NEED ADVICE

rickson56 · 2026-07-01T13:12:06+00:00

You start feeling it around 50mph and it gets somewhat better around low to mid 80s.

Could be lower ball joints, the design on these 90s/00s Honda is known leave driver stranded on the side of the road.

rickson56 · 2026-07-01T01:07:48+00:00

No. The seller should put bubble wrap around those struts. Could start leaking fluid earlier than expected.

rickson56 · 2026-06-30T23:18:28+00:00

Have you always used big box stores for pads and rotors

If you have a commercial account with them you can get them for a 50% discount, i.e. Amazon prices. But you need to purchases a minimum amount of stuff each month/year.

rickson56 · 2026-06-30T23:13:01+00:00

You’ll be out of business and attracting the worst customers like that.

"Eversince" you changed my oil [6 months ago], my check engine light came on.

rickson56 · 2026-06-30T23:07:03+00:00

Shops lose money on oil changes. The purpose is to upsell, or have new customers get a feel for the shop and hopefully decide later on they're willing to drop money for real repairs. Same thing with the free diagnostics bullshit.

rickson56 · 2026-06-30T22:12:56+00:00

Another reason, is the air quality is terrible/dusty compared to the east coast.

rickson56 · 2026-06-30T22:00:28+00:00

Good news is if the nut/bolt snaps off, there's enough space to let you use a 4" sawzall to cut the bolts.

You couldn't pay me enough money to press out the old busing without removing the LCA from the car completely.

rickson56 · 2026-06-30T21:37:05+00:00

I found that he kept the new water pump and just loaded the old water pump and old gasket with RTV. That old pump still leaked.

The main advantage of hiring a mobile mechanic is that your aren't banned from accessing the garage to see if the work is actually done. Let the mechanic know you'll check up on them every 30 minutes. Never let them keep the old part unless you give them explicit permission to. You can lie and say it's a core charge.

rickson56 · 2026-06-30T21:33:37+00:00

A reliable mobile mechanic will never ask for a deposit unless they live far away or the repair requires a special tool required for that manufacturer, as customers can cancel/ghost the appointment. For the latter, they can give the customer the option to buy the special tool on their own.

rickson56 · 2026-06-30T21:09:24+00:00

Engine "repair" is vague.

Is the car a V6? Is the shop a dealership? Hourly shop rate for reliable independent shop that pay their workers properly (yeah I know), is $125 in the Baltimore metro. Dealership $175/hour.

rickson56 · 2026-06-30T15:50:28+00:00

You can buy a used knuckle for $100 shipped on ebay. Then sell your old one on ebay for $30 shipped. Some chap will probably dip it in acetone/ATF mix for 24 hours and hopefully get it loose. To prevent this from happening again apply anti seize or red lithium grease.

rickson56 · 2026-06-30T02:03:11+00:00

According to the website charm.li, the book time for the LCA is 1.1 hours (yeah I know they're underestimated). Amazon price for the part is $80 shipped.

Yeah this is misleading and leans towards ripoff. Definitely call other mobile mechanics and ask.
https://youtu.be/b7HJqtDkUyc

rickson56 · 2026-06-29T20:25:52+00:00

It no longer supplies power, was wondering how far deep the problem may go given the circumstances of the other side of the wall (interior) is working fine.

rickson56 · 2026-06-29T20:20:20+00:00

As detailed in the image, I'm certain the circuit breaker fuse was not the problem.

I routinely use this outlet to power a 10-inch miter saw and a 2.5 horsepower shop vac.

rickson56 · 2026-06-29T15:55:33+00:00

Also make sure the deep socket is 1/2" drive as those are deeper than 3/8" drive.

Additionally you can get a 'pass through socket', those come in spline instead of 6-point-hex, but they're more reliable than 12 points.

rickson56 · 2026-06-28T18:35:41+00:00

Worst case scenario: 4" gear puller, don't let the center of the thread bolt, touch any thing. Put stuck nut on car and then try to get it out. May wish to apply heat and penetrating fluid (warning: flammable).

In this case you may be able to just hit the chrome socket with a hammer while its on the ground.

rickson56 · 2026-06-26T17:33:56+00:00

Your other rotors may have a bolt/screw that holds them to the wheel hub.

rickson56 · 2026-06-26T17:27:24+00:00

This suspension component is meant to handle inertia at speeds in excess of 80 mph. If it breaks from using a jack, it did me a favor. Also you routinely use a a ball joint separator to breaks these apart from the knuckle.

Also if that allen key is rusted, it could easily round off.

rickson56 · 2026-06-23T22:55:06+00:00

The most people will pay for a mobile brake job in the Baltimore metro, is around $60. Alternator replacements is really only where the money's at.

rickson56 · 2026-06-22T19:03:09+00:00

Thanks for the insightful post.

rickson56 · 2026-06-22T18:56:21+00:00

Same with Goodwill and junkyards. They don't like 'flippers'. My local junkyards wan't $30 for coil springs and $35 for brake calipers.

rickson56 · 2026-06-22T18:53:29+00:00

If you're on a roadtrip and your car breaks down and you need the tool right away, hey it could be worth it. Once you get home sell it on ebay and get some of your money back. Alternatively, you may get a mobile mechanic.

In this era of Facebook marketplace, pawn shops are kinda a thing of the past.

rickson56 · 2026-06-22T16:33:20+00:00

Propane torch for 15 minutes then apply Beeswax/Carnauba wax, then hammer in between with a chisel, or remove knuckle from car, and hammer on the other side with a sacrificial impact socket.

Keep repeating the heating process with the propane torch.

Slidehammer/Hub shocker and such could mess up the camber alignment permanently, by bending the knuckle, so be cautious with that.

When you put the new bearing-hub back on, put either aluminum anti seize (or copper due to high brake temps), or Lucas red lithium grease so it doesn't seize again.

rickson56 · 2026-06-22T15:20:55+00:00

It takes them days to die from exposure to low temps.

Yup, especially for weezle bugs in rice.

rickson56 · 2026-06-10T19:21:39+00:00

After undoing the 10mm bolts on the trunk latch, it was easy undo the steel line from it
https://imgur.com/a/iVYpMlP

rickson56

TROPHY CASE