I'm 58 and retired from 34+ years of wrenching on school buses. 16.5x10 brake drums are pretty heavy, heck most things on a bus have a lot of gravity in them with one mounted tire coming in at 215 lbs. I was born to wrench and love it still. Mornings are at the saw shop down the road and afternoons are at a Gravely/ Echo dealer and all makes OPE repair shop. That one has me on my knees and on the floor a lot. As far as car maintenance, no big deal. So far so good thankfully.
guys over 50 doing maintenance
- Thread starter MaximaGuy
- Start date
At 71 I do the work I feel like doing and bring the vehicles to an Indy shop for the rest. So mostly oil changes and brakes.
My niece was in Santa Cruz for a couple of years, doing her doctorate. She really liked it.
She's at Georgetown now, on the other side of the U.S.
I’m 67 and service my cars, truck, boat, lawn mowers and everything else as needed. My chores have yet to change around the home and yard. I figure if something causes me to stop any/all of my activities, that’s the end of it. Arthritis in my lower spine will eventually make these activities impossible if something else doesn’t stop me first. The moral to my story is “motion is lotion”.
Wish I was 51 again...
You got time - get some organizers, clean your drawers up, and wipe down those awesome tools!
I keep a spray can of Remoil and microfiber on my box. I live near the beach - and haven’t had an issue with rust on my tools. I don’t fish around looking for them, either.
65 in June. My buddy and I are hobbyists. We are both retired but cars just sorta find their way to us, particularly Subies. We will remove an engine from a high mileage 1998 Forester today to do head gaskets. Our preference is to do head gaskets with engine out. I have had bouts of back pain with sciatica. I don't let it stop me unless severe. I find distraction to be a good pain reliever.
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
I'm only 54, so the physical aspect of the job scopes I'll do isn't too bad, other than maybe tearing up my hands more than they're already tore up. I enjoy PM work on my vehicles and I've always done my own brake work, minor exhaust work, minor electrical, component swaps, and my own rust proofing.
My motivation is saving money. My daughter was recently quoted $1300 for rotors and pads all the way around on her 2022 Nissan Frontier pickup. I could do it for under $300 with "premium" mail order parts. She's lives out of state.
My motivation is saving money. My daughter was recently quoted $1300 for rotors and pads all the way around on her 2022 Nissan Frontier pickup. I could do it for under $300 with "premium" mail order parts. She's lives out of state.
40’s here. I’m in good shape and active but do have some injuries. Who doesn’t have injuries by middle age though. That isn't what stops me. I just don’t want to do it anymore. I have realized over the years that I enjoy doing other things more. Turning wrenches for a living is likely what burned me out on it. My days of doing all day repairs are pretty much over with. Simple stuff is fine. There are so many other things that interest and excite me now.
Lotta good posts here but you Hit it outta the park
Have to wait for the Motrin and Red Bull to kick in then I'm good to crawl under.
I'm 77. 12 years ago I built a nice shop with a 2-post lift which keeps me in the game. Definitely not crawling on the concrete much.
I'm not painting cars or doing engine swaps anymore but pretty much everything below that level. Cam belts, water pumps, brakes, etc. My only disappointment is none of my grandkids really seem to want to get into cars they're all stick and ball sports fanatics which is fine.
I'm not painting cars or doing engine swaps anymore but pretty much everything below that level. Cam belts, water pumps, brakes, etc. My only disappointment is none of my grandkids really seem to want to get into cars they're all stick and ball sports fanatics which is fine.
I'm almost 50 and I use more cardboard to lay on now 
double them up makes kneeling ok too. I try to keep in shape, so rolling around on the floor like an olympic break dancer for a couple hours isn't too bad really, and my hands can get sore for a day, but its not bad really. I don't think I could do it full time though, but a few times a year isn't a big deal yet.
Just oil changes, tire swaps, suspension work, and brakes has saved thousands over the years.
double them up makes kneeling ok too. I try to keep in shape, so rolling around on the floor like an olympic break dancer for a couple hours isn't too bad really, and my hands can get sore for a day, but its not bad really. I don't think I could do it full time though, but a few times a year isn't a big deal yet.Just oil changes, tire swaps, suspension work, and brakes has saved thousands over the years.
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wait the only reason i have a 401k is so i can work on old cars when i retire ... what are you guys even talking about?????!!!!!
70 the end of this month. Last week I went to one of my brother's house to help him with a back brakes job on their 2017 Malibu. He also wanted to flush the brake fluid. He did most of the work. We got the brakes done, and it was getting cold around 5 PM with the door to his unhealed garage open and ambient air decreasing in temperature to around 60 F. We had both put on warmer clothes. He an old jacket and me an old sweatshirt about a half hour before we finished the brakes. He had 2 one quart bottles of new unopened brake fluid and was talking about starting the flush, and I had to tell him that my body did not have enough left for that job right now. He said that he was not really up to doing it either, so we called it a day, and plan to flush the brakes a different day.
Anymore, working on cars requires the stars to all line up. Good weather, finding the spare time, a place to do the work, and my body being up to doing it.
If doing a job is going to take me a long time, I go to a brother's house so I have someone to watch my tools in a safe place when I take a break.
Getting old sucks, but it beats the alternative. Sometimes, I think, not by much. I use to have an Uncle who said " This getting old stuff is not for the faint of heart."
And it's still nice to know a job is done right. And also nice to save a few bucks.
Anymore, working on cars requires the stars to all line up. Good weather, finding the spare time, a place to do the work, and my body being up to doing it.
If doing a job is going to take me a long time, I go to a brother's house so I have someone to watch my tools in a safe place when I take a break.
Getting old sucks, but it beats the alternative. Sometimes, I think, not by much. I use to have an Uncle who said " This getting old stuff is not for the faint of heart."
And it's still nice to know a job is done right. And also nice to save a few bucks.
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Over the 7 decade mark now. Retired mentor tech in another field so I trust nobody but myself unless I'm forced to like FWD trannie jobs at my age.
I've recently gotten access to a drive on lift, so things are looking up now for some tasks.
Always make sounds when getting up and down from the floor, it makes it easier.
I've recently gotten access to a drive on lift, so things are looking up now for some tasks.
Always make sounds when getting up and down from the floor, it makes it easier.
Jeez, you guys are making me feel like a stud. I turned 72 this past March. I still wrench on all my cars, not to mention all the cleaning and detailing they receive. I designed and built all the landscaping on our one acre lot, which still requires a significant time and work investment to keep it looking good. I also do all my own home maintenance, repair, and remodeling (I’m starting a down to the studs bathroom remodel now). Lastly, I ride my bicycles 4 or 5 days a week; about 125 to 175 miles per week on average. My only real complaint is body aches and pains and my inability to get more than 5 or 6 hours of sleep per night.
Scott
Scott
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Yes! Same here!Always make sounds when getting up and down from the floor, it makes it easier.
Scott
If you don't push yourself, you will deteriorate all the faster. It's a momentum thing; keep busy, and you will have more energy, and the muscles/joints will stay limber.
