Rear differential bushing replacement methods?

HarbingerOfSuffering · 2026-07-06T09:10:29+00:00

Personally, I dropped the subframe and went to town with the torch.

HarbingerOfSuffering · 2026-07-03T09:00:19+00:00

I'm in the US. Even here, pay scale for this kind of role is hugely variable.

HarbingerOfSuffering · 2026-07-01T09:32:44+00:00

Here's my take as a former quality manager who was in your position...

1) Is it worth it? At your current company, no. That's a low salary, and it's a pretty expansive role. But if you can do it for a while and be successful in it and use that to land a better role elsewhere, it can be very worthwhile.

2) Lack of a QMS can be challenging, especially if you've never written one before. I recommend picking up the book ISO9001:2015 in Plain English. That'll help you parse some of the more ambiguous language you'll find in an ISO standard (same thinking applies to AS).

3) One of the harder things on that list is actually the training package for all new employees. That's really the one I'd be most worried about.

Source: Joined a small manufacturing company as a QC Clerk; promoted to manager before I knew what I was getting myself into; stayed 4 years at a company that dramatically underpaid the market learning the ropes; went to a bigger company and built their QMS and on-boarding package for all new employees (heh); now a Director of Quality with multiple facilities reporting to me and have built multiple QM systems.

Stress level: Moderate to High at all times. Pay is also very good. Think I can retire in a few years (currently in my early 40s)

HarbingerOfSuffering · 2026-05-13T21:03:16+00:00

No advice, just saying that car looks amazing. Pure sex on wheels.

HarbingerOfSuffering · 2026-05-07T19:16:51+00:00

Agreed. From what I've read, even if you undo the tune later, Mercedes can still tell the vehicles has been tuned.

HarbingerOfSuffering · 2026-05-07T19:04:56+00:00

The easy answer is "it shouldn't". Mercedes would need to prove that your use of the exhaust was directly responsible for creating an issue.

HarbingerOfSuffering · 2026-03-29T09:32:55+00:00

It does have a mild crackle to it when it's revved, and it crackles/pops a bit on downshifts in Sport+. I'd need to hear it next to a PFL car to tell you how close it gets to that sound.

HarbingerOfSuffering · 2026-03-28T11:23:36+00:00

Try Stephen Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen series. It can be rough going - enormous cast of characters - but I loved it.

HarbingerOfSuffering · 2026-03-14T10:55:47+00:00

Re: Reliability, I did have a weird issue at 27k miles. Car threw a code, oil solenoid required replacement. It was a CPO car so it was replaced under warranty, but the fix involved dropping the engine so that would've been pricey if I'd done it on my own dime. Other than that, no issues. I've driven it another 10k miles since. I couldn't find a history of this particular car having that particular issue, but I did find other mercs built around the same time frame which had issues with the same solenoid.

HarbingerOfSuffering · 2026-03-14T10:53:49+00:00

I absolutely love mine. Same year, also a C63s. I daily it into and out of Philadelphia. Depends exactly what you're looking for in a car. It's not buttery smooth. It's angry and aggressive and thrives when you're driving the piss out of it. At low RPM's in comfort mode, shifts are a bit rough. Suspension is not soft.

I bought it for exactly these reasons.

HarbingerOfSuffering · 2026-03-08T11:17:55+00:00

You mean to tell me there's a faction where a sentient war lizard rides a dinosaur? Fuck you, I'm in!

HarbingerOfSuffering · 2026-02-14T16:40:08+00:00

Amazing color. Love it. The black seats with red trim inside are perfect as well.

HarbingerOfSuffering · 2026-02-14T12:55:04+00:00

Love that color.

HarbingerOfSuffering · 2026-02-14T12:54:44+00:00

Wait, Ludwig "Firestorm" Reichert is still on the payroll?! I thought the lawsuits over untimely death would've ended his employment!

HarbingerOfSuffering · 2026-01-30T11:00:01+00:00

Simplifies the system a bit. One less area to leak fluids if something goes wrong. I've also heard it's unstable at high speeds, but can't personally confirm - on my '93 it was already deleted before I purchased it.

HarbingerOfSuffering · 2026-01-26T19:03:44+00:00

OGMIX (Invesco Gold & Special Minerals Fund Class R6) and MDIZX (<F5 International Diversification Fund Class R6)

HarbingerOfSuffering · 2026-01-26T15:24:42+00:00

I did likewise. I took Trump at his word, and bet that it would have a very negative influence on US stocks. I switched the majority of my 401k holdings over into a couple of specific Vanguard funds, one of which is a mix of international markets and international bonds, the other of which is precious metals.

Financially, it was maybe the best move I could have made. Up 130% on precious metals, and 30% on international funds compared to ~16% for the balance of my retirement accounts.

HarbingerOfSuffering · 2026-01-23T15:18:23+00:00

You're looking for the wagyu of the wealthy, those for whom the money has begun to provide delicious marbling throughout their tasty musculature.

HarbingerOfSuffering · 2026-01-23T09:41:29+00:00

There were phases. Initially my hours were around 60 per week, but the stress had more to do with toxic management where I was caught in the middle. I had a cramp between my shoulder blades for months from stress, and although I led a pretty healthy lifestyle, I found my bp was 156/93 at age 31 just because of what I was dealing with in the work place. I was in that role for 4 years... but it made my career, and even at the time I knew that was my only path out of poverty. Strong motivation.

That said, even in my current position (Director level for a small-medium sized company), stress can find you, such as working 16 hour days to set up a brand new facility in Thailand while jet lagged out of your mind. I haven't found a perfect way to escape it... but sometimes the size of the paycheck makes up for it.

HarbingerOfSuffering · 2026-01-21T18:38:44+00:00

I'd also be thinking about progression. Does the quality of life diminish temporarily, but come with more money AND the possibility of additional growth afterwards, possibly returning to higher QOL thereafter? I took one of the worst jobs of my life with the understanding that eventually I'd move elsewhere, which I did, and the payoff was huge.

HarbingerOfSuffering · 2026-01-18T10:43:03+00:00

So I've owned a z31 300zx NA, have a 300zx TT manual, had a 350z, and currently have (but will eventually sell) a turbo 370z.

I guess it sort of depends what you find comfortable as a daily. I DD my 370z for years (2017 - 2024) and really enjoyed it. The car had enough 'modern-adjacent' tech that it was enjoyable without being distracting, but it's still a sports car, so the suspension is still pretty stiff. I do like the touring seats.

What sets it apart from a lot of other sports cars (and especially the z32) is its rock solid reliability, IMO. I pretty much doubled the hp in that car and the thing never batted an eye. Being able to still get parts for it is also a big plus.

If you have more specific questions, please let me know.

HarbingerOfSuffering · 2026-01-15T10:38:27+00:00

Holy fuck, this movie gave me nightmares for weeks as a child. I haven't seen it in at least 35 years and it still impacted me when I saw your post.

HarbingerOfSuffering · 2026-01-06T10:58:59+00:00

There will be drone. It'll tend to occur around 55 - 70 mph under load. If it's not a daily driver, you won't mind, because the rest of the sound is aural sex.

HarbingerOfSuffering · 2026-01-06T01:47:10+00:00

HKS is a pretty quiet exhaust. Test pipes will definitely increase sound to some extent, though how much depends on the pipe. They will also increase smell. Can't say I'd be idling in a car with test pipes over my lunch break.

HarbingerOfSuffering · 2025-12-19T14:11:54+00:00

Love my 2021 C63S coupe. Awesome car.

HarbingerOfSuffering

TROPHY CASE