You have yet to mention if you own alligator jaw vise grips - Thats the key. As for how long it takes, who cares. I go slow when I work on my car so it always takes a while. Plus I put some red thread locker on my some of my brake bolts, re-greased the sliders while I was down there and checked everything else out. No need to rush things.

 

only euro gets the good cars :P

 

I do have an assortment of vise grips...what kind of backyard mechanic would I be if I didn't have them? LOL

Between my air tools and my vice grips, I've got this job covered...I'm thinking taking the wheels off will be the hardest part...I'm not about to snap a stud on a Sunday so it's time to try a little WD-40 and let them sit for a few minutes, then if they don't want to come off, I will have to use the butane torch.

Later I will have to stop at one of the parts stores and see if I can find some lug nuts to help with my problems...STUPID OPEN-ENDED LUG NUTS!!!!!!


EDIT: All done with the endlinks...they weren't too bad. I had a lot of trouble with the lug nuts on the driver's side...that took the most time...pulling the endlinks out and replacing them was quite easy, nothing was seized and I checked out my brakes and what not while I was in there...everything else seems to be good...I will drive it a little later when Oliver gets up from his nap...we'll go to the store, then the park and get dinner. And I can see how well the car handles and if there are fewer clunking noises....should be better all around.

I can't believe how massive the Moog endlinks are compared to the stock ones...great quality.

 

/\ time to invest in a tq wrench

 

I have 2, I just never use them...lol.

 

Every Cruze in the state so far is an automatic...Boo

 

It looks like all the 1.4L turbo Cruze's will be auto...only the 1.8L has the option...if I read correctly...not exactly thrilled about that, but oh well.

The girl I'm seeing from Rochester (Michelle)...she is going to test drive one tomorrow...she stopped in Zumbrota and looked at it today and tomorrow she'll see what she thinks...she's trying to find a new car (wants to replace an 08 Grand Prix that she has been having a lot of problems with....she has also put over 40k miles on in less than 2 years). She was looking at Camry's and a few other cars, I told her to check the Cruze out and she likes the looks at least. She is looking for fuel economy because of driving so far for work.


I also have what I'm pretty sure is bad news...let me upload a couple pics and get opinions, but I think my passenger side axle doesn't look too good...it appears to be leaking as their is grease all over the outside of it and on part of the tranny next to it....not happy at all...any idea what it would cost to have one replaced? I'm not going through the trouble of putting stock suspension back on to have warranty replace it unless it's well worth my time and money.

Picasa Web Albums - michael maciazka

Picasa Web Albums - michael maciazka

Picasa Web Albums - michael maciazka

I realize the pics all suck, but hopefully you can see what I'm talking about.

 

Dunno what her price range is, but the new fiesta, focus or fusion may be a good car to check out as well.

 

I couldn't make out much on the pics but either way an axle replacement a pretty simple job. Be sure to by some tran fluid as well.

 

hybrid GT3 gets 18th place at alms

YouTube - 911 GT3 R Hybrid Race Recap - 2010 Petit LeMans

 

I mentioned them to her...apparently the Cruze will be more expensive in terms of insurance than her Grand Prix and the payments would be out of her price range, but she loved it. She likes the Fusion so she'll probably check that out, but for some reason she's stuck on the Camry...I'm not saying they aren't good, but she wants to go a little smaller and Camry doesn't seem much smaller.

I looked at Rock Auto...they have CV Half Shaft listed for $55 roughly...is that the full axle or is there more to it? I thought at first that couldn't be it, but then when I looked at OTTP and they have Stage 1 axles for $190 only, I started thinking, maybe that is the entire thing...would it be best to replace them in pairs just to be safe or only do one if necessary? I think I'll have someone check it out when I get time to bring it in somewhere just because I don't want to waste time replacing something that may not need it (I just noticed how "wet" everything is under there from oil/grease and assume it's leaking).

Is there a for sure way to tell if it's going bad? What would symptoms be? Last question, should I invest in a factory service manual set? I will probably be keeping this car for quite some time so I will probably be doing any and all repairs myself if possible.

 

that looks like a bad axle seal. in the transmission..

axle grease is thick (think wheel bearing grease) and can only come out of the axle if the boot is torn or the clamps have came loose.

 

Yeah I was thinking axle seal too. I just replaced mine this past spring because it was leaking fluid all over.

Part wasnt to spendy and it only took me a Sunday afternoon to get it in...going at a slow pace

 

Note: you'll need a few tools you probly don't own.

 

and one of them is in my pants

 

axle nut socket, air impact, basic sockets, and a few pry bars.. and a few long extensions


not to terrible

 

Small block of wood or ***** shaped tool used to install new axle seal. While installing you must be careful as to not damage the seal.

A special pry hook tool is used to pull the seal \/



Pic I took just after I pulled the seal out! This is the drivers side.

 

axle nut socket "should" be big enough to install the new seal, and a pry bar will take care of pulling out the old

 

What's the cost of a seal....less than $20 or more? About how long with taking time and breaks, would you say? Somewhere in the 4-6 hour range? I could spend a day no problem, but it's getting colder and I wonder if this could wait until next spring if I take it easy? If not, I'd better hurry and find time to get it done.

 

I looked briefly at RockAuto.com for the seal, but couldn't find it...help as to part number or anything? I will do some searching and find it myself, but if anyone has a quick answer, that would be great.

 

Book time (what a tech/auto shop gets paid) is 1.2hrs..so that is a relatively easy to do.. If you decide you don't wanna do it, you can always call your friendly neighborhood mechainc

I forget your car is an auto correct?


according to alldata the OEM part number is 24233355, $23... now alldata is sometime incorrect

 

I prefer the way I did it

The hook tool worked great!

 

I'm ready to dump all my cars and get a lincoln mks TT v6....

 

Over priced and looks boring. You could have a tricked out Evo or STi for that.

Maybe you should dump that SUV and drive your SS year round like the rest of us. Its pretty damn fun with snow tires!!!

 

errr what? used they are low 20's :P AWD TT v6, and its the same engine as the SHO so theres plenty of parts for more power. Only problem is its automatic :/

Drive the SS year round? ya no thanks. 1. the SS is what is bleeding money 2. The fwd sucks with the hills up here. you guys in the TC are spoiled with how flat it is :P