Easiest job that took the most time

[Quadrajet]

When I bought my Alpine 318is the owner said the wipers don't work. So I happened to find a wiper motor at the wrecking yard. Got home and took off the wipers and popped the access cover and see the connector floating around. Hook it back up and the wipers magically work.

[tjmonsen5]

I have spent at least an hour trying to get the rear shock bolt to line up with the trailing arm. It usually goes right in, not sure why it gave me so much trouble the last time.

[mr2peak]

Reinstalling the front subframe on Deutchman's past 2002. That sucker did not want to line up.

FYI no suspension or engine in the car, so it should have been really really simple

[E30NJ]

rear main seal... :(

[15Michaeljoseph]

Rear shock mounts...but only because rockauto sent me the wrong part so i had to wait to exchange them


--sent from my igloo via carrier penguin

[lobster rodeo]

Parking brake shoes. Pushing those little "allen bolts" with the springs on it that don't QUITE line up right with the dust shield. Spent 2 hours on one side alone....

[jaywood]

Putting back on the stock suspension. The rear springs were a bitch (any tips on that for future reference?) Diff dropped, exhaust dropped, etc, I just couldn't get the spring to pop in. Finally got it using 1 spring compressor. And then with the front, the 3 top strut bolts did not want to line up. Took way too long.

[roguetoaster]

Putting back on the stock suspension. The rear springs were a bitch (any tips on that for future reference?) Diff dropped, exhaust dropped, etc, I just couldn't get the spring to pop in. Finally got it using 1 spring compressor. And then with the front, the 3 top strut bolts did not want to line up. Took way too long.

Use spring compressors, securely wire it compressed, pop it in to place, put the car back on the ground, cut the wire.

For me it was new non-offset rear control arm bushings going on brand new control arms. Not only would the dang things not start to go on for nearly an hour, but once they did the bushing was never far enough forward. I was royally frustrated. Drove it like that for a week or so, hated the weird handling, doubted the safety, bought offset bushings, installed with no problems.

[ButtJuice]

I can do a dash swap in 2.5 hours.





8-)

[jaywood]

Use spring compressors, securely wire it compressed, pop it in to place, put the car back on the ground, cut the wire.

Duh...wow, why didn't I think of that. Great idea.

[torreira]

putting on the goddamn clutch fan. 5 minute job at the outside, took an hour and a half. Freaking thing did NOT want to line up to spin on. walked away, had a stiff drink, and the fucker went straight on........

i found your problem! the fan clutch is reverse threaded and you were putting it on the wrong way but once you had a drink or two in you, you accidentally turned it the wrong way which just so happens to be the right way.

[xAZxE30x]

Dropping the subframe for the first time!! Took probably 10 hours to do. We drilled and drilled and pryed and pryed and it would not drop free. Then after two giant pry bars on each side it finally dropped

My first timing belt change took some time to get back together as well. Now I have no issues but it's always the little things with me

[ArtClassShank]

Changing the oil. Oil cap piece was way over torqued. Ripped it to pieces before getting the right socket size. It's like 32MM or some shit.

[3vilE30]

I know I've spent a little to much time trying to remove the hex bolt on the brake rotors...

[catalyst.]

one time i rented a spring compressor from autozone to put on new springs and camber plates, i was rushing and put everything together in about ten minutes, brought the compressor back and was going to finish the next night i had off. A couple days later i go to quickly put them on and yup i put the plates on backwards.

i went and bought a spring compressor for 30 bucks i hate renting tools

That brings me to the conclusion that the worst part of any project is gathering parts and or in this case tools. It is so frustrating driving around buying stuff to finish a job. I guess thats why shops have full time parts/logistics guys :)