Sharing the using ones own hand skills

[canuck750]

My older son called me last week to ask about a recommendation for a shop that could diagnose a noise coming out of the front end of his 2011 Ford Ranger 4 x 4 . Of course I said lets look at it ourselves!!

This weekend we removed the front wheels, leaking shocks, brake pads near the end of their live, one front half shaft seal leaking a lot and one spindle bearing sounds / feels shot. After a couple mornings we stripped out the calipers, rotors, half shafts, drive shaft seals and pulled apart one spindle assembly. A trip to the parts shop and picked up new front break pads, rotors, shocks, drive shaft seals and one new spindle carrier / bearing. Just parts replacement but my son learned a lot and is confident to tackle similar repairs again.

When I was his age some 3 decades ago I had no choice but to fix it myself. I was proud he dug right in to the repairs, searched and bought his parts and learned some new skills to boot.

Young folks want to learn these shade tree skills if someone is willing to offer some encouragement. It feels great to share some of what my mechanic father taught me. He could have taken the Ford to a shop but I am sure glad we did it ourselves!

 

[Tom H]

 

Tom

[cliffrod]

Very cool.

[troyhamilton]

I am my own mechanic as well. glad your teaching him!

[Rough Edge racing]

 When I got my driver's license in 1964, my first car was a junker...Now many year later I'm still driving junk...And fixing it when it breaks.Same for bikes....It's just an addiction...

[canuck750]

When I got my driver's license in 1964, my first car was a junker...Now many year later I'm still driving junk...And fixing it when it breaks.Same for bikes....It's just an addiction...

That's my storey as well.
When I turned 16 my dad helped me buy 'mild' accident right-offs that I could repair, drive and sell for a few dollars profit. At 17 I had saved enough to buy a 1965 Mustang 2+2 that was more rust than car, but my Dad and I rebuilt it over the course of a year from the ground up and I really got into busting my knuckles. When my kids were little I had an old Volkswagen Vanagon camper that broke down one way or another every time we went camping, I spent many a week night with the some part of the drive line on the garage floor, it became a running joke with the neighbours. Had the engine top end off three times. That continued for years after with various chevs, fords, etc. always buying them used and cheap and fixing them up.
After I turned 50 and my kids education was (mostly) paid for and my business debts repaid I finally bought a new car, I appreciate the luxury of a modern car but I do miss the tinkering that keeping old iron running required.

I guess that is why I now turn to old motorcycles to scratch the itch of wrenching.

[s1120]

When I got my driver's license in 1964, my first car was a junker...Now many year later I'm still driving junk...And fixing it when it breaks.Same for bikes....It's just an addiction...

People always asked why I had more then one car.... well you drive junk, you need a spare.. :)   Now that I am older and have more money...  I still have too many cars!!!!   Ive gotten a bit lazy, and really don't work on them like I did..  and I do miss it, and now that the kids are getting older, and I have a little more time..  Its nice to get back in there and turn some wrenches. Its really who I am.