So what did you do with your truck today?

[catbird7]

Genuinely curious how much that's costing you. They told me $2k to do just the driver's outer floor, inner rocker, cab and bushing support and replace all 4 bushings...with bringing them the patch panels and the bushings.

I bought all of the sheet metal parts + new weather stripping for side windows & wings + new rear window gasket and new hinge pins. They're replacing all sheet metal, including new floor, rockers, cab corners, door bottoms (inner & outer), + repairs around windshield and rear window mounting surfaces. Also includes doing the body work, paint, plus bedliner material applied to both sides of the cab floor and half of the firewall. They're also responsible for reassembly and alignment of entire cab (doors, fenders, hood, windows). Price was just shy of $2600.00. When it returns to me, I'll have a new windshield installed then install dash, heater / AC, & brake booster followed by sitting assembled cab on the already finished frame. This all started over a year ago when my brother said, "hey, can you take a look at my truck"?

 

[crash-harris]

Hmm, I now feel like I got a "I don't want to do it" quote. Mine didn't even include paint!

 

[DrCharles]

Drove 100 miles total (to town for periodic lab work, then 50 miles to the nearest Lowe's for home repair supplies, then 40 miles home). Truck ran fine and did not leave puddles anywhere. Steering box is still sloppy But the new rear brakes had developed a "shudder" which kept getting worse on each application at 45+ mph.

This afternoon I pulled the drums and could see pronounced chatter marks on the shoes, significantly worse on the right. Looks like I didn't break them in properly. So I lightly sanded the shoes and drums, cleaned everything carefully and put it back together. I did a more careful break-in and so far so good, but didn't get a chance to do some 60 mph braking.

The good news is that there is no sign of oil contamination anywhere so the conventional axle seals I recently changed seem to be holding for now. I have a pair of Scotseals (which is what I should have bought the first time) and will use them if there is any leakage.

There may be an issue with the left rear parking brake cable binding, too... thinking of returning it to O'Reilly and buying a better (non-China) one.

 

[DrCharles]

Well, it's not fixed. In fact the vibration on braking is worse! The rear brakes are shaking like a dog passing a peach pit. At least one of the two brand-new drums must be out of round. I just jacked up the truck and took them off. AGAIN.
Autozone can't check them, all they do is exchange or refund. I don't want another pair made by the same hung-over guy in China! O'Reilly can get them by tomorrow morning (same price) so I'll return the Autozone ones. Lately their line of "Duralast" parts isn't what it used to be. But what *is* any more...

 

[Danielle]

AutoZone used to be one of my main vendors, but somewhere between when we sold shop in 2012 and now, they have switched to almost entirely their own brand and the part quality has definitely changed!
Now that we are rolling again I will not be using them again, even though their commercial prices would give the greatest profit.
Out here I am Stuck with NAPA if I cannot get name brand from Amazon next day.
Next time you are part searching, search Amazon with the part number. Sometimes you get the higher end parts cheaper than the Duralast.
I feel like half my job is searching for parts!

Can you install drum inside out with truck jacked up and have someone spin wheel to see if you see a high or low spot on the inside?

Sent from my VS835 using Tapatalk

 

[DrCharles]

Interesting idea. But my local O'Reilly also turns drums for $12 apiece, which means they have a brake lathe and can check the runout. Not sure if they'd charge me if they don't need cutting.
Besides, any brand of drums need to be checked out-of-the-box.

So I'm either going to buy new ones there (and have them checked!) and return the Autozones, or pay the $24 and have the Autozones turned and put 'em back on. Will see tomorrow morning.

Drums are also $70 at NAPA but the closest one is 30+ miles away...

 

[laserjock]

AutoZone used to be one of my main vendors, but somewhere between when we sold shop in 2012 and now, they have switched to almost entirely their own brand and the part quality has definitely changed!
Now that we are rolling again I will not be using them again, even though their commercial prices would give the greatest profit.
Out here I am Stuck with NAPA if I cannot get name brand from Amazon next day.
Next time you are part searching, search Amazon with the part number. Sometimes you get the higher end parts cheaper than the Duralast.
I feel like half my job is searching for parts!

Can you install drum inside out with truck jacked up and have someone spin wheel to see if you see a high or low spot on the inside?

Sent from my VS835 using Tapatalk

This^^^^

I bought a ridiculous amount of the stuff for my truck through amazon. Most of it free 2 day shipping. Usually half price for the “better” brand.

 

[jwalterus]

This^^^^

I bought a ridiculous amount of the stuff for my truck through amazon. Most of it free 2 day shipping. Usually half price for the “better” brand.

No kidding.
I usually amazon search for the Motorcraft p/n.

 

[FordGuy100]

2 Fresh batteries and it fired up. Picked up some cheapo interstate group 65 from Costco for $90/piece. 850/1000/150 cca/ca/rc.

I'm going to be ordering battery cable making stuff here to do this weekend. 2/0 cables and lugs. 15ft red and 10 ft black should be enough right?

 

[Thewespaul]

This^^^^

I bought a ridiculous amount of the stuff for my truck through amazon. Most of it free 2 day shipping. Usually half price for the “better” brand.

I buy a lot of smaller items in bulk from rockauto when they have the wholesale closeouts as well. Usually cant wait the two days to get online parts when working on customer projects so stocking up on the cheaper stuff helps things stay cheaper for everyone. For my own projects if I cant get it on amazon, ebay, summit, or rockauto then I usually go with Orielys. I had a commerical account with napa for over ten years but that store has gone downhill in the last two years. Started an account with Orielys earlier this year.

 

[catbird7]

Are these spot welds or rivets? Or something else?

Does the new sheet metal overlap with the new or butted end to end?

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Sorry I missed your question... The new sheet metal slightly overlaps and it was "plug welded" with a mig.

 

[DrCharles]

Got new brake drums at O'Reilly this morning AND had the store check them for out-of-round. They're perfect. So I put them on and so far so good.

The counter guy also put the drum calipers on the pair I'd bought at Autozone. One was nearly elliptical! Well, at least 1/16" anyway. Going to return them for refund tomorrow. So much for "Duralast" parts. O'Reilly seems to be building a better reputation everywhere compared to Autozone...

I often mail order too. Especially from Rock Auto when the total price + shipping is competitive. But I wanted to move a few things with the truck this week and the local store had the drums in stock.

 

[Dsl_Dog_Treat]

Tried going back in time.

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[DrCharles]

You need to hit 88 for that to happen... along with 1.21 gigawatts of power

 

[Jason1377]

Had a odd thing happen in the truck checked all fluids oil while hot n dipstick said I was low but my oil gauge never changed at all it stayed at the a in normal, was on level ground so i set oil in it checked it about 6pm when I got back for town said it was close to the end of the hash marks.

also trying to search why the truck squals when I shut it off does it for a bout 2 seconds is that normal