Any Mechanics?
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Jonathon replacing the caliper, pads, rotor and bleed is maybe an hour job outside of a shop. As long as you don’t break anything. It should be an easy diagonals on those parts, if they are bad, not a guess. Spongey brake pedal or with fade is a possible sign of air in the brake lines or possibly old contaminated fluid. Brake fluid likes to absorb water, I usually flush my lines about every three years. A wheel bearing can be a little tougher to diagnose until it really gets bad or fails. You need time, tools, the willingness and as Dirty Harry stated a man must know his limitations.
You got alot of good advice from folks so far. The best is buy a Ford, LOL. My last F-150 lasted me 25+yrs I am now on my second, but I do have a Toyota SUV.
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Jonathon replacing the caliper, pads, rotor and bleed is maybe an hour job outside of a shop. As long as you don’t break anything. It should be an easy diagonals on those parts, if they are bad, not a guess. Spongey brake pedal or with fade is a possible sign of air in the brake lines or possibly old contaminated fluid. Brake fluid likes to absorb water, I usually flush my lines about every three years. A wheel bearing can be a little tougher to diagnose until it really gets bad or fails. You need time, tools, the willingness and as Dirty Harry stated a man must know his limitations.
You got alot of good advice from folks so far. The best is buy a Ford, LOL. My last F-150 lasted me 25+yrs I am now on my second, but I do have a Toyota SUV.
YooperDog I’ve owned several early 70’s Ford 150’s and 250’s…loved them. Most were bought for around $500. I just picked up a 92’ 250 with a 460 for $500! I’ve made a few hauls to the landfill in the meantime so IMO it’s already paid for itself. It’s still running on the same tank of gas the previous owner provided but as few miles as I’ve put on this rig it’s obvious that it has a drinking problem. That said, anytime I leave the mechanic with a bill for $500 I feel like I dodged a bullet. For that money I’d say fix the things that need fixed anyway and roll the dice that it solves your problem.

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YooperDog I’ve owned several early 70’s Ford 150’s and 250’s…loved them. Most were bought for around $500. I just picked up a 92’ 250 with a 460 for $500! I’ve made a few hauls to the landfill in the meantime so IMO it’s already paid for itself. It’s still running on the same tank of gas the previous owner provided but as few miles as I’ve put on this rig it’s obvious that it has a drinking problem. That said, anytime I leave the mechanic with a bill for $500 I feel like I dodged a bullet. For that money I’d say fix the things that need fixed anyway and roll the dice that it solves your problem.

Joe Hell nice looking rig. In my area of the country the metal doesn’t look that good. We are the top area for putting salt down on the roads during winter. The cab of my last truck was rusting off the frame. I haven’t found a full size truck that doesn’t have a drinking problem, but they have gotten better over the years. I have a pretty good mechanic. He will talk me through some things I am having issues with and will even come out to the house. He gets my business and I treat him and his crew well. I do the things I can and let them do the rest.
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I got 327,000 miles on my 2005 FORD escape !!! FORD is #1
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Our 2007 Toyota Highlander had 228,000 miles on it when we traded it in last year for a new Highlander. Put 2 sets of brakes on it and 1 set of rotors. Did the timing belt once. My 2010 Chev K3500 has only 138,000 on it, it replaced my 2000 F-350 that had 219,000 miles.
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Joe Hell I love that truck man, I like old trucks for some reason, my wife always tenses up when I see one for sale! Denny that was the first thing I checked, I have had that happen before. Chef I will check to see if the rotor is warped, hopefully, that isn’t the issue.
Mine has 220,000 on it so I’ve got a while to go before I reach 327,000…in all honesty I doubt I will get there as I drive about 8 miles a day since I work so close to my house but who knows, maybe Il have the truck for another 20 years!
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For the price of a vehicle I keep them until I get my money’s worth. I like doing my own work when I can. I have been collecting tools since I was 16, only thing I wish I had is a lift. I put a plow on my trucks and it is hard on the vehicle, brakes and tranny’s get abused the most. A buddy of mine still has the first new truck he brought, 78 Ford, looks almost new, it has lived a charmed life.
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I have a VERY well used Toyota Tundra V8 4 wheel drive beater truck that I bought a few years ago. I have a weird noise coming from the driverside wheel well and I already had the CV joint and sleeve replaced so it is not that. My Mechanic (who I do trust) said he thinks it is something with the caliper locking and the brakes are a bit spongy as well. Wants $500 to fix but that might NOT be the issue. It seems to happen more when I am turning, or even just going around a corner to the right-hand side. I’m fine replacing thermocouples and belts and things like this but I have never messed with brakes before. I would gladly pay the $500 if I knew it would fix it but it seems more like this is just a guess. Any thoughts?
Jonathon if you have been on a wet gravel road with it double check that it isn’t caked in the wheel well or in your calipers. I had a similar issue several years ago and it took taking the wheel off and hitting everything with a good power wash to fix. Just a suggestion.
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I got 327,000 miles on my 2005 FORD escape !!! FORD is #1
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Joe Hell nice looking rig. In my area of the country the metal doesn’t look that good. We are the top area for putting salt down on the roads during winter. The cab of my last truck was rusting off the frame. I haven’t found a full size truck that doesn’t have a drinking problem, but they have gotten better over the years. I have a pretty good mechanic. He will talk me through some things I am having issues with and will even come out to the house. He gets my business and I treat him and his crew well. I do the things I can and let them do the rest.
YooperDog I’ve got a great mechanic here in Walla Walla (Alexander Automotive) that I have complete confidence in. He is more than fair with pricing and if he thinks I can take care of it myself he will tell me how to do it. My dad, grandfather, brothers and friends use him as well. I bring his crew and their dogs treats from the shop and they bring their entire family and buy product from the shop frequently as well. I love having mutually beneficial business relationships!
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Joe Hell I love that truck man, I like old trucks for some reason, my wife always tenses up when I see one for sale! Denny that was the first thing I checked, I have had that happen before. Chef I will check to see if the rotor is warped, hopefully, that isn’t the issue.
Mine has 220,000 on it so I’ve got a while to go before I reach 327,000…in all honesty I doubt I will get there as I drive about 8 miles a day since I work so close to my house but who knows, maybe Il have the truck for another 20 years!
Jonathon This is at least the 7th vehicle that I have bought from customers at my other job as an insurance agent. I don’t think I’ve ever paid more than $500. I think I’m the next year or two I’ll buy a new or newish ride. That new Ford Bronco is calling my name!
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Joe Hell I love that truck man, I like old trucks for some reason, my wife always tenses up when I see one for sale! Denny that was the first thing I checked, I have had that happen before. Chef I will check to see if the rotor is warped, hopefully, that isn’t the issue.
Mine has 220,000 on it so I’ve got a while to go before I reach 327,000…in all honesty I doubt I will get there as I drive about 8 miles a day since I work so close to my house but who knows, maybe Il have the truck for another 20 years!
Jonathon I was driving 100 miles to work for 13 years 50 their 50 back now i’m only 6.3 miles so I got a old 2003 ford f350 v10 6.8 L Still have the escape will drive one for a week and then switch cars dont like to sit
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Joe Hell The new bronco look amazing. The new Blazer on the other hand…I just want to know why they would do that?!
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YooperDog I’ve got a great mechanic here in Walla Walla (Alexander Automotive) that I have complete confidence in. He is more than fair with pricing and if he thinks I can take care of it myself he will tell me how to do it. My dad, grandfather, brothers and friends use him as well. I bring his crew and their dogs treats from the shop and they bring their entire family and buy product from the shop frequently as well. I love having mutually beneficial business relationships!
Joe Hell like most professions a good mechanic is worth their weight in gold. Two of my brother in-laws and father in-law are mechanics and own their own places, the good ones stay busy the mediocre not so much.
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Joe Hell The new bronco look amazing. The new Blazer on the other hand…I just want to know why they would do that?!
Jonathon lol. I don’t mind the new blazer and if I was looking for something similar to my escape I might consider it. The newest escape in my opinion is hideous! My favorite models are a year or two after mine when they incorporated a more boxy design. My goal is a Bronco bit that could be years away. Another consideration for a fair weather vehicle is the Mahindra Roxor ‘jeep’. They are technically classified as an ATV but my town recently passed laws allowing them on public road so long as they have brake lights etc… I was gifted a Sprint car last year so I’ve considered that as a daily driver as well! Lol

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Joe Hell like most professions a good mechanic is worth their weight in gold. Two of my brother in-laws and father in-law are mechanics and own their own places, the good ones stay busy the mediocre not so much.
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Joe Hell The new bronco look amazing. The new Blazer on the other hand…I just want to know why they would do that?!
Jonathon I’ll bet you money that is is the wheel bearing. Just changed one on my 06 tundra. It did everything you just described.
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cdavis THank you! I will look into that, why I love this community
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shoprat53 Saw this elsewhere but just to close all loops yes you can but you’ll probably want to use about 15-20% more seasoning per lb of meat for snack sticks than you would for sausage.
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