What do you do for your own ‘vehicle wrenching’?

[cnelk]

Like the title says - what do you all do for keeping your vehicle ready to roll?

I do all my oil changes, rotate tires, change differential lube, power steering fluid change, and whatever else I can.

I recently needed front struts but had a shop do that work.

 

[TxxAgg]

I keep it in tip-top shape, but I outsource it

 

[mainbeam pursuit2]

I do the same as cnelk, try a few other things but that is becoming less as I get older.

 

[Machingeaneer]

In the last few years I've only outsourced for an exhaust manifold, brake lines twice, two transmission fluid changes and a pair of snapped leaf spring shackles. Each year I take on more and more as I get tools and experience. I spend the savings on more hunting gear and guns I most definitely need.

 

[justinspicher]

I have a local shop that does everything for me.

 

[Trr15]

Been wrenching on an older Jeep JK off and on for a couple years to serve as my primary hunting vehicle. I’ve added reservoir shocks, upgraded to 1 ton steering, suspension lift, control arms, brakes and rotors, fluids and filters, etc. also added an onboard air system, winch, front/rear bumpers and aux lights and changed the thermostat. I dont have the time to work on our daily drivers, but the Jeep has been a winter project for me and I’ve learned a lot in the process. Pretty happy with how it’s turned out.

 

[JRay]

I’m glad you posted this question. It reminds me that I need to avoid the convenience of drive thru service and get back to doing more of my own work.

 

[CorbLand]

Anymore I just do oil changes. Going to do ATF and rear differential here soon. I use to do brakes, suspension, oil, bearings, etc but it’s much easier to pay someone.

Last time I need the brakes done. I priced it out and it was 150 bucks more to pay someone to do them than to do them myself. Dropped it off, went to work and picked it up on my way back home.

Buddy that use to help me a lot moved back so I may start doing more again but I doubt it.

 

[go_deep]

Been able to do everything from engine oil seals, suspension, to oil changes.

 

[np307]

When I was a teenager I had a Toyota pickup. The rear end went out on it so I had my uncle help me swap in a junkyard axle. I had just had rear brakes put on so we swapped them from the bad axle to the good one. Upon doing so, we realized the shop had put the self adjusters on the wrong sides. From that point on, I decided to do as much as I possibly could on a vehicle and just about every time I've decided to break that rule for convenience, I've regretted it.

So pretty much anything that needs to be fixed on one of my vehicles, I'm doing it myself. Its only Japanese vehicles in my driveway so that keeps the work to a minimum but I'm still handy with a scan tool and a test light.

 

[knale87]

I do everything I can. Haven’t had to take a vehicle to a shop in a long time. Newer vehicles are a pain though. I do like getting the kids involved and teaching them. That’s how I learned, have good memories of wrenching with my Dad and Grandfather.

 

[Nykki]

I'm a retired mechanic I can fix whatever it needs. I don't farm out any work on my truck.

 

[Libtard McSocalist]

Not much electrical but short of that I’ll do it on the gassers. Not much experience with the diesels but the farm truck has had no issues so far

 

[WiscoHoundsman]

I try and do most of the mechanical things that don’t affect the motor. Oil changes, brakes, bearings, ect.

 

[sierracharlie338]

Unfortunately I drive a vehicle that makes it hard to do some of the more in depth engine related stuff but all fluids and filters, shocks, exhaust, brakes etc. If I can do it I will but some of it has to be taken to a pro.

This also reminds me I’m due for an oil change this weekend.

 

[Fatcamp]

Quite a bit. I do have a great shop a few miles away who charge me an arm and a leg when I bring them my half finished projects to complete. Which is fine by me. I wrench on stuff because I enjoy it, always have.

 

[realunlucky]

I had jeeps for a long time now, which means plenty of non working parts.

I usually end up doing everything myself, I've done everything from fluid swaps to installing a brand new engine.

I run it pretty hard and have broken lots of stuff a long ways from the pavement so handy to be able to limp it back out.

Sent from my SM-S926U using Tapatalk

 

[ShooterGrade]

I'm lucky that my dad is a mechanic with his own shop, so we pretty much handle everything ourselves. It is so nice to have a lift when working on your own stuff rather than working on the ground

 

[MuleyFever]

I change my air filter and put air in my tires. Honestly, I just dont want to spend my time working on a vehicle.

 

[taskswap]

Obvious basic maintenance, but also I always carry with me a set of upper and lower rad hoses, a serpentine belt, a bottle of oil, a bottle of Diesel 911 (emergency anti-gel) and one of those gimmicky (but who knows?) tire patch kits. I also have a Dewalt combo compressor/inflator and a generic brand lithium "jump pack". If going hunting or scouting, I carry a 5 gallon container of extra diesel as well.

I don't carry extra coolant because I always have several gallons of water with me no matter where I go. As long as you don't let it freeze, you can run plain water as coolant if you had a leak. (And fun trivia, plain water actually cools more effectively than glycol anyway.)

For tools I have what everyone probably does, no need to list it. I really like these tool rolls, and have one in each vehicle:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B092C9DFCB

They're really cheap but durable and hold a lot in a small package without things clanking around.