Car tid bits you have learned over the years?

[Shane361]

So what little tid bits have you learned over the years dealing with cars? Something you may have learned the hard way or witnessed that might save someone else the heartache. Here are a few of mine...

1. Torque your lug nuts, spark plugs.

2. Use the proper brake tool(not aluminum cube) when doing rear brakes to compress the piston. Just now got the rite tool and pretty much an idiot for not having bought it sooner. If you ever need it..just ask.

3. Do not remove the ebrake spring...it is not easy to reintall!(lol)

4. Clay bar is as good as magic and is #1 on the list for car care products.


Got any???

 

[Shane361]

Wow..so 7 people have nothing to share about cars or have ever learned anything....this wicked stangs forum?:alberteinstein:

 

[yosemiddysam]

Jack stands save lives!!!!!
Drive shafts need to be marked and reinstalled the same way they came off.
03/04 Cobra's are a pain in the ass to get all the air out of the cooling system.
Timing chain tensioners for 2V 4.6's must be primed with oil prior to starting the engine to build tension.

 

[Roushed2]

DSG is the fastest color ever made

 

[yosemiddysam]

Your right the DSG is the fastest to see the tail lights of Black cars. DSG cars pee coolant at the sound of a Black Vert coming up on it.

 

[Lordgufi]

1: torque heads with a real torque wrench not a rusty one ( watched my dads head blow off after 2 heat cycles )

2: make a check list of parts that go on and procedures to use when getting ready to start an engine ( dont forget to tighten a stupid screw clamp and destroy a turbo )

3: never use just one jackstand. the other one might save you from getting your head crushed.

4: if the bolt binds STOP TORQUING IT! remove it and clean the threads or you may be pulling the engine to remove that bolt piece when you realize your drill wont fit in the area you need it to.

 

[Shane361]

+1 on burping the coolant system!!! But if it seems impossible to burp..you might have a blown head gasket!!!!!!

DSG is a VERY fast color..but Orange is faster!!:rofl:

If you need a cross over tube cap dont ask for the Terminator cap..Fords schematics dont have it...ask for a Thunderbirds cross over cap.

 

[IgottaV8]

Don't start cutting/grinding/sawing anything, until you know exactly what you need to do.

 

[Wicked Stangs Chick]

1) Blinkers don't take fluid....


I kid, I kid

 

[Shane361]

Don't start cutting/grinding/sawing anything, until you know exactly what you need to do.

Measure twice cut once...not the other way around! Totally agree!!

 

[kakarote]

If you have leftover parts,...... You did something wrong!!
Nuts, washers etc. always roll under the exact center of the car which you are working.

Remember, the term" ENGINE FLUSH" dose not mean put the wrong oil filter on your car, and watch all that pretty new oil coat the engine compartment because the seal isn't sealed when you start the damn thing.

Lefty loosey righty tighty ain't always so!!

 

[Tommy]

when removing nuts/bolts, keep them organized by placing them in ziploc bags. This prevents them from being scattered all over the garage or rolling under the car. Or worse yet, falling into the intake!

 

[Daniboy1983]

greese and a punch is the best way to remove a pilot bearing

Nothing fits as it should

Don't break a water pump bolt off on father's $10-15,000 motor at midnight the night before the race when he has to work the next day and the motor has to go back into the car

a little oil leak is not a big deal

tire wear tells all

vibrations in the steering wheel is coming from the front end vibrations in the seat of your pants is from the rear of the car

 

[sdsubzero4]

When changing your throttle body, make sure you remember which bolt came off of where. Not all bolts are the same size some are longer then the other for a reason. Also make sure you mark where the hose you disconnect came from so you will put them back on in the right place.
When putting a car on jack stands, always a good idea to put something under the car, i.e. a tire, a jack (lifted up to the car), something that will keep the car from falling on you or your legs, your arms, or some body parts if it happens to slip off the jack stands.

 

[Shane361]

^^^Certain mods Danny I have used a camera to take pics before so I can make after look the same,lol. -Shane

 

[spdpilot]

1) When your throttle sticks open, you are going to have an exciting ride!

2) My biggest one.... saving money on parts up front may seem really smart, but in the end it may not be as big of savings as you thought and you end up spending more then you would have in the first place to get it right.

3) Never buy parts in a hurry. Never works out! Research makes a huge difference in the outcome.

4) Performance is a balance of parts. There is no part that is a silver bullet. And what helps in one area, may hurt another area. Know you ultimate goal and come up with a plan with the right combination.

5) Driving skills is a modification. Even if you have been driving Mustangs for years, each car has it's own personality and if you want to go fast, you got to take the time to learn to drive it. Take driving classes if you have too.

6) Never ask for opinions on Forums unless you really trust the people who are going to give you the advise. And even then, look for a general consensus. Then take that and bounce the idea off a trusted professional. THEN, use the advise.

7) Speaking of professionals. Not all mechanics at shops know what they are doing, just because they say they do. If they can give you the specific details of how and why they do something a certain way, that is a good start, but ALWAYS get a second opinion from another shop.

8) What ever instuctions tell you is the "install time", double it.

9) What ever you think you are going to spend on a mod or repair, double it.

10) What ever HP you think are going to make off the mod, cut it in half and then you will be thrilled with the results.

11) And since number 1 was a joke, my true number 10. Never buy tools at harbor freight unless you only plan to use them once. AND specialty tools are put on this earth for good reason, so what ever "plan" you have to use tools that others say won't work on your mod, they REALLY won't work! Buy the right tools and save yourself a lot of flustration.

 

[IgottaV8]

Rubber and stainless steel braided hoses don't work on a very modded car. Use that EGR tube and cut & weld to make it fit.

 

[02gt]

polyurethane bushings, slicks, and 5k launches dont mix....