id like to make a list consisting of items NOT commonly found on factory service interval guides. wel all know to change the oil filter and sparkplugs and tyres and alignments. timing belts, etc. but what about things that need periodic maintenance that factory service manuals ignore? i know there was a recent thread on conventional maintenance items. id like to make a list of infrequent items that most people and factory guides ignore.
things like lubing the window regulator mechanisms. or changing the power steering fluid. most of us dont believe in lifetime atf and filters. flushing the brake fluid. maybe even greasing the suspension and squirting some grease up in the steering rack?
so i submit the start of the list of uncommon maintenance items.
1. every 50K miles, pull the door panels off and clean /relube the window regulators, motors, and mechanisms.
while you in there, clean and relube the door stops and hinges. this helps the windows to go up and down with less strain on the motor. also helps the regulator mechanisms to last longer since they are under less force.
2. change the power steering fluid every 50K or less. its a small ammount of fluid, normally very cheap and easy to do.
3. buy a pencil grease gun adapter and slide it under the driver and passenger side rack and pinion boots to give the steering rack a good greasing. this does wonders for preventing inner tie rod end failure and maintaining sightness and preventing rack and pinion slop.
3 and a half. most rack and pinion have an adjusting set screw and locknut on the outside to set the preload between the rack and pinion. (akin to the old worm gear drives) but its not considered a maintenance item. submit that this should be done once in a while, probably whenever the rack is greased.
4. once a year have you neighbour or wife come by one evening and make sure ALL youre stop lamps and running lamps are working when you press the brake petal. or use a 2x4 to press down on the petal if no one likes you enough to help.
5. minimum 50K mile service interval on the atf of ANY transmission no matter what fluid it uses, even if its a fill for life model.
6. manually check and adjust the drum brakes on the rear of a car once a year. i have NEVER seen a self adjusting drum brake that DIDNT quit self adjusting after a few years of service. every self adjusting drum brake i have ever seen could use a few more clicks to make the drums engage sooner.
7. every 50K, pull the parking brake cables and clean/ relube them on a bench with an oil can and a few rags.
8. bleed a quart of brake fluid through the brake system every 2 years.
8 and a half. pull the caliper slide pins and clean/ relube them. can also clean and relube the drum brake adjusters and ebarke cams.
so who wants to add to the list of stuff nobody does but everyone should do once in a while.
things like lubing the window regulator mechanisms. or changing the power steering fluid. most of us dont believe in lifetime atf and filters. flushing the brake fluid. maybe even greasing the suspension and squirting some grease up in the steering rack?
so i submit the start of the list of uncommon maintenance items.
1. every 50K miles, pull the door panels off and clean /relube the window regulators, motors, and mechanisms.
while you in there, clean and relube the door stops and hinges. this helps the windows to go up and down with less strain on the motor. also helps the regulator mechanisms to last longer since they are under less force.
2. change the power steering fluid every 50K or less. its a small ammount of fluid, normally very cheap and easy to do.
3. buy a pencil grease gun adapter and slide it under the driver and passenger side rack and pinion boots to give the steering rack a good greasing. this does wonders for preventing inner tie rod end failure and maintaining sightness and preventing rack and pinion slop.
3 and a half. most rack and pinion have an adjusting set screw and locknut on the outside to set the preload between the rack and pinion. (akin to the old worm gear drives) but its not considered a maintenance item. submit that this should be done once in a while, probably whenever the rack is greased.
4. once a year have you neighbour or wife come by one evening and make sure ALL youre stop lamps and running lamps are working when you press the brake petal. or use a 2x4 to press down on the petal if no one likes you enough to help.
5. minimum 50K mile service interval on the atf of ANY transmission no matter what fluid it uses, even if its a fill for life model.
6. manually check and adjust the drum brakes on the rear of a car once a year. i have NEVER seen a self adjusting drum brake that DIDNT quit self adjusting after a few years of service. every self adjusting drum brake i have ever seen could use a few more clicks to make the drums engage sooner.
7. every 50K, pull the parking brake cables and clean/ relube them on a bench with an oil can and a few rags.
8. bleed a quart of brake fluid through the brake system every 2 years.
8 and a half. pull the caliper slide pins and clean/ relube them. can also clean and relube the drum brake adjusters and ebarke cams.
so who wants to add to the list of stuff nobody does but everyone should do once in a while.
