Tag: hardwaylearning

Categories
Cars

Replace your own brake pads and rotors!

You’re at the mechanic for a routine check-up or maybe an oil change and the mechanic says it is time for new brakes!  This is what happened with Hunter’s girlfriend.  She was told her brake pads are worn out and she has warped rotors.  They also said that her ball-joint needs replacing and gave her a final quote of $1200.

YIKES!

This is a 2006 Pontiac G6 with only 40,000 miles on it.

So Hunter and I did what we always do, we learn how to do it ourselves.

Here we show you how to replace your rotors and brake pads all the way around the car.  We also talk about troubleshooting whether or not you have a bad ball-joint.

Tools:

  • Jack
  • Jack stands
  • Ratchet set
  • Wrenches
  • Flat head screw driver
  • Bolt cutter (Side cutter would work, but this is what we used)
  • Rubber mallet
  • Extra set of hands
  • C-Clamp

 

Parts:

  • Rotors for the front
  • Rotors for the rear
  • Brake pads for the front
  • Brake pads for the rear
  • Control arm (If it actually needs replacing)

 

One thing that may not have been clear in the video is that you can use a C-clamp to compress the piston to make way for the fresh pad that is thicker than the old worn out ones.

Stolen google image (https://i0.wp.com/www.2carpros.com/images/articles/brakes/front_caliper/compress_caliper.jpg?resize=453%2C337&ssl=1)
Stolen google image (https://www.2carpros.com/images/articles/brakes/front_caliper/compress_caliper.jpg)

Also we did not talk about the pad retaining clips.  They pull out easily, pay attention to orientation before you pull them out.  Brake pads usually come with fresh replacements. They should be placed before putting the pad back in.

Stole this from google (https://i0.wp.com/www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/MINI/33-BRAKES-Brake_Pad_Replacement/images_med/Pic17.JPG?resize=580%2C435)
Stole this from google (http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/MINI/33-BRAKES-Brake_Pad_Replacement/images_med/Pic17.JPG)

 

Anyways, thanks for reading!

 

HWL

Categories
Build stuff

$6 Bar Table continued

So I finally wrapped up the bar table.  It only needed the base and top flattened off (on the pallets).  Then I wanted to make sure I got the video edited and released before posting.

This project was cheap and easy.  I hope to have some additional modifications of the table top posted in the future.

The tools needed for this:

  • Drill
  • Drill Bits
  • Skill Saw

Materials:

  • pallets
  • cheap table to steal table top from (Goodwill win!)
  • 2″ Deck screws

The drill that we used:

 

 

Categories
Build stuff

$6 Bar Table

We have a new video in production about how to make a bar table! We bought a table from Goodwill for about 6$ and acquired some safe to use pallets from a friend. In about an hour you can have a steady bar table for hosting delicious adult beverages for friends and family! Tune in for an upcoming how to video some time this week or next!

Want to learn more about which pallets are safe to use?  We learned a lot from this website: Learn about pallets

I would stick to heat treated as they are not treated with harsh chemicals, but simply heated in order to kill potential pests.  If the pallets are unmarked don’t risk the chance of them having harsh chemicals or potentially infested with nasty pests.  Also avoided any pallets that show visible stains as you can never be too sure what has spilled on them when delivering something.

Categories
Cars

Changing out an old alternator!

I received a call from my buddy Hunter again about his ES300.  He said his alternator went out which he wasn’t excited about obviously because that means he needs to buy a new one.  To me this was exciting  because it was another opportunity to learn how to do something.  He got it diagnosed at the local auto parts store and they said the solenoid was bad.  He ordered one online and it was set to arrive the next day.

Some symptoms he was having include:

  • Car won’t start (really inconvenient when leaving for work)
  • Car won’t start again (hmmmm this is when you know something isn’t right)
  • In the case of the Lexus ES300 the traction control light came on (I am guessing due to lack of voltage from the battery

After having these issues it could either be a tired old battery or an alternator.  Getting the the alternator checked at the local store was an easy way to diagnose.

Our video shows the struggles of learning how to take the old alternator out and putting in the new one!

The process goes like so:

  1. Disconnect the negative terminal of your battery
  2. Loosen the tensioner on the alternator (This was the lower bolt on the alternator)
  3. Slip the belt off of the pulley on the alternator
  4. Loosen and remove the remaining support bolts from the alternator
  5. Place the new alternator in position of the old
  6. Place the support bolts into position and tighten just enough to hold the alternator in position (We still want it to be able to pivot with tensioner)
  7. Tighten the tensioner until the slack in the belt is gone (Do not over tighten or it could cause excess belt wear and puts strain on pulleys)
  8. Tighten the support bolts to desired torque rating

That is it!  You just saved yourself a bit of money by applying yourself instead of paying some other guy to do easy work for you!

 

Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoy the video!  We never know what we are doing until the job is done.

Categories
Build stuff

How to make a laptop bed stand! (DIY)

Today we show you how to make a laptop stand for your bed.  This lets you work while you relax and lay down in bed.  Netflix and chill just got a whole lot easier with a little up front effort.  Take a trip to your local lumber yard and get the wood and hardware you need to build this laptop that will keep the movies rolling!

This project should only take about an hour or so.  If you have experience with a compound miter saw and a drill it is simple and easy to build.  The hardest thing to find was the furniture knob.  I got this at my local Ace Hardware (not a plug)!  It is better to have this larger knob over using a cabinet knob because it allows you to grip and twist it firmer in order to lock the legs in place.

Supplies:
-Compound miter saw
-Drill and drill bits
-9ft of 1.75″x.75″ board
-2×2′ medium density fiber board (MDF)
-Hand knob (Can’t find it on ace website)
-1″ wood screws

 

The drill used:

 

 

Categories
Cars

Engine Misfire fix!

Hello all!

I had the pleasure of helping my buddy Hunter fix his 1999 Lexus ES300.

He noticed that his car was running rough.  He checked the engine fault code and it read P0302 – “Engine misfire detected on cylinder 2”.  Before we go any further we needed to figure out what could cause this issue.

Things that could cause the problem:

-Spark plug is out of gap or should be replaced

-Ignition coil is faulty/worn out

-Bad compression (This would be worst case)

Now that we have some things to check we decided to start on the project.  We began by locating which cylinder was cylinder two:

es300 cylinder count

This cylinder happens to be located at the front left cylinder of the engine block.

Tools:

  • Socket Set

Materials:

  • Spark plug
  • Coil pack
  • Anti seize grease

We did not have a compression tester on hand so we decided to try a new spark plug first.

We used a socket wrench with 5/8″ socket with an extender.  To remove the spark plug we simply plugged the coil pack back on to the spark plug to pull it out.

After replacing the spark plug we started the engine up and still had a misfire.

The next step was to replace the coil pack which ended up being the solution!

Check out the video of the process!

Cheers!

Categories
Build stuff

How to build a Hammock Stand

Today we will discuss how to make a hammock stand a long with a Youtube video that shows the process.  We ended up spending about $100 on lumber, hardware, and paint.

We followed the instructions on this website, but decided that we could explain it better.

The hammock that we happened to use is this.

Tools:

  • Drill
  • 1/2″ Drill Bit
  • Compound Miter Saw
  • Hammer
  • Measuring Tape
  • Protractor (Could be printed from google images)
  • Safety Glasses
  • Two humans

Materials:

(Notes: Make sure the lumber is green treated and the bolts and nuts are galvanized, this will help with longevity of your stand)

  • Nine 8′ 2×4’s (1 will be for scrap pieces) green treated
  • Four 1/2″ diameter, 12″ long bolts
  • Six 1/2″ diameter, 8″ long bolts
  • Ten 1/2″ nuts
  • Ten 1/2″ washers
  • Deck screws (2.25″ long)
  • Paint (optional)

The drill that we used:

 

Step by Step Process:

  1. Cut 1/2″ hole on each end of two 8′ boards 6″ in from each end
  2. Cut 1/2″ hole on each end of four 8′ boards 4″ in from each end
  3. With the scrap piece of wood, cut four pieces of 4″ blocks
  4. Cut two of the 8′ boards in half
  5. Print a protractor from google and use 120 degrees to reference the angle you need to align the 4′ support boards
  6. Follow the steps in the video to learn about placement of bolts.
Categories
Cars

Oil Change

Everyone should learn how to change oil on their car.  It is simple maintenance to keep you on the road.  Many oil change companies push the “every 3000 miles” rule like it is a 10 commandment from the bible.  Here at Hardway Learning we know that the owner’s manual tells no lies.  This is why they have engineers designing the cars inside and out.  They would not tell you the improper oil change intervals because that would only mean that their reliability can no longer be trusted.  If anything their intervals would be on the safe side to what is actually necessary.  Most cars these days only need to be changed every 7500 miles.  I personally like to change mine every 5000 miles because this is easiest for me to remember.  (120k, 125k, 135k, etc.)

This video will teach you how to change the oil on your car.

Tools:

-Ratchet set

-Strong hands

-Towels to clean up oil

-Cat litter

-Ramps or jacks and jack stands for your car

-Appropriate amount of oil you need for your car (This can be found in your owners manual)

-Oil filter (Use the manual at the store to locate your model and year to locate the appropriate filter)