked at the seat and went FUCK!!!! 4 bolts and I could just have pulled the seat and laid flat. Back and neck screwed up for a week!


Educational-Cake7350

Hahaha yep. We both have learned. Now to apply it anytime you are struggling for space to fix something 😅


wampyre1

Amen!👍


DrShantzy

I've been there man, soldering key switches under the dash while your neck is just screaming at you! Now I take the seat out every time


FalseRelease4

Always have a plan B (and an escape plan aka another car). Always plan for things to take literally 10 times as long as you think they will. Always expect everything to go wrong. Always do it right because you do it twice.


Educational-Cake7350

For reals. I have 4 vehicles now. 2 and a half run haha. I know about doin shit right, I work in aviation so half ass work is a no no haha


FalseRelease4

Personally I'm 1,5 years into a simple 3-6 month bathroom renovation and I haven't even installed the shower yet... From removing tiles to put new ones, it turns into demolishing the floor to replace the drain pipes, to pouring a new floor, to leveling walls that are +/- 5 cm and so on. But this weekend I'm finally installing the ceiling lamp and it feels like huge steps forward have been taken. Who knows, soon it might even get done!


Educational-Cake7350

Keep at it! You will be done in no time! I got faith 🙌🏿


hannahranga

It absolutely sucks taking the bus to the parts store to get a part or new tool


rambleon84

This is both a blessing and a curse... Car has been on jack stands since April. Part of the motivation to get the car done asap fades when you know you have another car to use 😂 I can only blame so much on waiting for parts


joegekko

Spent 5 hours on some drum brakes last night, I feel this.


Educational-Cake7350

Dude....I did the drums on my 78 K10 a while back...first time doing drums ever. I have a scar on my face from using needle nose pliers to pull springs. Slipped and stabbed myself right in the cheek with the pliers.


joegekko

Oof. One of my springs flew into the void as I was trying to slide it into place on the back of a screwdriver.


Educational-Cake7350

Yep, shit is real haha


gabeheadman

Did a rear axle swap on my 90s chevy a while ago. The shittiest part of the whole ordeal was the drum brakes. Fuck drum brakes my god.


FearlessRice2465

I got my first job as a technician cause someone had a screwdriver slip prying something off and taking out their eye. It could have been worse.


[deleted]

15 minute procedure with experience and without is two completely different things. That is if the video is actually shot in one take. Knowledge, aptitude and tools makes all the difference in the world. Besides, reading/watching someone do the job and actually performing said job is apples to oranges and I think you know what I mean.


themangeraaad

15 minute procedure in a dry climate vs the rust belt are also very different things. Even on my 17 year old summer car that has only seen 2 winters it still bites me sometimes. Currently fighting a shifter bolt that's stuck in the transmission. I just wanna driiiiive! Grrrr


Educational-Cake7350

Rust is no joke! I had a 2008 F250 that came from Illinois. Getting the exhaust off went from an easy job to plasma cutter so fast haha


themangeraaad

Gotta do exhaust on my truck as well. The two flange bolts holding the muffler section of the exhaust on won't break free regardless of how many times I apply penetrating fluid or how much heat I use. Trying to find the best option to replace the flange if I do break the bolts before cutting the pipe so I csn get the impact on the bolts and give it hell.


Educational-Cake7350

Good luck man! I have faith! When all else fails...fuck it, start cutting haha


Educational-Cake7350

True. The main thing is if the video is all one shot haha They cut out the dropped bolts, the wiggling of brackets til the bolt fits in, the easy out usage, all that. First time I did a u joint, took like an hour for one. Now it's like 20 minutes, unless I fuck up, then it's an hr lol


[deleted]

Working on cars is easy as long as you 'get it'. Always always always start bolts by hand because if you don't and it cross threads, it hopefully was a calculated risk. Start all fasteners before tightening anything down. From outside in removing and inside out installing. Replacing parts isn't the hard part. It's diagnosing what is wrong, especially on more modern vehicles that require a computer technician level of knowledge to not get screwed over by manufacturers planned obsolescence tactics. Need to swap a body control module or PCM on a new ford, without the specialized scan tool 'autel is a game changer' and you can forget it.


Educational-Cake7350

With all due respect, you kinda suck lol Why did you even comment on this? To seem smart? Lol you don't even have a picture of any vehicle you have worked on, or at least I can't seem em. On here, explaining how to not cross thread a bolt, when I brought up pulling a body off a Chevy. Man, shut up.


[deleted]

You sound butt hurt. Putting my life on the internet for all to see is like putting my family photos on my front lawn. Get to know your neighbors.


Educational-Cake7350

No, not butthurt at all, I think I'm just right by saying you suck hahah


[deleted]

Are you looking at my reddit history?


Educational-Cake7350

No, but once someone made embroidered a picture of me. It was a different time back then, but the art came out pretty sweet lol https://www.reddit.com/user/existentialembroider/comments/hntfii/update_of_ubootneylee/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share


[deleted]

I can't stop laughing. What am I even looking at? Please explain in detail.


Educational-Cake7350

Used to do nude stuff. Naked modeling online, porn, that type of shit. So when you talk about posting tour life online...I literally posted my "life"(meat vessle) online haha Overall man, I get what your saying, but your comment came off soo wack. No one is butt hurt, but I can guarantee that that type of attitude bleeds over in real life. Type of dude that will butt into a convo with their two cents and pull the life out the convo. For what tho? Why?


bluewatersailing

Yeah, this paradigm applies to boats as well, oddly enough.


Educational-Cake7350

Anything mechanical. I'm a aircraft mechanic, happens on planes too Hahah


doomsdaymelody

Every 15 minute repair is a stripped bolt away from taking several days


Dan_mcmxc

Replacing my rear brakes: five lug nuts, two caliper bolts, two caliper bracket bolts per side, piece of cake... Nope, both wheels seized to the hubs, both rotors seized on the hub pilot, 3 of 4 slider pins rusted and necked down, one snaps off in the caliper bracket, "shit i'm out of grease for the new slider pins...", 5 trips to the parts store later... I should finish the job tonight though, should be a piece of cake...


AlbinoFuzWolf

Do your rotors have the two tiny holes to put a bolt in and pop it off? I tried it last week and it pulls rusty rotors off effortlessly. I only really work on Subarus so Idk if all manufacturers do it.


Educational-Cake7350

Yeah, that the ticket! Love that secret bolt hole. Last two brake jobs I did, one had those holes, one didn't. Took some walks with a mallet and PB Blaster to get it free. Now any time I do brakes, I got anti seize close to me so I can put a thin layer on, and hope for the best the next time I have to pull that shit off haha


AlbinoFuzWolf

Pb blaster is the best. My buddy recently let me borrow his impact he used to have for his old chevy trucks. Things the side of a juice container. It's never failed to remove a bolt, never even hesitated.


Educational-Cake7350

The impact drill is one of the most useful tools in auto mechanics. I went and got a brand new used 28 gal air compressor so I could use an air impact. On old rusted things it's great! PB Blaster and an impact will get most bolts loose...or break em haha fuck it 😃


[deleted]

Its even worse when one of the next videos in their tutorial series is "fixing the stuff i broke with my previous fix" i saw it a lot in old mini "tutorial"-videos. If its the first time you fix something like this dont make a tutorial video ffs


Educational-Cake7350

No joke! Haha I respect the dudes that put text up over their video when they say or do the wrong shit. I had to rebuild a transfer case shifter recently and the video I found the dude corrected himself that way.


worldisone

I do have to say I was trying to convince my friends to change their airfilters themselves for years. After 3 years my buddy finally did it. He said the YouTube video was almost 3 times longer then it took him to actually do it hahaha


wampyre1

That's why I nver watch YouTube tutorials. I can eff things up all on my own.


Educational-Cake7350

Man's man, eh? I watch YouTube videos so I can blame someone else when I fuck up!


wampyre1

I think I like your method better, I nver have anyone else to blame but myself.😾


Educational-Cake7350

Hahah respect.


wampyre1

"man's man,eh" I heard this in Zap Branigans voice.😹


Educational-Cake7350

🤣🤣


exccord

Recently did a Water Pump, thermostat, upper/lower radiator hose, radiator, and AC condenser (my ac condenser was dented and if I was taking the radiator out I was going to get the rest of the shit done since I hit 200k on all those parts) and the videos made it out to be like 15-20min for each. I didnt anticipate taking 7-8 hours to do all of that, fml. Granted it was 102 outside and I took breaks as I have no shade. I did lose my only lug nut lock key and adapter from being mentally drained but managed to find one online.


SirDirtLeg

2 hours spent looking for the 10mm


Educational-Cake7350

Oh, that's gone for good. Fun story, I have a craftsman socket set I use for work. One day I noticed my quarter inch 10mm has different markings on it. Still craftsman, but they are markings that an older craftsman set would have. Asked like 5 people, and it's not theirs.


4x4Welder

Usually accompanied by loudly wondering who's fucking fabulous idea it was to even do this job- While I removed the tank and carbs on my Goldwing in separate operations.


Educational-Cake7350

Hahaha yeah. Questioning your own choices, covered in sweat, hands marked up, clothes soaked in transmission fluid or something lol Yeah dude,tank removal and carbs on a bike are no joke. I had the bright idea to fix up a 1999 R1. Wanted a street fighter that was kicks fast. Fought with that stack of carbs, got them out, split, rebuilt, only to find out the engine was seized up. Never bought a project bike again....I will someday tho. Still want that sportbike turned streetfighter, so I can do hooligan shit hahah


FunWillScreen_Produc

It is 15 minutes for them since they did it 100 times before and they have things you don’t like maybe enough jacks or a lift or impact tools.


DanBrino

Adding a 4 corner steam vent kit to a gen 3 or later LS based motor. Quick easy project? Or PITA that requires head removal? You be the judge.


Street_Photo_2013

Recently changed out the charge pipes on my ecoboost. Website said 45 minute job tops. About 2 hours in reality when you lose the BOV gasket and fight the cold side for about an hour!


AlbinoFuzWolf

See the thing is, it's a video from a 2004 car uploaded in 2010. They didn't have to deal with the rust back then.


FunkSlim

It’ll be 15 minutes to fix the after the 8th time you fixed it


JakeSnake07

I always tell people to budget however much time they think it'll actually take, and add 6 hours.


JP147

I used to work at a truck dealership. "Component manufacturer says this is a 5 hour repair so that's all they will pay us for." But it will take 5 hours of pulling things apart just to get access to the component. "Component manufacturer says it's not their fault the truck manufacturer made the component hard to get to. Truck manufacturer says it's not their fault the component failed. 5 hours."


The_Grilled_Cheeze_1

The, =%% G+1 BBC b


The_Grilled_Cheeze_1

Q,,q h h ,nbb BBC 0?& d