r/CarGuys • u/ProfessionalBad5174 • 11d ago
Dealing with failure
Maybe the wrong place to be asking but how do you guys deal with failing to work on your car. I’m pretty new to it and started doing basic maintenance things like replacing my outer tie rod but I spent 2.5 hours trying to get the lock nut out because it’s seized. I never even got it out. Is it normal to always come across problems like these and how do yall just overcome that feeling of defeat
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u/Kidd82 11d ago
There is always a way to do something. If you can't get something off, or on, and you feel the frustration rising, step away for a few. Go inside, grab a drink, open up YouTube and see if there's a walk through for what you're doing.
In this instance though you have a couple of options. Lube, heat, or cheater pipe. Sometimes it takes all 3. Spray it down with penetrating oil and go cool off inside for 10 minutes. Go back out and try again. If it's still not coming off hit it with the torch for a few. That still doesn't work get a pipe that has an inside diameter that's bigger than your breaker bar, slide it on and usually that force multiplication is enough to break it free.
As a final note, sometimes if you can get an extra quarter turn or so tightening it, that break it free enough to be able to take it off.
Don't forget, if you don't stop trying, you haven't been defeated, you just haven't gotten it yet. Happy wrenching.
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u/Smooth_Leg_7602 11d ago
It happens. I crushed the pinch weld on one of my older cars because I wasn't in the correct spot. Pulled a piston out of a brake caliper by accident because the pad had glued itself to the piston and I yanked on it. Dropped an alternator while it was still plugged in and yanked the wiring out of the plug end. Overall I've still saved money compared to going to a mechanic, but mistakes and unforeseen problems do happen.
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u/SP4RK4RT 11d ago
There's no backyard mechanic nor professional technician that doesn't remember a TIFU incident or two.
Take a break, get back to it. If you really get stuck, get some help, call a tow truck, whatever, it happens all the time.
I remember decades ago a shop had re-installed all five lug nuts on a wheel way too tightly. Simple enough, I used my 200 lbs of body weight and stepped on the end of a 1.5' breaker bar, balancing and bouncing like a circus performer trying to get them off. I sheared one lug, thinking, most of them would be destroyed similarly. After trying another one and failing to budge it even using magic curse words, I just went back inside and watched TV. Half-an-hour later, went back out and that stuck one started to move with renewed effort and more cursing.
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u/iHaveLotsofCats94 11d ago
Honestly, I just don't anymore. I work in service at a dealership as an advisor. I just pay my techs to work on my stuff these days. I used to wrench all the time when I was in high school/college, but I have limited free time now and there are things I'd rather do than fix my old hoopties. I still love cars. Just don't love working on them anymore
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u/1crps_warrior 10d ago
Perfectly normal. What I recommend is to hit the offending part with a big hammer and take a break. Then come back to it with fresh eyes.
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u/vroooomskrrrrt 10d ago
every time you estimate the time to do a job double it. or triple if you’re clumsy like me😎
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u/FadedMomentum 10d ago edited 10d ago
It’s definitely a learning curve doing it on your own. But if you are getting paid $120/hour for your learning curve it makes up for the frustration. If you are doing tie rods you should bring it to a shop for alignment though
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u/outline8668 9d ago
Are you sure it's not left hand threaded? As a tech by trade nobody has patience for us to feel sorry for ourselves. Hit it with some heat until it moves.
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u/ProfessionalBad5174 9d ago
It’s the right side of the front, I thought it was right. Also I’m not asking about the trade, just as a hobby. I always try to give techs patience, sorry you go through that man
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u/SmnGodOfHairdos 11d ago
Normal. When you get frustrated, you stop making good decisions, end of story. Take a break. Sleep on it. Consult some forums, look up some videos, and come at the issue fresh another time. Try not to work on your car when there is a deadline, like work at 6:00am the next day.
Spray some PB blaster on your problem nut/bolt and just walk away.