Folks- especially you young folks but this applies to all....
If your back hurts, get it looked at early. Do whatever you can to make it better. I have degen disc. Also have spurs and arthritis up and down my spine. Most days suck, some less than others.
Did something Saturday that even just 5 years ago I could do with 'relative' ease. Put brake pads on my truck. I last did a brake job circa 2018. On an F150, this is a fairly easy job. I've had a 2000, a 2012, and 2 2018 F150's. Not hard at all by any means. Just a pad slap with no complications can be done in about 20 mins per side.
Saturday, this job took me 6 hours. By the time I got the last front tire on, I could barely move. Just getting that tire on took 20 minutes and required me to get the jack JUST right so that I could slide the wheel on rather than lift it a half inch onto the studs. Of course, the last one did have frozen slide pins (so I get to repeat the process when my rebuild kits come in lol) and I had to whop on it some with my BFH. My LFH (the handle of my ratchet) just laughed at it!
Well, I spun the lug nuts on and removed the jack and stands. I was in so much pain that I forgot to do the most important piece of the job. Torque down my lug nuts.
Today I drove about 200 miles. The last 20 miles I started hearing something that wasn't right. I attributed it to the stuck pins and kept driving. Pulled it into the warehouse at work tonight and got down on the floor to look at it. The first thing I see - a lug nut holding on by about 2 threads. 4 were super loose on each front. I hope I didn't wallow out the wheels or F up the studs.
It hit me right then, I never hit them with the impact after I dropped the truck down. Just got the factory tool and spun them all to tight enough to get me the 11 miles home. Impact at midnight on the menu...... I apologize to all of my neighbors......
Yes, I have a torque wrench and know that I need to torque them. Not tonight Satan. After I rebuild the calipers Saturday ;)
Anyhoo- take care of your back folks. I'd trade an eye for 4 new inches.
Of spine......
If your back hurts, get it looked at early. Do whatever you can to make it better. I have degen disc. Also have spurs and arthritis up and down my spine. Most days suck, some less than others.
Did something Saturday that even just 5 years ago I could do with 'relative' ease. Put brake pads on my truck. I last did a brake job circa 2018. On an F150, this is a fairly easy job. I've had a 2000, a 2012, and 2 2018 F150's. Not hard at all by any means. Just a pad slap with no complications can be done in about 20 mins per side.
Saturday, this job took me 6 hours. By the time I got the last front tire on, I could barely move. Just getting that tire on took 20 minutes and required me to get the jack JUST right so that I could slide the wheel on rather than lift it a half inch onto the studs. Of course, the last one did have frozen slide pins (so I get to repeat the process when my rebuild kits come in lol) and I had to whop on it some with my BFH. My LFH (the handle of my ratchet) just laughed at it!
Well, I spun the lug nuts on and removed the jack and stands. I was in so much pain that I forgot to do the most important piece of the job. Torque down my lug nuts.
Today I drove about 200 miles. The last 20 miles I started hearing something that wasn't right. I attributed it to the stuck pins and kept driving. Pulled it into the warehouse at work tonight and got down on the floor to look at it. The first thing I see - a lug nut holding on by about 2 threads. 4 were super loose on each front. I hope I didn't wallow out the wheels or F up the studs.
It hit me right then, I never hit them with the impact after I dropped the truck down. Just got the factory tool and spun them all to tight enough to get me the 11 miles home. Impact at midnight on the menu...... I apologize to all of my neighbors......
Yes, I have a torque wrench and know that I need to torque them. Not tonight Satan. After I rebuild the calipers Saturday ;)
Anyhoo- take care of your back folks. I'd trade an eye for 4 new inches.
Of spine......
. Experience some degree of numbness is left arm daily but take OTC meds and keep rolling...just a little slower!
