deadphoenix52

iTrader: (2)

this could be fun. as some of you may remember i recently replaced all my brakes. rotors, pads, everything. one of the rotors had a slightly different grain than the rest. i also had no idea how new brakes are supposed to behave. So, the judder and grinding i dimissed as them breaking in. i went out and bedded the brakes. it got a bit better. drove around for a week. still did it. bedded them again. it got much better this time. but i could still hear a slight grinding. at this point i decide its not normal and to check it out. i find this:







needless to say i failed pretty hardcore. the rotor is ruined. so i had to order a new one, new pad, shims, bearings etc. $80 mistake.

i guess i should be thankful this was my only mistake. I mean, I wasnt blasting down the highway while bedding them and have a line come off or my master cylinder rebuild not be quite up to par.

anyway, post up if you dare

1badFB

iTrader: (1)

Hahaha,
A friend of mine took your fail a step further!
This pad got so hot it welded to the rotor, and forced its way past the caliper bracket.

Lets just say it was quite interesting taking this apart:

LOL


My biggest failboat was the night I purchased my 1999 Toyota Corolla (the winter beast).
I had just brought it home, in absolutely perfect shape when I tried out the remote start.

Unfortunately there was no safety switch, and the car was in gear...

It started up, drove across the back lane and took out the neighbours garage door.
2 hours after the purchase it was wedged into a garage. Probably the most epic fail ever.
Sadly, no picture of that! haha

Banzai

iTrader: (13)

Look at the bright side....I'd bet you never make that mistake again!

deadphoenix52

iTrader: (2)

damn that sucks about your corolla. i couldnt imagine standing in my driveway watching my car drive itself into the neighbors garage. id be in disbelief.

and yeah, this is definitely a once in a lifetime mistake. ill be triple check any brake pads i install from now on. i think i was in a hurry to get it all together cuz i hadnt driven the car in two months. well, thats my excuse anyway

Mthead

Here's a good one. Drove 110 Miles to pick up this truck for my very first car, paid for eveything in cash from working that past year. Got there, and the guy couldnt start the truck (keep in mind this is after i've already given him a deposit to take the truck). So he runs to the parts store and a few hours later we get the starter switched replaced. It's dark, im in no where tennessee, time to go home. We get about 5 minutes away from the guys house and I hear a terrible knocking then... BAM! There goes a rod, right out of the oil pan.

Mr_Miles

iTrader: (1)

LOL.

When I had my 71 Scout II I had to install a push button start. at that time the truck was auto - I had not done the manual swap (no failboats doing that, btw)
and unless you slammed it into park, it would rest on the peak of the selector rail between park and reverse.
my very important lady friend was sitting in the passenger seat, and I reached in to start it to warm it up. as i moved my arm back, i knocked it from park to drive. it went into my house, took out a beam by the front door. My mom came out and just started laughing her *** off. the only saving grace was the little brick wall - my big *** custom winch bumper had caught the top inch of the brick and it stalled the truck, if it didn't it would have gone through the window.

bmeyer

iTrader: (5)

When I was doing brakes on my car, I failed to put washers on the back caliper bolts. I drove a hundred feet and wondered what the awful grinding sound was, and drove back to the car tent. The bolt ground a nice big groove in my brand new rotors. DOH!

j9fd3s

iTrader: (3)

in its former life as a Pro7 car peepers actually passed tech and did a couple track days with a backwards brake pad!

i noticed the rotor was all torn up, but i just thought it was a hawk blue! i actually just got a new rotor and flipped the pad, i think they worked better backwards....

there was a bunch of stuff like that on the car

deadphoenix52

iTrader: (2)

haha. the PO of my car did this. ill get a pic of the rotor. but theres a nice deep groove. i couldnt figure out what caused till i got mine all back together. then i realized, cuz i almost forgot the washers as well

orion84gsl

iTrader: (5)

Overtightened both front wheel bearings last year. On my way from Ontario to Manitoba I cut through the US Got hallfway through Michigan when they both failed, welding themselves to the spindles. Spent the weekend on Kentetsu's couch and scrambling to get replacements.

Stevan

iTrader: (17)

03 f-150 making grinding noise While driving, confirm with passenger; it's coming from the rear. Remove differential cover, remove locking pin, remove rear brake hardware, remove axles and replace bearings/seals. Noise still present, inspect front rotors; loose. Tighten nut on spindle, noise gone.

My first 7, the beginning of my mechanical education. Clutch pedal goes to floor with no effect. My dumb *** deduction; bad clutch, jack stands, trans out, new disc and pressure plate, reassemble(at my friends apt). Clutch pedal goes to floor with no effect. Oh!, replace slave cylinder; Clutch works

83 f-150; installed re-man engine, adjusted valves, drove 2000 miles, during oil change, drained and added 6 quarts of oil, checked dip stick, no oil. 6 quart puddle on the floor of my workplace.

I will probably add more as I am 50 and had a few vehicles, and always had trouble with my memory

2GSLSE

iTrader: (6)

Changing oil on my FB poked hole in the top of the filter to drain, drained oil, tightened plug, the phone rings, talk a bit then add 5 quarts of oil and start it up lol... hell of a mess to clean since some dumbass didn't remember to change the filter with a hole in it

DivinDriver

iTrader: (15)

I've expunged most of mine from my memory, heh.

But here's the one that still makes my face red:

Shortly after getting married (maybe 1 year in), wife and I still learning aobut each other's strengths and weaknesses. I've finally managed to convince her that I'm a reliable mechanic, capable of more than simple repairs. (I was 30 at the time, had done all my own car work since 16.)

Her '88 Maxima is due for a tune up, first time I've worked on it. Moderately bitchy engine to work on; difficult access especially to the rear bank (FWD OHC V6 = you can't reach much of anything on the sides or back).

I start in right after work on a Friday, as we both need our two cars for work come Monday morning. Pulling plugs out is being a real bitch, as the last gomer who changed them didn't use anti-sieze & they've been in there some time; tips are carboned up bad. A couple I've had to do the 'half turn forward, quarter turn back' maneuver to get hem safely out.

Last plug, rear right, & a real bear just to get to. I get it loosened about a turn, and it freezes in the bore. Oh, crap. I try rocking it, trying to free it in the threads. No dice, locked completely; either contaminated threads or someone mis-threaded it previously, but it is NOT turning out.

No choice at this point but to go to the breaker bar. Heave--- *TING* Plug snaps off below the hex, with threaded portion still in the head, facing the firewall. Not even visible without a mirror, much less extractable.

Did I mention, I'd never worked on an OHC V6 before, nor fuel injection, much less a FWD one built to be serviced by tiny Japanese hands?

So, I methodically work through pulling the rear head off a transverse mount, OHC v6 with Nissan's typically 'innovative' plumbing. Get it out without issue. Take it to a machine shop on Saturday, have the broken plug removed and threads chased with no problems.

I was even able to get a copy of the FSM from my wife's former landlord, who is (no pressure here) a Nissan senior service tech. This should be no sweat.

I get everything reassembled on a Sunday evening, having been my usual over-meticulous self; took my time, no leftover parts, everything in place, thorough grasp of the process before starting, valve timing all set up, blah blah blah.

Feeling all smug, I insert key, turn to start.

Spin but no win. Try as I might, this sucker won't light. Will stumble, almost fire up, but simply fails to seal the deal.

I have to work the next day. The wife humbly suggests, since she can get one day off but must work on Tuesday, that we ask her former landlord the Nissan mechanic to take a look.

With hanging head, I bow to the inevitable. For the first time in a dozen years, a car I'm responsible for will be serviced by someone else, after I've tried and failed.

The verdict? I'd put the nearly-but-not-quite symmetrical intake manifold gasket in upside down.

Humbles me, every time I think about this episode.

deadphoenix52

iTrader: (2)

im never touching the brakes on any car i own ever again lol.

so, friday i got the last of my replacement parts in, replace the rotor. put all new pads in on the front. get it all back together. it had rained while i was doing this. so since it was now nice and cool outside instead of 102, i decided to replace the pads on the 8 as well.

fronts go off without a hitch. i get the left rear done. move to the right rear, once i get it all apart i decide to make sure i set the notch in piston correctly on the left rear, so i set the caliper on top of the rotor and move back to the left rear. ok. its correct, but i moved the piston back all the way. after each wheel i had gone into the car and pumped the brakes to reset the piston and prevent it from overflowing out of the top of the MC. so, i go to do that. pump the pedal a few times.

*pop* -****... get out, yep. i had shot the piston out of the right rear. brake fluid is everywhere. completely forgot it was already apart and sitting on top of the rotor. all i had to do was screw it back in and bleed. by far the hardest part was getting the dust boot set correctly. it was an easy fix. just annoying tho.

im good at this game.

aa35199

iTrader: (1)

Once when I was helping a friend work on a 1.8t vw gti I put the boost controller in backwards which resulted in over boost. I remember that moment when he hit the gas, the turbo spools and BOOM, immediately followed by tinging sounds of things hitting the road. We both immediately thought blown motor, but when we pulled over to see what happened we found the the end tank from the side mount intercooler detached and struck the glass head light shattering it.

Oh and when I was kid trying to teach myself how to work on cars I thought disk brake anti squeal went on the pad surface and rotor, whoops.

When I was 19 and I had my v6 camaro, I dropped the trans pan to swap the fluid, anyways when I was done I stated it up and poured some atf in, looked ok. Well it wasn't, I didn't run through the gears, nor drive around the block and double check and it turned out it needed a lot more fluid and I wound up blowing it on the way to school the next day.

DivinDriver

iTrader: (15)

Well, it certainly wouldn't squeal.

orion84gsl

iTrader: (5)

No, but the driver will when that brick wall comes up.

Stevan

iTrader: (17)

Well at least the anti squeal is a rubbery/silicone product, unlike brake grease, which still stumbles the unknowing auto parts sales person. No, you don't want grease on your brakes!

RX-7 Chris

iTrader: (19)

I once flooded my first 7 and desided to pull the plugs and crank the motor over. Except I left the spark plug wires right by the plug holes. I cranked the car and gas sprayed all over that side of the engine bay and lit on fire. I was lucky I had the garage open and a fire extinguisher right there. I did end I melting all the wires on that side of the engine bay but that was it. It could have been way worse.

mikeric

iTrader: (20)

Yikes!

It helps to keep the alcohol consumption to a minimum when wrenching.

The worst that I can remember is on my FC. I forgot what I was doing that weekend but for some reason, I unhooked the top radiator hose.

Monday morning, I'm driving to work and I notice that there is a lot of dew coming off my car clearly visible in the rearview mirror (I hadn't had my coffee yet). By the time I stopped, the radiator was half empty. Thankfully, it was a cool, dewy morning and I did not suffer any engine damage.

cfamilyfix

iTrader: (15)

About 15 years ago, I purchased a 87 supra turbo targa from a guy that my girl's sister was dating. He was on his way to propose to his girlfriend when his car started to overheat. He was too nervous/ excited or whatever to stop the car to see what was going on so he just kept driving. Ended up overheating the car to the point of engine failure, but got a resounding yes from his girlfriend. Anyhow the car landed in my lap. It was the first piston engined car I had ever owned. I went out and bought an engine for the car, but later discovered that the engine I bought was from an automatic and mine was stick shift. Toyota used different cranks for auto and manual supras and in order to use this engine I needed to swap the crank. I swapped the cranks and installed the engine all with my 100 piece craftsman ratchet set and a rented cherry picker. (not a clue what I was doing) A friend of mine came by and asked if I had rotated the engine at all to see if it was ok prior to install. I had not. We tried and discovered the engine would not rotate. At this point I had spend my life savings(i had just graduated college) and was frustrated beyond words. I figured the motor was junk and I made a rash decision to sell the car and all the parts for a rediculously small sum of money. As you could imagine a buyer came and gobbled it all up. I explained the situation and could not understand why this guy was grinning the whole time. He showed up at my house the next day, with the car running...I was astonished. "How did you get it running?" I asked. He informed me I overtorqued the crankbearings and all the car needed was a fresh set of bearings and proper tightening. He then did a massive burnout in front my house and left. I had sold everything for less than a grand. FAIL The only good that came from it was I got back into rx7's and didn't look back.

Green Lantern

iTrader: (12)

lol, awesome

what I had did:
1958 chevy apache pickup lifted on 80's blazer running gear
PO fabbed some really weak t-case and engine mounts, let the whole engine trans/t-case assy rotate so bad the driveshaft u-joint would smack a crossmember if I realy jumped on it!
My solution: reinforce the super weak t-case mount, did a great job, that bitch wasnt going to flex enough for trouble any more! (I neglected to beef up the eng or trans mounts tho!)
a nice nuetral drop in front of freinds house to celebrate, trans cracks almost in 2, sprayin fluid all over the place! ruined!

rwatson5651

iTrader: (5)

When I rebuilt my '7 and the water temps seemed too high, I replaced the radiator with a new one, replaced the thermostat and water pump. Temps still too high, had a local shop build a three core radiator (pricey). Temps too high still!!!!

In the end the problem was resolved by tightening the bolt that fastened the negative battery cable to the frame.......Very frustrating!

driFDer

iTrader: (1)

Haha some good f'ups here but at least we can look back and laugh about them. Mine came when I was driving my fd home one late night. One of my radiator hose clamps wasn't tight and the hose came off, dumping antifreeze. I got the low coolant buzz when I was a block from my house so I rolled home basically.

Got it into the garage, fixed the hose and started pouring in coolant. Filled in to the top, started the car and the low coolant buzzer was on again and the needle moved to hot. I turn it off quick and go see if its leaking anywhere but the coolant was full, almost overflowing. I figured it was a bad sensor so I started it again and kept it on for a few minutes, revving it lightly to clear up any air bubbles in the system.

My neighbor comes over to see what I'm doing. I explain the situation and he's like, 'but why are you pouring it into the overflow tank and not directly into the radiator?' That single action led to a $5,000 bill for a new reman engine.

mazdaverx713b

iTrader: (91)

had the exact same thing happen.. the carb overflowed due to a stuck float..one ignition wire was dangling and poof, the engine bay was a ball of flames.. it was winter and i had to get buckets of water from the hose...which i had to remove from the spigot. finally got the fire out after spreading flaming gas under the car... it was terrifying to say the least.