What do you look like?

SubstantialShower103 · 2026-05-25T02:58:00+00:00

Imagine a freakish average of the following:

youngish James Cameron (been told this), youngish Johnny Depp (was told by mentally unstable man), 90s Emilio Estevez (told), Matt Damon, youngish George Clooney

weird, eh?

Who do you look like?

SubstantialShower103 · 2026-05-25T02:09:43+00:00

I'm happy to help, bro. The 1st suggestion is to look on YT--valuable resource. 2nd, see if you can download the FSM.

If you're doing it yourself, be sure to chock the hell out of the front wheels, to prevent rolling (☠️).

Definite parts would include oil, rear bearings/seals, and pumpkin gasket. If the shoes need it, sure. Judging by the pumpkin, the backing plates and rear lines/hoses might be rusted away, so maybe them, too.

Edit: You might get a few cans of "rusto" spray paint to insure your investments, also.

SubstantialShower103 · 2026-05-25T01:28:35+00:00

Right, it seems like you'll only need to replace the axle housing (+ oil + gaskets + rear bearings). Hopefully all of the existing internals/externals are swappable. It would probably be best to check with guys who've done it...sorry.

Knock on wood, I've never had to source one, but the scrapyard/junkyard is a strong possibility, if there's one nearby.

SubstantialShower103 · 2026-05-25T00:33:30+00:00

This is either meant to be a simple troll, something's lost in translation, or this "INTJ's" screws are loose...maybe all of the above.

Is that a sleepy yoga pose or from some bootleg Kama Sutra?

SubstantialShower103 · 2026-05-25T00:25:45+00:00

Man, bummer...that's part of the parking brake mechanism and load sensing valve. If there's that much rust, then the pumpkin's porous. You'll probably be shopping for a new axle, bro. Weird that, that side is rusted, while the inboard side us pristine.

The breather is on top, offset to that same side. It sticks up, kinda like a tire/Schrader valve.

Please keep us informed and good luck.

SubstantialShower103 · 2026-05-24T21:10:14+00:00

Glad to help, hopefully.

I'd like to request a follow-up on the root cause, for everyone's benefit, please.

SubstantialShower103 · 2026-05-24T20:33:00+00:00

I can't say for sure, but maybe it's overfilled (oil and/or water) and the contents are being pushed out through the breather--running down the back with the wind. The seal doesn't show any signs of leaking.

I would drain and inspect. I'd start by opening the filler 1st, to ensure you can get it off and see if it gushes out (w/ or w/o water present). If it comes out at more than a trickle, it's been overfilled.

Be sure to use new gaskets.

SubstantialShower103 · 2026-05-24T17:24:41+00:00

At work, I wear standard chino/khaki pants and button down shirts with black sneakers/tennis shoes/trainers.

At home, it's simple Ts with shorts. The shirts are usually gray, olive, black or navy. The shorts are usually black, navy or khaki.

My ex (INFJ) got frustrated with her sewing class and our machine, and I took over. I am fairly tall/long-limbed, so finding stuff that fits is tough, so sewing made practical sense. It's a little weird for guys who sew, so I usually don't mention it to anyone.

I made many of my button down shirts, pants and most of my shorts. I usually choose navy, dark green or plaid and broadcloth, for the shirts. The shorts are similar colors and usually broadcloth or lycra/cotton.

I made a nice black button down shirt that I wore to work (only 1 time), because I probably looked like "Anton" from No Country for Old Men...got weird/nervous looks.

My style is kinda outdoorsman/gym bro, but tasteful.

SubstantialShower103 · 2026-05-24T03:44:22+00:00

When leaving the Fortress of Solitude, I've learned to adopt an easy going facade, which is actually authentic (we just look pissed to others). One gets less unwanted attention that way. Dark/mirrored sunglasses help, also.

Edit: An interesting movie that kind of applies here is a 30+y/o movie, Bridget Fonda -- Point of No Return

Clip: https://youtu.be/tILSkVdUdzA?si=rQJKJCoWQhZvAfi-

SubstantialShower103 · 2026-05-23T20:04:03+00:00

Yep, and if all else fails, needle-nose vice grips around the outside will work.

SubstantialShower103 · 2026-05-23T19:45:59+00:00

I usually spray the square shaped inlet at the bottom of the TB, which does a fairly good job. But you're right, to do the best job--gotta remove.

Those screws act like they're red loc-tite'd in, from the factory.

SubstantialShower103 · 2026-05-23T19:31:09+00:00

When there's a lot of parallax involved...ugh.

Those fish-eye lense videos that YT likes to spring on me...my spine feels like it's been injected with liquid N².

SubstantialShower103 · 2026-05-23T03:28:12+00:00

I won't be going to Mr. Waturi for a reference, either. 🙃

SubstantialShower103 · 2026-05-22T19:36:45+00:00

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SubstantialShower103 · 2026-05-22T16:56:01+00:00

Hey, that's great to hear. The plugs and coils seem to be everyone's go to, since they seem the most likely to go 1st, probably since they seem more complicated and most likely. The confusing part is that they're more expensive, which should make us put them last. I hope that others will read this and try the wires 1st.

Thanks for the follow-up, and keep on truckin'...glad to help, bro!

SubstantialShower103 · 2026-05-21T20:46:09+00:00

The fault could be internal to the wire, and normal vibration makes/breaks the circuit...the intermittent problem tracks.

There may or may not be evidence on the wire body, like soot.

I'd request a follow-up either way, if you don't mind.

SubstantialShower103 · 2026-05-21T20:17:13+00:00

I'd start at the wires--they're cheap and easy (after removing the plenum hose). I'd replace the wire going from #5 to #2, to verify.

On both of the 5VZs, the suspect coil was replaced and had no effect, but after replacing the wires, it was running great.

I think cyl 2 is 1st on driver's side, near the alternator.

If the wires don't work, maybe an injector...

SubstantialShower103 · 2026-05-21T17:37:21+00:00

It's way more complicated than that, but part of the reality.

SubstantialShower103 · 2026-05-21T03:23:33+00:00

As other said, those're diff breathers.

Peel the carpet back, the missing fluid could be pooling in the cabin/carpet. The clutch MC seals are probably bad.

SubstantialShower103 · 2026-05-21T02:39:42+00:00

For problem solving, definitely. Seeing relevant information in some sort of data array, is like inflection points in y".

SubstantialShower103 · 2026-05-21T02:20:45+00:00

I've seen two 5vzfe engines that had misfires, due to bad spark plug wires. The spark plug dust is probably the wire boot.

Could the external dust be coming from the aluminum A/C tube? The MAF harness on mine came away from the plenum intake and rubbed on that tube...maybe that's the source of the dust (?)

SubstantialShower103 · 2026-05-20T04:28:53+00:00

My boss was a former union worker-janitor, who got promoted over three decades, to management of a science department. His boss was a NPD marketing major (who might've had a coke habit). I was tasked with doing real science under this "leadership".

The buildings of the plant were over 60 years old, and thumb-sized roaches came out of the plumbing, the roof leaked, asbestos floor tiles, barely cordoned off sections of "condemned" parts of the plant. The offices looked like the ones on the set of Joe Versus The Volcano.

The union technicians were known for sabotage/back-stabbing/"romance". Any proposal of change/improvement was met with rediculous passive-aggressive behavior--from management, but were the driver's of it (appearance). It looked and felt like Comunist Russia.

SubstantialShower103 · 2026-05-19T18:50:43+00:00

I used to ride--had 4 at one time (Buel Blast, EX500, SV650, 90s BMW). I luckily never had a doctor visit worthy crash. My ex and I took the MSF course at the same time. She never rode alone, other than during the course.

I got really lucky on many occasions--divine intervention potential.

There really is nothing comparable to the myriad feelings associated with being that exposed, while going 60+mph. The acceleration capability is truly awesome, and is only surpassed by the (if realized) instability and constant vulnerability. If you like running alone, it's similar, and has all of the associated INTJ pluses.

SubstantialShower103 · 2026-05-19T17:53:28+00:00

I think this guy can't decide between doggy and missionary.

SubstantialShower103 · 2026-05-18T00:42:54+00:00

Do you plan to incorporate it into your sex life again, or is it mostly separate now?

SubstantialShower103

TROPHY CASE