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I’ve heard of using an evacuated can or an old propane tank, and having it in a bath of dry ice and alcohol(IPA or EtOH) with success. It’s disposing of that refrigerant if contaminated that is an issue.

When at an Asian buffet and there’s beer listed, only a Tsingtao will do.

Beck Arnley isn’t part of Driv anymore?

Yea, I had to get OEM Toyota(Toyoda Gosei) hoses on a Lexus, the aftermarket BrakeBest ones were causing some weird brake bias issues. While the hose stock comes from one the major tubing makers(Gates, Parker, Danfoss/Weatherhead) or rubber company(Conti, Bridgestone, Yokohama), a third party...

They sold Toyo for the price of Michelin - and no, not Costco pricing. Their pricing was closer to Big O.

Overpriced but they are known for customer service. They were a proud Oregon institution. The family sold to private equity after Les passed away. His kids didn’t want anything to do with their dad’s business. Around that same time, Discount Tire expanded into Oregon - especially in the...

High Tack is the GOAT for cut paper gaskets. I never liked gasket shellac. I’ll use 3M weatherstrip adhesive or even contact cement(DAP Weldwood or Pilobond) if I have it laying around. Don’t use RTV on cut gaskets in any case. That’s a rookie/hack mistake. Just adhesive on one side. The...

Sunsong is doing a lot of brake hose/PS hose even with the OEMs. I wouldn’t be shocked if a Tesla or a Chevy has Sunsong from the factory. A lot of AC refrigerant and power steering hose is Parker - even on Japanese cars. Unless the car was made in Japan, then it’s Yokohama, Nichirin or...

Here’s a little tidbit - before Valeo, there was Motorola alternators in Peugeots, Renaults and BMWs… and even buses, tractors and big rigs used Motorola alts. Motorola’s automotive electronics became part of Valeo, Continental and Prestolite.

BBB has almost a monopoly on reman rotating electrical. Pick one with the lowest price and best warranty. Personally, I’ll do a Denso/Bosch reman for cars that had those before a parts store reman. Then, it’s a wash between O’Reilly(Ultima) or AZ(Duralast). Same thing, different box.

IME wirh Nissans, an AirLift is your best friend - especially on the VG engines. Nissans tend to have a mess of bypass hoses and hard lines that love to trap air. If you don’t have one, IIRC there’s a bleed plug on some models near the throttle body or some high point on the engine. Open that...

I have a feeling for brakes, belts/hoses, electrical/ignition/sensors and chassis it’s all from the same vendors for all the boxes. Bosch/MAT/FMP for brake pads, a Chinese vendor for rotors/drums/shoes. Standard Motor Parts probably fulfills the Duralast/MasterPro/Driveworks engine...

AFAIK, Toyota doesn’t use ATE calipers or rotors on any US/Japanese model. Maybe on the EU-spec Aygo and Yaris. F-spec(not F Sport) Lexus and the IS509 models get Brembo calipers and rotors. Honda and Subaru have been installing ATE brakes lately but have been starting to go back to...

Calipers and rotors are Advics. The front calipers are a 4-pot fixed caliper. The brake booster/MC and ABS modulator is ATE(Conti).

I was going to buy the cheapest of the Chinesium for the LS but we got rid of it. I usually don’t like installing LingLongs or Advantas, but for a spare, it was better than a 20 year old Dunlop.

It’s my go-to for gear oil.

The squeal was from the back. Dust buildup. Took the drums off, cleaned the brakes, scuffed(and chamfered) the shoes. Lubed the contact points.

So the problem was the rear drums. Dust accumulation. A little bit of this fixes it up: I need to do this once a year.

I think all the belts are similar - but the water pump/tensioner/pulleys are not. But, Dayco while they were a Toyota OEM has a bad rap from the parts stores.

Water and soda bottles are PETE. But processed like a non-woven fiber, a knit. I think Donaldson does the same with their PowerCore filters.