What did you do to your Ranger today? (Part Deux!)

[Bill]

I drove it to my mom's place to find out why her Honda wouldn't start. It was the battery. For whatever reason, Honda decided to use two different battery sizes depending on engines. I called all over town trying to find a 51R battery. Costco was out. So was Walmart, Autozone, Carquest, and Oreilly wanted $249 for it, and most of them were out of stock. Out of curiosity I tried Ford's part search and found it for $150. So, I priced other dealerships. Honda was out of stock. Nissan wanted $186. Mazda wanted....$289 and the parts person said he has a full shelf of them because nobody buys them there because someone thinks putting a a Mazda ZoomZoom sticker on a production battery makes it worth another $140. So, off to Ford I went and installed a nice and shiny new Motorcraft battery in a Honda. This really disturbed my brother in law. He has this thing with matching the brand of the battery to the brand of the car, and was furthermore disturbed because the Honda logo is blue, and, "what if someone sees the red Motorcraft logo on the battery?" I told him it didn't matter because I'm the only one who will see it, then laughed. He said he didn't see the humor in the situation, so I laughed again because I think it's funny.

I also like Motorcraft batteries. I've always had good luck with them. I been able to get 6 to almost 8 years out of them. The Honda battery lasted just under 6 years, which is still good.

 

[Roert42]

Three grinder minimum guy myself. Five is better.
Had four, and broke two of them on a big project.

I was going to save the first broke. One for parts, I decided if I saved it it was just going to sit on the self in the way forever. I tossed it and a week later another one broke in a different way. :/

 

[Robertmangrum.rm]

Pressure washed about 20 lbs of Kentucky and Indiana mud off the bottom of it. Left it on the trailer and backed it unto the yard. Might do a night ride at the local park next week. Then, going g to Kentucky again October 20-23 for "Overland The Red". An event being put on by Northology.

I have a few FB friends going to that event. One will be in a 5th gen Ranger 19 I believe. It's black with coastal offroad bumpers and sliders. If you see him say hey. His name is Brain Young. He runs HiddenGemsAdventures. Wished I could go but things here are still kinda out of sorts.

 

[Bgunner]

Hopped in it today started it up pressed the brake peddle and blew a rear brake line.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Hopped in it today started it up pressed the brake peddle and blew a rear brake line.

Better it happened sitting in the driveway then trying to do a hard stop on the road. My last 94 had the line replaced at least ten years ago. Yours made it well past their life expectancy.

Probably a good time to just replace ALL of the metal lines... and the rubber hoses if they haven't been done.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Nickel-copper lines are the best for us rust belt people, IMHO

 

[Uncle Gump]

Nickel-copper lines are the best for us rust belt people, IMHO

You guys keep saying that... next one I have to do I'm going to try that stuff.

 

[Bgunner]

Better it happened sitting in the driveway then trying to do a hard stop on the road. My last 94 had the line replaced at least ten years ago. Yours made it well past their life expectancy.

Probably a good time to just replace ALL of the metal lines... and the rubber hoses if they haven't been done.

This line was replaced at least once before, I can tell by the bends in the line. Yes the brake hoses in the front were done about 2 years ago along with the line from the RABS valve to the soft line in the rear at the same time. My front lines are looking in rough shape so those may get replaced also but that would be a garage job. I have a roll of the Nickle/copper stuff downstairs I'm just not sure where my ends are, I have the flaring tool. I just got off the phone, while typing this, with a friend that will hit the auto parts store and grab me some ends and will do the rear line quick for me. This will get me on the road and I'll make an appointment for the front lines and the other rear line to get done.

 

[Bgunner]

You guys keep saying that... next one I have to do I'm going to try that stuff.

I love that stuff for its installation ease. No benders necessary, easily bent by hand so you can fine tune its placement. I used it for the RABs valve to the rear soft line and fell in love with it.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I love that stuff for its installation ease. No benders necessary, easily bent by hand so you can fine tune its placement. I used it for the RABs valve to the rear soft line and fell in love with it.

That's what everyone says.

I'm just old school about some things... and I've made a bunch of brake lines over the years... using steel line.

The NiCopp stuff is easy to work with and flares easy... but because its soft... I worry a bit on longer runs because it isn't as durable. Rub through from vibrations and stuff.

I'm still going to try it and form my own opinion.

 

[Snoranger]

That's what everyone says.

I'm just old school about some things... and I've made a bunch of brake lines over the years... using steel line.

The NiCopp stuff is easy to work with and flares easy... but because its soft... I worry a bit on longer runs because it isn't as durable. Rub through from vibrations and stuff.

I'm still going to try it and form my own opinion.

I can show you 50 or so county owned f250s that have that line… we’ve yet to have an issue.

 

[Curious Hound]

I can show you 50 or so county owned f250s that have that line…

They’re all over at Mabel’s Diner right now for the Saturday breakfast special.

 

[mikkelstuff]

Replaced the lost 12 mm front disc brake caliper anchor plate bolt that fell out of my '02 Ranger while I was driving around on errands. Luckily I heard it when braking and managed to nurse it home. I previously had one of the smaller caliper bolts come out which was not fun either.

Wouldn't be so bad but I rebuilt all that when I upgraded to the larger 2004 Ranger disc brakes. I did not know at the time that those caliper bolts need to be doped with the blue thread lock. I don't know if those larger caliper anchor plate bolts need the blue thread lock or not but I used it this time for sure. Also lucky that my local NAPA dealer had those anchor bolts in stock.

I did recheck the torque on anchor plate bolts on the opposite side but they were fine. I suppose I should remove those and dope those up as well for safety.

 

[Snoranger]

They’re all over at Mabel’s Diner right now for the Saturday breakfast special.

Mabel’s closed years ago… we get our porkroll, egg, and cheese sandwiches from Luigi’s Deli.

You gotta the hash brown on the sandwich. It really adds to the flavor.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Mabel’s closed years ago… we get our porkroll, egg, and cheese sandwiches from Luigi’s Deli.

You gotta the hash brown on the sandwich. It really adds to the flavor.

Hopefully it kills the taste of pork roll.

Don't even know what it is... but pork under no circumstances be rolled.