Hey y'all,
Just found this forum, I've been an Austin local for about 13 years and an 80 series owner for almost 7 of those. I've got the dreaded birf soup weeping past my driver side wipers, so it's time for me to tackle this one. I've read the tutorials and watched some videos and think I have a pretty good idea what I'm in for, and I've got the necessary tools and a rebuild kit with new bearings from Cruiser Outfitters, I just don't have a local place to do it.
I'm living at an apartment complex in central Austin and the parking lot is mostly potholes, plus I'm pretty sure I would get reported in a flash if I undertook any major work out there. There are some real nosy folks living here who stay home and peer out their windows at every noise. Last year a guy got busted for bucket-washing his FJ out there
Hoping one of you kind folks has someplace I could do my knuckle rebuild (preferably in the shade) in exchange for a six pack or something? Some experienced wrenching advice if I get stuck would be very appreciated as well, but I think I would be okay regardless.
Money is tight so I'm trying to avoid doing it at the Austin DIY shop which is $10/hr, because I figure this could take me upwards of 10 hours, being my first time and having no air tools.
PS: I tried to remove the drain fill plug (OEM 24mm bolt) to check the gear oil level and my regular wrench was a no-go. Does anyone have a 24mm socket that's been ground down to have no bevel? The bolt is still in workable condition and I wanted to avoid having to have someone weld a nut on there if vise grips and other brutane methods don't work out. Any other advice on that would be appreciated!
Just found this forum, I've been an Austin local for about 13 years and an 80 series owner for almost 7 of those. I've got the dreaded birf soup weeping past my driver side wipers, so it's time for me to tackle this one. I've read the tutorials and watched some videos and think I have a pretty good idea what I'm in for, and I've got the necessary tools and a rebuild kit with new bearings from Cruiser Outfitters, I just don't have a local place to do it.
I'm living at an apartment complex in central Austin and the parking lot is mostly potholes, plus I'm pretty sure I would get reported in a flash if I undertook any major work out there. There are some real nosy folks living here who stay home and peer out their windows at every noise. Last year a guy got busted for bucket-washing his FJ out there
Hoping one of you kind folks has someplace I could do my knuckle rebuild (preferably in the shade) in exchange for a six pack or something? Some experienced wrenching advice if I get stuck would be very appreciated as well, but I think I would be okay regardless.
Money is tight so I'm trying to avoid doing it at the Austin DIY shop which is $10/hr, because I figure this could take me upwards of 10 hours, being my first time and having no air tools.
PS: I tried to remove the drain fill plug (OEM 24mm bolt) to check the gear oil level and my regular wrench was a no-go. Does anyone have a 24mm socket that's been ground down to have no bevel? The bolt is still in workable condition and I wanted to avoid having to have someone weld a nut on there if vise grips and other brutane methods don't work out. Any other advice on that would be appreciated!