Fried_Chicken
03-16-2019, 10:27 PM
No diagnostic request here. I just want to let someone know I'm doing a whole bunch of stuff.
Gym memberships are overrated, just drive 16 year old German car with over 160k miles.
It's amazing how stuff just seems to add up.
It started like 2 years ago when I for whatever reason was in a bad mood, turned my traction control off, and spun out the car, hitting the sidewalk with my rear left wheel. After this incident, I'm convinced pedestrians have no rights.
My lower suspension mount got bent and needed immediate replacing, and my mechanic also knew I'd need a new wheel bearings. I ordered 2, and they've been sitting comfortably in my garage for the past 2 years (FAGs).
Fast forward to today, and I'm finally getting stuff done. Only now, I also need new differential bushings (I drive hard and fast), and since I need to unhook the driveshaft to do those anyway, and removing the driveshaft requires disconnecting the exhaust, and disconnecting the exhaust helps with everything else in the rear, I went ahead and did everything all at once.
So everything I'm doing:
flex disk (had cracks, needed replacing whoo!)
center support bearing. I think I was getting driveline vibrations, so doing this isn't wasted time.
differential bushings, front and rear (currently in the freezer)
wheel bearings (also still in the freezer). They made a noise after the accident, but it didn't get worse as promised. Still, worth doing.
Replace stupid squeaky Bilstein with OEM Sachs rear shocks
Some BS I ran into while doing the work (so far):
1. I ordered front struts (Sachs OEM). I got two Sachs struts with the correct part number, but one said "Super Touring" and had a blue label, the other had a white label. When compressed, the "Super Touring" strut rebounded more slowly than the white labeled "regular" srut. I don't know what's going on here, but I don't like this, and I'm going to re-order them.
2. the locking nuts for the half axle were a PITA to get unlocked. The impact did the trick.
3. one of the flex disk bolts was FUSED to the flex disk and required oiling and bashing
4. the rear of the driveshaft was fused to the CV joint, requiring some oiling, bashing, and prying to get off
5. I wasn't sure how best to remove the center support bearing. Eventually I managed to pry it off with a puller after I just went gorilla on it
6. the left transaxle (from the broken bearing) REFUSED to come off, even with a sledge hammer. I got the biggest baddest puller I could find to end the negotiation
7. My parts supplier didn't have the rear differential mount. I had to get one from the dealer for $60 more than I should have spent on it.
8. I couldn't find a shifter rebuild kit for the ZHP, so although now would be the perfect time to do it, I'm not doing it.
By the time everything is done, I expect to have used a full bottle of penetrating oil.
I can diarrhea some pictures into this post:
348663486734868348693487034871
Tomorrow I hope to finish all this. I hope I don't total the car immediately. I would be pissed.
Gym memberships are overrated, just drive 16 year old German car with over 160k miles.
It's amazing how stuff just seems to add up.
It started like 2 years ago when I for whatever reason was in a bad mood, turned my traction control off, and spun out the car, hitting the sidewalk with my rear left wheel. After this incident, I'm convinced pedestrians have no rights.
My lower suspension mount got bent and needed immediate replacing, and my mechanic also knew I'd need a new wheel bearings. I ordered 2, and they've been sitting comfortably in my garage for the past 2 years (FAGs).
Fast forward to today, and I'm finally getting stuff done. Only now, I also need new differential bushings (I drive hard and fast), and since I need to unhook the driveshaft to do those anyway, and removing the driveshaft requires disconnecting the exhaust, and disconnecting the exhaust helps with everything else in the rear, I went ahead and did everything all at once.
So everything I'm doing:
flex disk (had cracks, needed replacing whoo!)
center support bearing. I think I was getting driveline vibrations, so doing this isn't wasted time.
differential bushings, front and rear (currently in the freezer)
wheel bearings (also still in the freezer). They made a noise after the accident, but it didn't get worse as promised. Still, worth doing.
Replace stupid squeaky Bilstein with OEM Sachs rear shocks
Some BS I ran into while doing the work (so far):
1. I ordered front struts (Sachs OEM). I got two Sachs struts with the correct part number, but one said "Super Touring" and had a blue label, the other had a white label. When compressed, the "Super Touring" strut rebounded more slowly than the white labeled "regular" srut. I don't know what's going on here, but I don't like this, and I'm going to re-order them.
2. the locking nuts for the half axle were a PITA to get unlocked. The impact did the trick.
3. one of the flex disk bolts was FUSED to the flex disk and required oiling and bashing
4. the rear of the driveshaft was fused to the CV joint, requiring some oiling, bashing, and prying to get off
5. I wasn't sure how best to remove the center support bearing. Eventually I managed to pry it off with a puller after I just went gorilla on it
6. the left transaxle (from the broken bearing) REFUSED to come off, even with a sledge hammer. I got the biggest baddest puller I could find to end the negotiation
7. My parts supplier didn't have the rear differential mount. I had to get one from the dealer for $60 more than I should have spent on it.
8. I couldn't find a shifter rebuild kit for the ZHP, so although now would be the perfect time to do it, I'm not doing it.
By the time everything is done, I expect to have used a full bottle of penetrating oil.
I can diarrhea some pictures into this post:
348663486734868348693487034871
Tomorrow I hope to finish all this. I hope I don't total the car immediately. I would be pissed.