And the Civic rolls on...

[roguerower]

So first it was a brake issue...replaced the rotors, calipers, & pads. Now my car was working great, but my state inspection was set to expire so I take it to Pep Boys for an inspection. Failed due to leaking struts. I ask which ones and he says all of them. Guy says that they have the parts and can do it that day but it'll take a couple of hours and it'll cost $950.

FUCK THAT.

Take my failure like a man and when I get to work I log-on to RockAuto again and order myself a full set (4) of Monroe quick-struts for $425 minus a $120 mail-in rebate. I need the tools to do the work so I go to Sears and pick up a 154-piece Craftsman set for $120, a jack for $50, and a pair of jack struts for $25. Still around $450 cheaper than Pep Boys. I get the parts at the end of last week and on Monday I begin the saga.

It takes me 3 hours on Monday to replace both fronts, but end up fucking up the tie-rod ends so that's another $50 to get a new pair.

Tuesday it takes me 2 hours to replace the passenger side rear strut. 2 FUCKING HOURS! At first I misjudged exactly how much leverage I would need to get the trailing arm assembly into place. I finally end up using the jack that came with the car to lower it into place. Then I spent another 30 minutes getting the strut into position cause it was tweaked by a few degrees and wouldn't slide in. But I got it done.

Yesterday I go to do the driver's side rear strut with all of the knowledge and wisdom that I had gleaned out of my 2 hour endeavor the day before. I take the wheel off, go to remove the lower bolt...nothing. Won't fucking budge. 1/2" drive socket isn't doing a damn thing. I hit it, I kick it, I brace myself and try and squat it. NADA. I crawl under the car and try and pull it. Fuck you it says to me. I don't have a breaker bar and even if i did it wouldn't help me because I've got only 10" of space under the car. I dip my head in shame, pack up my tools, and try to settle with the fact that Pep Boys will win this one.

Today I get the new tie-rod ends in. Don't have a wrench big enough so I hop on my Triumph and ride my ass to Sears and get a shiny new adjustable since I don't know what size the nut is. I haul ass back home and 30min later they're on.

So tomorrow I'm getting off work early, hopping in the car and driving over to Pep Boys where I will present them with the strut assembly and tell them that I tried, but I need an impact wrench to get the last one on. Hopefully they take pity on me and don't rape me. Then comes the alignment and finally the state inspection.

All said, it'll probably end up costing me $800, but I got some tools out of it and the knowledge about how to fix shit on my car.

 

[Harrod]

Congrats, civics/integras are really easy cars to work on, assuming nothing is stuck ofcourse.

 

[Kelvrick]

Do you have a harbor freight next to you? Or another source of a cheap electric impact?

 

[someone16]

Maybe you can try a sprayingliquid wrench or pb blaster on the bolt, let it sit for a bit and tap it then give it a try again?

 

[roguerower]

Do you have a harbor freight next to you? Or another source of a cheap electric impact?

No, nothing close.

Maybe you can try a sprayingliquid wrench or pb blaster on the bolt, let it sit for a bit and tap it then give it a try again?

I could try this, but I need to get this done and since I have to take it in for an alignment anyways I'll see if pep Boys can help me out.

 

[Vetterin]

1. Are you SURE you needed all 4 struts replaced? Pep Boys is not like the internet, where
if you read it on the internet, it must be true.
2. What would happen if you took your car in for the inspection? Wouldn't they tell you what they found wrong? I just can't believe that all 4 struts could be bad. That way you could fix or replace only what is really necessary. I'm not sure how your state inspection goes as here in Illinois all they do is run a fault code test through the ODBII. If they find something they will give you the results and you have time to get it fixed and retested.
As for all the speciality tools why not just go to Autozone and loan them for free. Suspension tools you can borrow are:
4WD Spindle Socket
Axle Bearing Remover Set
Axle Flange Puller
Axle Nut Socket
Ball Joint Adapter Set
Ball Joint Press
Ball Joint Separator
Bearing and Race
Coil Spring Compressor
FWD Axle Puller Adapter
Inner Tie Rod End Tool
Pitman Arm Puller
Pitman Arm Separator
Power Steering Pulley Puller/Installer
Steering Wheel Lock Plate
Steering Wheel Puller
Strut Spring Compressor
Tie Rod Adapter (Saginaw)
Tie Rod End Puller

 

[Scarpozzi]

If you ever have to change your timing belt on that civic, make sure you can get the specialized crankshaft pulley removal socket:

http://www.amazon.com/Powerbuilt-648.../dp/B0000TMLWQ

It's $16 here....but $75-125 at dealerships. I got into that a few years ago on a Sunday and couldn't even get one from a dealership. Luckily, I found someone in town that let me borrow theirs.

 

[JCH13]

5hr for 3 struts isn't too bad, especially your first time out. I bet you could toss a cheater bar on your ratchet to make things work, but your call obviously.

My first strut/spring job on a Miata took ~9 hours with JLee helping. First strut job on my MS3 took around 8. Takes practice to become proficient, do not be discouraged at all.

The last time I did 4 springs on my Miata it took me 2 hours instead of 9, and JLee and I got MR2 turbo swaps down to under an hour after 4-6 times doing it :awe:

 

[NutBucket]

I think you did great too OP. Now that you've done it once every subsequent time will be easier/faster as you learn the best techniques to get things done. And yes you spent a few hours at it but think of money you've saved.

 

[CraigRT]

Good job.
Before you know it, no job will be too big.
Nothing will make me get rid of a car save a big accident or some nightmare electrical problems.

New trans? Big deal. Auto wreckers and a Saturday afternoon, no biggie!

 

[halik]

state inspection?

 

[PottedMeat]

i guess they actually inspect them in virginia

http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?000+reg+19VAC30-70-110

in texas they just do basic checks

 

[manimal]

first steps are always the hardest. Pretty soon you will helping some friends out passing on the knowledge. I as most of us here know that people tend to be very demanding of friends who "know how to work on cars" and sometime feel like I cant escape a day without someone I know asking me for a favor.

Of course I help out family and friends but the second time they ask I offer to show them how to do it themselves.

If you got that done with no loss of blood or thrown broken items than you done good

 

[NutBucket]

So far the only job I've tackled that made a bit nervous was disassembling struts. Spring compressors are definitely a "use with caution" device.

 

[mvbighead]

So far the only job I've tackled that made a bit nervous was disassembling struts. Spring compressors are definitely a "use with caution" device.

Yeah, they sure are scary looking.

 

[roguerower]

*SNIP*

They checked them and said they were all bad. At 180k miles I think they were due for a change anyways.

i guess they actually inspect them in virginia

http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?000+reg+19VAC30-70-110

in texas they just do basic checks

Yea. Oh well.

So far the only job I've tackled that made a bit nervous was disassembling struts. Spring compressors are definitely a "use with caution" device.

I got the Monroe Quick-Struts so I cheated a bit. They came pre-assembled, all I had to do was unbolt the originals and put in the replacements.

 

[JCH13]

I got the Monroe Quick-Struts so I cheated a bit. They came pre-assembled, all I had to do was unbolt the originals and put in the replacements.

Mad cheaty

 

[KIAman]

You did good. I changed my struts and shocks and went coil-overs on my car. According to my estimates, it should've been a 2-4 hour job. After only needing 30 minutes to do the rears, I thought, I could get this done in 1 hour!!!

Nope, the fronts took me the remainer of the day and another 4 hours the day after.

 

[AMCRambler]

Yeah you did pretty damn good man. Nobody's going to rag on you for trying and getting 3 out of 4. I've been there before with struts. Sometimes you gotta grind the bastard off and get a new bolt.
I would try a cheater bar before taking it back to the con artists at Pep Boys. Go to home depot, they sell heavy duty closet bars for hanging clothes. Makes for a great extension for the handle of your socket. Cheap too. Just gotta cut it to the length you need with a hack saw. Throw that puppy on your wrench handle and jump up and down on the end of it. Poor man's impact wrench, hehe. I bet that gets it done for you. If not your only out 15-20 bucks for a cheater bar that you'll use again in the future anyway.

 

[JCH13]

Speaking of the poor-mans impact... I've got one of these 4lb engineer's hammers. :wub: It and a 3lb engineers hammer, with a considerably shorter handle, have cracked many a bolt loose!