Why do people take so much stuff apart when doing a repair?

[supton]

I know a guy that is a career mechanic who is very good and very fast. Depending on the model, if he needs to remove the engine, he puts it on a rack, removes the front drivetrain, and pull the engine out the bottom. He says it will cut a couple hours off the job time because so many things are extremely difficult to access from the top.

I have to admit, I find it an awful design that requires cab off for servicing trucks—but when that can be done, it sure looks like it would make the work vastly easier.

When one spends more time avoiding removing something than if they just yanked it out of the way… are they really saving anything?

YMMV in the rust belt where things can go sideways with each and every fastener.

 

[JeffKeryk]

I used to ask my brother, "How tight should this be?"
He told me, "How tight do you want it to be next time you take it off?"

So I backed it off a taste.
But that's another subject.

 

[The_Jeff]

I know a guy that is a career mechanic who is very good and very fast. Depending on the model, if he needs to remove the engine, he puts it on a rack, removes the front drivetrain, and pull the engine out the bottom. He says it will cut a couple hours off the job time because so many things are extremely difficult to access from the top.

That's how they go together on FWD cars and even some RWD unibodies.

Engine, transmission, struts, subframe, and half the wiring harness comes up from below.

Once you figure out how yours went together, dropping the engine is like child's play. About the worst part is getting the rusty exhaust apart.

 

[dfarr67]

Expedience is the game.
90's Toyota front diff- cv flanges, armor, ds, two bolts if I remember correctly.
gmt400, gravity out, ridiculous to get back in.

 

[Donald]

The issue comes when you are all done and still have a few nuts and bolts left over.

 

[Donald]

I used to ask my brother, "How tight should this be?"
He told me, "How tight do you want it to be next time you take it off?"

So I backed it off a taste.
But that's another subject.

Was brother like "The Rock" or "Pee Wee Herman". Different levels of tightness.

 

[D60]

I watched a YouTube video of someone doing a power steering pump reolacement on a 2nd gen dodge cummins. They took all kinds of stuff off to access it. Im like most of these bolts would probably be accessible underneath if you pulled the fender liner off. Personally im the type that believes in the less stuff you mess with the better especially on an older vehicle. Opinions?

Any chance it was a 1A Auto vid?

They are the worst about this. I honestly don't know how they're not incredibly embarrassed. With their vids I've learned to read the comments -- if there are several saying "you don't need to do X," this is always correct.

 

[burbguy82]

The BEST path is not always a straight line.....nor the fastest.......

When I tackle a job, I look at:

1.) what I have to do\should do while I am there
2.) what equipment I have at my disposal
3.) what positions i will have to get in physically and use tools
4.) what will yield the best result

.....mostly in that order.

If taking out a extra bolts and other parts yields the best, easiest job, then that is what I do.

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

To force you to watch more ads during the unnecessarily long video? Standard YouTube

 

[AutoMechanic]

Easier said than done. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve tried to shortcut something or someone I know has and lost time because it didn’t work. There’s always that one hidden bolt or screw in that place that you totally miss when you take a shortcut. Sometimes you can shortcut something but it’s rare.

 

[JeffKeryk]

The issue comes when you are all done and still have a few nuts and bolts left over.

Just put those down the oil spout and they find their ways home.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Was brother like "The Rock" or "Pee Wee Herman". Different levels of tightness.

Little bit of both... Santa Cruz, ya know...

 

[Sedin26]

I spent a lot of time when I was younger trying to do diy jobs the quick way, struggling through them.

Over time, I have finally learned that thorough prep and spending time to remove everything I need to will save time and aggravation.

 

[fantastic]

It's been at least 10 years or so ago but I visited a somewhat local mechanic. He told me he was 84 years old. He joked around with me about working on cars "the dash lights don't mean anything" . Meaning a lot of folks ignore maintenance. Then I asked if he had an extra hand & he replied it was just him doing the work.

Anyways, I'm sure there are not many of us that simply remove access parts etc for no good reason.

 

[zzyzzx]

IMO, it depends no what you are taking off. If it's something that just bolts of and bolts back on, or is it something that's going to leak when you remove it...

 

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

Guess it depends on the car. Sometimes I know i need to get a torch or an induction coil down in there in the guts.

 

[Auto tech]

After 30 years as an automotive technician here's how I approach a job. First I will try to remove as little as possible to access what I'm getting at. Also sometimes some things may not need to come out of the way but will make it easier if removed. In other words sometimes you can leave too much on and fight it for an extra hour or take those items off and shave some time off of the repair

 

[The Critic]

Easier said than done. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve tried to shortcut something or someone I know has and lost time because it didn’t work. There’s always that one hidden bolt or screw in that place that you totally miss when you take a shortcut. Sometimes you can shortcut something but it’s rare.

FWD Toyota Control Arm Replacement disagrees with you.

 

[mattd]

I take apart what makes my life easier, but use short cuts where I can.

 

[D60]

FWD Toyota Control Arm Replacement disagrees with you.

Rear axle shaft removal on FJ Cruisers (and maybe some 4Runners?). Book says to tear down parking brake to remove backing plate.

The trick the interweb knows is loosen parking brake cable retainers and slide the whole axle out and let it dangle by the cable.

I'm rarely smart enough to discover these shortcuts -- I just stand on the shoulders of giants