Do you do your own work

[Valpo Jeep]

The absolute worst part kick in the balls after doing the chains on the Audi was 2 months after I put the engine back in the passenger side cat broke off at the flange against the exhaust manifold. Took 3 to 4 feet of extensions from under the car to get at the flange to pull the nuts. 3 exhaust studs, 2 on top and 1 on the bottom. I could access the bottom from underneath but the top I had to take the cowl apart for access and I need 2 feet of extensions and a trouble mirror to get on the studs. 1/4 drive was my friend from the top as the 3/8 was just too heavy to maneuver.

The flange was a very crappy weld from the factory

That job was a complete pain in the Nixon.

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[SoK66]

There are just a few things I won’t tackle myself. Welding and differential gear setup I farm out. I can handle most anything else.

 

[Yawnie'sPapa]

Most but not all - I'm getting older (67) and have back and knee issues with arthritis and loss of vestibular function in my left ear.
I can also make more money doing other things in my shop for other people.
I have shelves full of work to do for others, multiple cars of my own to work on, so sometimes it's not worth my time and effort.
There are also some tools I don't have for some of the modern stuff, and I don't have a lift. My shop is full, which doesn't help matters - I thought 30x36 two stories would be enough, but it's not.

Former mechanic, college training, worked in 2 shops over the years, some factory training and so on. I always wondered where I might be today had I not turned down the offer of the service manager position at Bud MulCahy AMC/Jeep in the 1980s............ but at that time, I really liked my then boss and the work we did.

Electric I just don't trust anyone else to do and do it right. Even many techs just don't understand basics. That was proven to me when I took my Jeep in for warranty work, batteries weren't staying up, ESS issues. They said my winch was draining the batteries and "fixed it for me" by moving the winch ground cable from the top of the IBS on the negative battery post over to the chassis ground stud. Now think of that for a while - where does one of those black cables go from the top of the IBS on the negative battery post? Yeah, over to the chassis ground! Electrically identical. Good grief, dude - you also totally ignored that big red switch, sitting right next to the battery, that said OFF that fed the winch. Duh.
I took it home, moved the cables back, charged both batteries independently, reset the IBS and it took care of all issues.

So it's most, but not all - depending on the situation, my time, tools and equipment required and so on.

I put a Jeep engine in my car several years ago, did a lot of custom wiring, figured the clutch linkage geometry for the hydraulic clutch, got the original cruise control switch to work with the Jeep PCM so I'd have cruise control.
Differentials I'll usually do myself, depending.

 

[five9dak]

If it doesn't need a special tool, I do it myself.

 

[CaJLMetalHead]

I would not let a dealer's service department anywhere close to my rig even if it was the last option... LOL... I do all the work myself... fun stuff!

 

[c20040215]

I dont have a tire machine. Nor do I know how to welder. And I paid someone to do the gear. Other than that, I have done everything to my Jeep. Lift, axle swap, Tcase swap, maintenance, and every odds and ends.

 

[NeverEnding]

Up front, all my comments are based upon finding the right mechanic/offroad shop which I thankfully have. Most of the serious work has been done by them, they are meticulous and have an immense amount of pride in the work they do. To be clear, no one else or dealer ever sees my Jeep either. I likely would not be where I am today on it without them as trust has played a major factor in the work done to date and continuing to be done. I did work on all my vehicles when I was younger, usually to save money, but I make more money doing what I am and I work far more than I want so when I am not working I want to be enjoying life vs. stuck in my garage weekend after weekend doing the work. I also find the guys I work with to have an immense amount of experience doing some things that most people do not do over an over unless it is their job. They are currently doing the GenRight Cage for me, I do not weld nor have the equipment. They have done these over and over, they bring me back in their shop and walk me through how and why they do what they do. Perhaps the right or wrong example depending on your experience, but I like this kind of know-how and experience going into my rig. I will say though I admire the people with the skills and time to do all of this themselves…total respect!

 

[Seemego4WD]

Do it all

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