Midnight_Rider's progress log

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 12:38 am

TheRandom1 wrote:Sounds to me like either your mechanic is too lazy to work on a part that may be difficult because of rust... or he's trying to get you to shell out money needlessly.

Okay, it wasn't my mechanic who commented on the tie rods- it was the tech at the alignment shop where I have been going for years. The tech said that he doubted that he would be able to align the car in the future if the rust gets any worse. Since he doesn't sell or install tie rods, he doesn't stand to gain anything by telling me that they might need to be replaced.

Danteneon wrote:And I wouldn't worry too much about coating the coilovers. The polished stainless steel body and nylon perches makes for a very weather resistant package. A good wipe down every now and then will keep them looking like new.

Too late- I already have a can of Boeshield in the mail via amazon.com due to Canada's recommendation.

stdlystdmufn wrote:very nice mod im glad your guy came through

Thanks! You may get to replace some tie rods depending on how this plays out.

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 7:37 am

Can you take a pic of said "too rusty" tie rods gramps? I'm calling BS on that tech, because, living here in Chicago I go through the same salty bullcrap you do, and have had tie rods done on damn near all of my cars and never had that problem. He may not be able to sell you tie rods, but telling you that will either make you buy new ones, or he doesn't want your business and is hoping you'll realize that.

Either way unless they're made of paper thin metal you should be fine.

Post by **Canada** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 8:42 am

Even though its stainless and nylon, the Boeshield won't hurt by any means, it will keep any oxidization off the body and since its a daily, it will help keep the salt and dust and dirt out of the threads between cleanings!

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 8:49 am

Agreed. Every little bit helps

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 9:47 am

TheRandom1 wrote:Can you take a pic of said "too rusty" tie rods gramps? I'm calling BS on that tech, because, living here in Chicago I go through the same salty bullcrap you do, and have had tie rods done on damn near all of my cars and never had that problem. He may not be able to sell you tie rods, but telling you that will either make you buy new ones, or he doesn't want your business and is hoping you'll realize that.

Either way unless they're made of paper thin metal you should be fine.

I can't take pics right now since the wheels are mounted. And I doubt that he told me this because he doesn't want my business- I have been going to that shop for more than a decade, I was dealing with the owner yesterday and he definitely is outspoken enough to tell me to get lost if he didn't want me to come back.

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 9:51 am

Then he's an idiot or you have the only case anyone I've talked to has ever heard of severely rusted tie rods. (I talked to several mechanics/technicians/mechanically inclined people I know to find out WTF this was)

stdlystdmufn · Post by **stdlystdmufn** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 11:49 am

you can cock your wheels all the way to the side and should be able to get a shot of the tie rods to see if they are that rusty.

sxxxt · Post by **sxxxt** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 8:30 pm

Hey gramps just saw u on 31 headed north... Bump for coils!!

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 11:59 pm

stdlystdmufn wrote:you can cock your wheels all the way to the side and should be able to get a shot of the tie rods to see if they are that rusty.

I'll do better than that on the 25th- I'll have my mechanic remove the front wheels also when he takes the rear ones off to work on the brakes.

sxxxt wrote:Hey gramps just saw u on 31 headed north... Bump for coils!!

Nope, wasn't me- the car was in the garage all day while I was at work.

sxxxt · Post by **sxxxt** » Sat Jun 04, 2011 1:22 am

Haha I know insaw u in ur work suv

Haganracing · Post by **Haganracing** » Sat Jun 04, 2011 1:37 am

I wish I could live near gramps so I could see his car and chill with him

SC62391 · Post by **SC62391** » Sat Jun 04, 2011 3:26 am

Can't wait to see how she sits

LilSparkPlug · Post by **LilSparkPlug** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 10:50 am

I see no pictures, this saddens me

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 1:20 am

Car is still pre-Carlisle dirty so no pics right now. I will take some of the tie rods on the 25th during the rear brake work time (taking all four wheels off to spray on the Boeshield spray that Canada recommended).

EDITED because I misspelled Boeshield.

Hudson_Neon · Post by **Hudson_Neon** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 12:27 pm

I'm just gonna call BS on the tie-rods. When that kid graduates from tech to mechanic maybe he'll understand how to correctly use heat to break any nut loose. Till then I'd ask that somebody else there works on your car. You don't want morons working on such a beautiful ride

LilSparkPlug · Post by **LilSparkPlug** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 5:41 pm

I'll wait patiently

Post by **Diablo0** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 6:06 pm

I'm really shocked to see Gramps modding

Hell must have froze over.

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 12:46 am

Hudson_Neon wrote:I'm just gonna call BS on the tie-rods. When that kid graduates from tech to mechanic maybe he'll understand how to correctly use heat to break any nut loose. Till then I'd ask that somebody else there works on your car. You don't want morons working on such a beautiful ride

Okay, I should have posted a cast of characters as it seems people here are getting those who work on my car confused.

1. "My mechanic"- former Dodge dealership mechanic who now has his own shop, specializing in SRT-4s (he installed the BOV, CAI and coilovers and accidentally broke a nut before using heat on the other ones. He had nothing to do with the tie rods);
2. "Mechanic at dealership"- 2GN member stdlystdmufn. He works at a C-J-D dealership (did my last oil change and had nothing to do with the tie rods);
3. "Tech at alignment shop"- actually the owner of the shop. He is the one who made the comment about the rusty tie rods.

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Sat Jun 25, 2011 10:50 pm

Before install of rear pads:

New vs. old pads:

After install of rear pads:

Driver's side tie rod:

Sean, you were right- my mechanic said that the alignment shop owner was probably upset about having to heat up the nut to adjust it and that I should probably go elsewhere for alignments in the future.

Sorry for not posting pics of a lowered car but I decided to leave it at stock height for now (my mechanic suggested that, since I'll be driving on unfamiliar roads- to and from Carlisle- I should leave the car at stock height until I'm more comfortable with changing the stance).

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Sat Jun 25, 2011 10:53 pm

Glad to see someone is giving you a good line Gramps. I think you'd be OK with the lowered car, but it does kind of make sense too.

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Sat Jun 25, 2011 10:56 pm

Yeah, Chris (my mechanic) is a good kid and I trust his advice. I say "kid" since I found out today that he was born the year after I graduated from high school.

LilSparkPlug · Post by **LilSparkPlug** » Sat Jun 25, 2011 11:59 pm

So you raised the car back up from the settings it came with?

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Sun Jun 26, 2011 12:36 am

My mechanic asked if I wanted it lowered and, when I hesitated, he said that he would leave it where it was after the original install. I should have taken a pic of the front passenger-side today to illustrate as there is almost 1/4 of an inch before the stop ring.

LilSparkPlug · Post by **LilSparkPlug** » Sun Jun 26, 2011 1:02 am

I would've been interested in said picture lol

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Sun Jun 26, 2011 12:04 pm

^^My apologies as you did cross my mind when I was standing there, camera in hand, but I think that my mechanic asked me something about then and I lost focus. I will

myself for you.

I already know that everyone at Carlisle is gonna pounce on me ("The stance is the same!") but I'm going to let it stay stock height for now and maybe, after a while, I'll get over myself and do some experimentation.

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Sun Jun 26, 2011 12:05 pm

You realize the people at Carlisle will adjust your suspension for you whether you want to or not, right?

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Sun Jun 26, 2011 12:11 pm

Oh, you mean that they will make me share the chloroform-soaked rag with Haganracing to do guerrilla work on my car?

EDITED to correct spelling of "guerrilla".

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Sun Jun 26, 2011 12:11 pm

I'm terrified to know what you just said, haha.

Haganracing · Post by **Haganracing** » Sun Jun 26, 2011 12:13 pm

Midnight_Rider wrote:Oh, you mean that they will make me share the chloroform-soaked rag with Haganracing to do gorilla work on my car?

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Sun Jun 26, 2011 12:23 pm

TheRandom1 wrote:I'm terrified to know what you just said, haha.

viewtopic.php?p=884813#884813

Sean, maybe the spelling correction I just made will make the post make sense.