Having someone else work on your car.... car guy sin or not?

[fdcg27]

When I was younger, I took great pride in not taking any of our various cars to anyone for anything other than tires and sometimes exhaust work.
I did once have a rear wheel bearing replaced on our Vanagon while in Nags Head on a family vacation, but that was the exception.
I'll be seventy this year and I find myself more willing to pay to have work done.
Wife's Forester needs rear brakes. I'll take a look and see whether it looks like something I want to get into, as I think it will be. If not, I'll put the wheel back on the side I Iooked at and then take it to a good local shop I know of.
If you are not comfortable in doing a job or feel physically limited, there is no shame in paying someone to do the work.

 

[clinebarger]

I have three kids. There is no way I am compressing strut with some DIY compressing tool. Rears I can do, but struts? My kids still depend on me.

Just between me & you....Don't tell nodody....You can buy a strut machine & hang it in your garage.

 

[02SE]

Just between me & you....Don't tell nodody....You can buy a strut machine & hang it in your garage.

Yep. I still have the I bought 30+ years ago. Although I have yet to mount it in the home garage, as I haven't replaced any struts since getting out of that line of work.

To the OP, we all do what we can, or choose to.

 

[edyvw]

Just between me & you....Don't tell nodody....You can buy a strut machine & hang it in your garage.

How much is high quality strut machine that is worth doing struts once in maybe 5yrs?

 

[clinebarger]

You have all these vehicles & would only use it once every 5 years? In Colorado Springs?

 

[edyvw]

You have all these vehicles & would only use it once every 5 years? In Colorado Springs?

I have Bilstein on BMW and VW, and Sequoia will get it. Honda is getting rear B6 in few days, an hour job. Not sure front will ever need change considering how much I drive that car.
So, seriously, how much is high quality strut machine? I really never researched which brands or models are bad, good, excellent.

 

[Exhaustgases]

Only if the mechanic knows how and works on critical aircraft components, and can do the job with out a hammer and pry bar, and sanding disks.

I would like to know an okay mobile tech, that could R&R the major components that I don't want to do the RR on. I just like the bench work now at my age. No longer care to be the creep on a creeper.

 

[clinebarger]

I have Bilstein on BMW and VW, and Sequoia will get it. Honda is getting rear B6 in few days, an hour job. Not sure front will ever need change considering how much I drive that car.
So, seriously, how much is high quality strut machine? I really never researched which brands or models are bad, good, excellent.

A Branick 7600 is $1,064 retail

 

[edyvw]

A Branick 7600 is $1,064 retail

Ok. Really have to think about that. Thanks. I do appreciate it.

 

[edyvw]

@clinebarger now you got me interested, Wal Mart $854.

 

[JeffKeryk]

I used to trust a few of my coworkers and then I realized they just don’t care enough for my liking so still great guys to talk too just wouldn’t let them touch anything I own with a 10 foot pole lol. The only time I let someone else do something to my car is a state inspection because legally I can’t do my own but if it needs anything I’m fixing it lol.

This is my main concern. No one cares more about my stuff than me. Having said that, there are things I choose to farm out. Especially at 73... My Lex GS350 transmission service is a prime example; I ain't got no lift in the garage and I ain't servicing the transmission and filter lying on my back underneath that pig heavy car. And not dipstick to fill and measure! Sheesh!

The other time is when I am helping friends and neighbors. I need to respect my limitations.
The good news is, there is a great shop close that helps me out, and there is a Toy/Lex shop 10 minutes away. I would not hesitate to recommend either shop; they are good.

 

[AutoMechanic]

This is my main concern. No one cares more about my stuff than me. Having said that, there are things I choose to farm out. Especially at 73... My Lex GS350 transmission service is a prime example; I ain't got no lift in the garage and I ain't servicing the transmission and filter.

The other time is when I am helping friends and neighbors. I need to respect my limitations.

I totally get that man. For stuff I don’t want to do on the ground I do use the lift at my work but it’s rare because I prefer to do work at home. All my coworkers think it’s crazy I even have tools at home lol. I’m also nit picky on certain things and I know they would not do it the way I want it so no one is touching my car lol.

 

[Dave9]

I would have no problem contacting a mobile mechanic, especially for issues that make the vehicle undriveable so you're avoiding a tow charge if it's even reasonable to try to get it onto a flatbed. Recognize that all of us at some point will be old enough or due to some illness that certain repairs are beyond what we'll want to or be able to do, but that doesn't mean writing off all DIY repairs.

However you should seek one that has good, believable reviews because there's all kinds of untrained and incompetent people out there willing to "have a go" at your vehicle and then you could end up worse off than before they came. I'd want to supervise the work, but remembering to not be that guy that annoys the mechanic while he's trying to get work done.

 

[4wd]

I paid a dude to install my shocks and align the truck. I ain't got time for that.

Sin free, in fact I like supporting good shops.

In can be - until AZ provided the wrong shock - $400 to shop and waiting two months for the correct shocks that I will change myself in cooler weather …
It was a “good shop”

 

[mrvmax]

I have not found a mobile mechanic I trust yet but I would use one. I do not want chuck in a truck/shade tree mechanic, I want ASE certified and I have not found that. As I get older, there are things I will not do and farm that out but I end up taking that to a shop.

 

[ATex7239]

You can’t do everything in life by yourself.

Evidently you need help or flat out don’t want to do it or maybe even can’t do it anymore. I would not lose sleep over it. We all do it just to a varying degree.

I know a custom car builder and he drives a GMC Sierra. I know a hairdresser and she goes to a hairdresser to get her hair done. It’s not a sin to need or want help or even time off. It’s perfectly normal.

 

[RaymondP]

I try to be proactive and research/source a mechanic or shop before a need or crisis happens when time is NOT on your side. Not thought about a mobile mechanic. Potentially a great solution if they can be trusted and are knowledgeable and competent. I assume their hourly rate would compare favorably to dealerships or independents, but no idea. Are you just buying the convenience of taking the vehicle to the shop location and knowing it won't remain in their parking lot for days until the repair is performed?

Have seen mobile replacement windshield vehicles on the road and advertised. Often wondered if they are a good option but nervous with all the embedded technology in modern vehicles. Just seems safer to go to the locations where the work will be performed, but purely a prejudice with no anecdotal evidence.

 

[PMT133]

@clinebarger now you got me interested, Wal Mart $854.

If you don't mind perusing the usual market places, you can get good used ones for ~$500 or less. I ended up with an OTC6494 though. Not usable on tight coils is the only drawback.

As far as working on my stuff. Same as others said. Case by case. On the GM 8 speed I would rather the dealer do the fluid. That's the only thing I haven't done. And they took care of it at 100k for no charge so that's a win.

 

[IndyIan]

I have three kids. There is no way I am compressing strut with some DIY compressing tool. Rears I can do, but struts? My kids still depend on me.

I found a compressor with u-bolts that capture the spring, which seems pretty safe to me? I got it for swapping springs on the Neon for autocross and it was not a terrible job. But now, if I can find a KYB quickstrut, they are good enough for my purposes.
I suspect you do more statistically dangerous things, than use a spring compressor, but those activities are more fun! So worth the risks.

 

[Auto tech]

Even as a technician there are certain things that I would rather have my buddy do who's also a technician then myself. I trust his work and there's certain things I just don't want to mess around with unless I'm getting paid