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Replies: 19
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All-Time Great [96818]
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Joined: 2020
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Car repair
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Sep 26, 2025, 4:38 PM
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In the day many repairs could be done by the owner.
Brakes on my Jeep have a sight groan.
I need to drop it off for repair but have no way to get home and back to pick it up from the dealer.
My Bride can't drive as her foot is in a cast.
I stopped at a place but they had no lock key to get the wheels off.
I don't have that, my tools were lost in the fire.
I used to replace my brake pads - cost about $25.
Now can't do that so it will be several hundred at the dealer as they charge a couple hundred an hour just for labor.
I'll try some local boys on Monday that have done well by me.
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National Champion [7527]
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Re: Car repair
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Sep 26, 2025, 4:56 PM
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Get rid of the locking lug nut. More problems than it worth. I don't mess with Volvos, Mercedes, or BMW. I have not seen anything else that brakes are any harder to work on today than they were in the 70s.
Actually easier because you don't have to deal with drum brakes now. IMO, drums are a royal PIA.
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All-Time Great [96818]
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Get rid of the locking lug nut.
2
Sep 26, 2025, 5:08 PM
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Came with that.
I have no need of it where I live.
Tires rated to 50K miles, now have about 35K.
I can still do repair things, but best these days for me is to let others do some things.
Most things need a computer hook up, and I don't have the software.
Car repair is very different from the days of us shade tree mechanics.
My first car was a VW, Pop said he could fix anything on it with his pocket knife a piece of bailing wire.
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National Champion [7527]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Joined: 2003
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Re: Get rid of the locking lug nut.
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Sep 26, 2025, 8:37 PM
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I am just a hot rodder and work on my own daily drivers, farm machinery, etc. I resisted buying a good two way diagnostic computer for many years. Now I own one and wish I had bought one years ago.
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CU Medallion [19115]
TigerPulse: 95%
52
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Joined: 2003
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Which model did you get?***
Sep 30, 2025, 5:45 PM
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Top TigerNet [32977]
TigerPulse: 100%
55
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Joined: 2013
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Re: Car repair
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Sep 26, 2025, 4:58 PM
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All modern vehicles are disc brakes now. They are extremely easy to do by yourself. All you need is a c clamp and a socket wrench.
You can also go to rockauto.com and get brake pads and rotors dirt cheap.
I just did my neighbor Chevy Silverado 4x4 all four wheels pads and rotors for about $50 /wheel.
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All-TigerNet [5982]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Car repair
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Sep 26, 2025, 5:01 PM
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Tug. Dealers will
Sometimes pay for a taxi/uber. Or take an uber ride back and forth. It's not that bad at all
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Clemson Conqueror [12018]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Car repair
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Sep 26, 2025, 5:07 PM
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I had my brake pads (front and back) replaced at the dealer a couple weeks back.
Price quoted wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be. Then after an hour or so back in the shop, they called and said I needed new rotors. Gave me a price...told them to go ahead.
When I went to pay, they gave me a total and I asked how much they took off. He looked at me for a second and asked...take off for what?
I said, the price you gave included turning the rotors, since you replaced the rotors, you didn't have to turn them. He laughed and said...you know I've never had anyone ask me that...
He took $150 off the quoted price.
That was when I realized I had become that grumpy old man that people just don't want to argue with.
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National Champion [7527]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Car repair
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Sep 26, 2025, 8:40 PM
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Weird thing is most vehicles now have pads and rotors designed to wear out at same time. The rotor is intentionally designed to not be thick enough to resurface.
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Starter [273]
TigerPulse: 86%
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Re: Car repair
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Sep 26, 2025, 5:12 PM
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I had enough of it and just kept our cars running no matter what it took I wouldnt trade or buy a new one and havent had a car payment in 20 years. Maybe I will someday but something has to change for me to do it, these insane prices have to correct, these cars have to last and not have trouble with everything on them, and I gotta be able to do oil, brakes, alternators, batteries and normal things myself
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All-Time Great [96818]
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havent had a car payment in 20 years.
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Sep 26, 2025, 5:22 PM
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I have not had a car payment in 30 years.
Now kids see it as normal to take on a multi year payment plan with ridiculous interest so they are seen as cool by their peers.
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Oculus Spirit [40202]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Car repair - my son's Honda Civic SI
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Sep 26, 2025, 5:30 PM
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just last week had steering issues. So we looked for the reservoir to add some of a $5 bottle of power steering fluid; couldn't find one. Googled and found out the power steering is electric, WT...
Took the car to the shop and they checked the power steering and said it was ok, but suggested springs, shocks, four-wheel alignment, steering column alignment, transmission fluid exchange, coolant exchange, full body massage, etc - $1500+. What? Ok, go ahead.
We picked it up yesterday, $1600+.  How come the actual bill is always higher than the estimate, never the same or cheaper?
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All-Time Great [96818]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Joined: 2020
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How come the actual bill is always higher
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Sep 26, 2025, 5:40 PM
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Once among my many jobs worked at the nation's 2nd largest tractor trailer shop where trailers were repaired after wrecks or whatever.
I did book keeping, billing, and estimates.
I was 23, had no clue as to any of that - no big deal.
On the work order billing would add some panels, rivets, man hours, etc - I had no idea as to any of that or what they used.
I used magic and imagination.
I think most dealers these days still do the same.
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Heisman Winner [83823]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Joined: 2018
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I always go local. Believe it or not, FB is a great source
3
Sep 26, 2025, 6:59 PM
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for this service.
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All-Time Great [96818]
TigerPulse: 100%
63
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Joined: 2020
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Re: Car repair
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Sep 30, 2025, 5:41 PM
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I know all my friends who luv me have trouble sleeping until I get this resolved.
Took it to Black's Tire in Westminster today which I know to be solid guys.
They were able to bust off the wheel locks.
Repairs to be done Thursday after parts arrive for $605.
I am OK with that.
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All-Time Great [92655]
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63
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Joined: 2008
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As old as I am and the number of cars
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Sep 30, 2025, 6:23 PM
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and trucks I have owned- I don’t recall ever getting new brakes. If I did, it was just once back in the late ‘70s.
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All-Time Great [96818]
TigerPulse: 100%
63
Posts: 11216
Joined: 2020
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getting new brakes.
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Sep 30, 2025, 6:27 PM
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Being poor, not a highly paid guy like you, bought used cars.
I have replaced brake pads a few times. The cost was about $30.
Truth be told, times have changed, I have changed.
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National Champion [7527]
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Re: As old as I am and the number of cars
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Sep 30, 2025, 7:27 PM
[ in reply to As old as I am and the number of cars ] |
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Before carbon metallic and ceramic pads, brakes were more of a maintenance item than they are now.
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All-Time Great [96818]
TigerPulse: 100%
63
Posts: 11216
Joined: 2020
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than they are now
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Sep 30, 2025, 7:44 PM
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Most now will never will need replace them.
Folk just get new cars and Brides - the new norm.
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Rival Killer [2950]
TigerPulse: 76%
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Re: Car repair
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Oct 1, 2025, 1:04 AM
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As a retired Auto Instructor and a Restorer . . .you can certainly still do your brakes if you wish.
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Replies: 19
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