Automotive Assistance Questions

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Yeah, the rubber bulb is probably a $2 part that you can't replace without taking the wheel off and the joint and axle apart.

But don't ask me, I'm clueless about stuff like that.
 
When it comes to labor, and the difficulty of removing parts, I am supposing an "outer boot" is better than having an inner boot replaced ?

Then again, wouldn't it be cool, if I could just wrap that new boot around it, without removing any parts ??
 
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Fear I'm pretty anal so I would just replace the CV joint after seeing that. At least now you know where all the grease came from. I'm not saying you should, I'm just saying that I, not knowing how long its been running like that would just do the work myself and change it out. I mean you gotta do 1/2 the work to change the boot anyway. Good luck with it!
 
Dead Money said:
Fear I'm pretty anal so I would just replace the CV joint after seeing that. At least now you know where all the grease came from. I'm not saying you should, I'm just saying that I, not knowing how long its been running like that would just do the work myself and change it out. I mean you gotta do 1/2 the work to change the boot anyway. Good luck with it!
Click to expand...

Thanks. Actually, just like I guessed, there is apparently a potential quick and cheap fix to this. For only $18, I can get this "Quick-Boot Replacement Kit" at the local auto parts store. It wraps right around the joint, without removing any front end parts. There's a super-strong weld that you apply to the 2 halves to hold it together.

It's certainly worth the $18 to see if takes care of the problem. It looks like something that a novice like me can handle. Is it as easy as it looks ?

Before I buy it, I just want to make sure I'm not in over my head, and end up removing the old boot, and not being able to put the new one on.

 
Make sure you throw a handful of bearing grease in there before you put the boot cover on, or you haven't solved your problem.
 
It blows my mind that there are places that can offer oil changes for like $11.95.
It costs me that much just to buy 2 quarts of oil at today's prices, nevermind the labor cost they need to pay their guys, plus the oil filter, plus the remaining 3 quarts needed.
So between the oil and oil filter, it would cost me almost 40 bucks to change my oil.
That's almost 4 times the cost of letting them do it. And it's usually the other way around for taking your car to the shop - they charge you 4 times as much, as it would cost to do it yourself.
So, what's so different about an oil change ?
They must be paying like 25 cents per quart of oil, at their prices, to afford to make money at those prices.
 
Fear The Spear said:
It blows my mind that there are places that can offer oil changes for like $11.95.
It costs me that much just to buy 2 quarts of oil at today's prices, nevermind the labor cost they need to pay their guys, plus the oil filter, plus the remaining 3 quarts needed.
So between the oil and oil filter, it would cost me almost 40 bucks to change my oil.
That's almost 4 times the cost of letting them do it. And it's usually the other way around for taking your car to the shop - they charge you 4 times as much, as it would cost to do it yourself.
So, what's so different about an oil change ?
They must be paying like 25 cents per quart of oil, at their prices, to afford to make money at those prices.
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I doubt they make money on the oil changes alone, they are probably up-charging the crap out of unsuspecting people for things they may not need.
 
So, it's just a way to lure people in.
Well, if I go in just for an oil change, and they tell me that while they were taking just the 10-15 minutes it takes to change my oil, that they "happened to notice" that my car needs a brand new $1800 Flux Capacitor, I definitely aint gonna be the one to fall for that.
 
Fear The Spear said:
So, it's just a way to lure people in.
Well, if I go in just for an oil change, and they tell me that while they were taking just the 10-15 minutes it takes to change my oil, that they "happened to notice" that my car needs a brand new $1800 Flux Capacitor, I definitely aint gonna be the one to fall for that.
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Haha, there you go.

"While we were changing your oil, we noticed that your radiator needs a top-off. We can do that for a small, $2700 charge." :D
 
Yeah, places like Jiffy Lube have been busted by investigators multiple times for cons like that. Or their favorite trick - sticking something on a dipstick, or bringing out a broken part, then convincing you that this and that are broke and they can replace them for x amount of dollars. If you go for an oil change, just get an oil change, no matter what they try and tell you or show you.
 
I would never go to Jiffy Lube. Ever since the story I heard many years ago how they forgot to put one person's oil pan bolt back in after an oil change. Of course it was probably an accident, but I'm sure you can imagine the mechanical nightmare that followed that event
 
I go to a Jiffy Lube by my house - its just like any other mechanic, you have to vet them first. But these guys are pretty honest.
 
Back to the CV Boot.
You guys made some good points about replacing a torn CV Boot quickly because of a couple things - the grease can escape, and dirt can get inside.
Now I just watched this Youtube tutorial by a mechanic who says if you got a bad CV Joint OR a torn CV Boot, you can just let it go, because they last a really long time, even after showing sings of failing.
He explains why, in just the first couple minutes.
What you guys think ?

Also, he removes the whole axle. I thought that wasn't necessary for the Boot replacement

 
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In case you were ever wondering.... Don't paint engine parts with VHT engine paint and then try to use their flame proof clear coat over it.

Yeah they're not compatible. #10dayswasted Thanks.


Fear The Spear said:
Back to the CV Boot.
You guys made some good points about replacing a torn CV Boot quickly because of a couple things - the grease can escape, and dirt can get inside.
Now I just watched this Youtube tutorial by a mechanic who says if you got a bad CV Joint OR a torn CV Boot, you can just let it go, because they last a really long time, even after showing sings of failing.
He explains why, in just the first couple minutes.
What you guys think ?

Also, he removes the whole axle. I thought that wasn't necessary for the Boot replacement

Click to expand...


So let it go. :whoknows:
 
I am on a moving trip right now, with all my stuff in my car, and stopped overnight along the way, at a friends house. After driving 7 hours one day, and 7 hours the next day with no problems, something odd happened right before I stopped overnight at my friend's place. The car's speed on the highway couldn't go over 60 mph.
It lasted the last few minutes of that leg of the trip. So I'm staying overnight with my friend wondering if it's just a fluke, or if it's going to be an issue the next time I get on the highway for the last leg of my trip.
What could cause the car to stop accelerating at 60 mph ? There were no other problems, and it drove fine at lower speeds. Could it be the weight of the contents in the car, since it's packed to the limit ? Like I said, I've already driven a total of 14 hours with all this weight, and it wasn't an issue before. Or could it be something else ?
 
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