1st Ford Ranger

[gregorys1989]

Im new to this forum, so sorry in advance if this is the wrong place to post. I just bought a 92 Ranger v6 3 liter automatic. My mechanic shop was closed when i went to get the vehicle inspected before buying it so knowing the vehicle was going to sell fast i got it inspected at a oil change place. Yes, i know BIG MISTAKE. So after noticing the antifreeze was rusty I went to get it inspected at the shop I go to. From what I can remember there is a coolant leak in a expensive place. I was shown the leak just cant remember what it was called. It also needs new front right ball joints and new front brakes and rotors. The shop is trusted so i know all the info is valid. But i hate being the guy to run to the mechanic for all my problems. I want to just do the work myself but im worried ill screw something up. Should I be attempting jobs like this with very little experience? Whats my best way to save some money and learn something? Im in it for the long haul with this truck I love it and its gonna last me awhile it only has 88k original miles on it and the body is spotless. Any of you from the Detroit metro area?

 

[Airmaster]

Coolant leaks can be a bit troublesome. I personally have not tackled one. I sent my friend who had a coolant leak to a mechanic.

As far as brakes, they really aren't too difficult. Get a Haynes manual, or a Chilton's, whatever suits your fancy and READ.

The front calipers can be done in about 4 hours for a beginner, and this includes putting in new wheel bearings, as well as packing the wheel bearings.

If this sounds like too much already then it may be best to continue bringing it to the mechanic.

Also, if you don't own a good set of tools this may be unchartered land for you. A mechanical inclination and a good group of tools will go a long way if you are to attempt your own maintenance.

Oil changes, transmission fluid changes, and even spark plugs and wires can be done fairly easy, but always pay attention to what you are doing. Don't take an "easy" job for granted, follow a manual the first few times because if you are new to maintenance you are bound to forget one or two things.

Good luck, and don't forget to use the "search" function on the forum when in doubt.

 

[gregorys1989]

just noticed that function on the forum. Thanks alot though

 

[--weezl--]

the search is annoying, it doesn't exist until you register, so there's a lot of people who post questions after not being able to figure out how to search...

brakes, yes, you can do them no problem... when you do the brakes, depending on the style of them (i don't know for yours for sure) but they may be slip on (rotors just slide on, no fuss no muss, done and done) or they could be the bearing style, it's mostly dependant if you are 2wd or 4... the 4x4 ones are MUCH easier to deal with, and a monkey with a wrench could do the brakes on them

tools required are more or less a decent socket set, some anti-seize compound, possibly allan wrenches, and a BIG set of channel locks or a c-clamp with good power to it

ball joints, depends on the style, but you MAY be able to do them yourself, they are a little more in depth than brakes are

if you have the bearings in there, you can replace your bearings, or re-use them, depending on how worn they are, but honestly, for the value, just replace them... you will also need new seals, again not much money... your bearings and seals should be less than your pads are worth... if you are going to do the bearings at the same time, i HIGHLY recommend you buy a bearing packer, rather than doing it the old hand way... a bearing packer does as good of a job packing the bearings as hand does, just makes it so much less work, and less messy... they are about $20 usually, and will be something you keep forever... you will also need grease, a small hammer, and a chunk of 2x4

as for the coolant leak, i couldn't tell you if you can or not, fix it on your own, without knowing exactly where it's leaking from, if you care to describe it, i'll take a guess at the part name for you...

what's your mechanical background like? can you change a tire and all that? if you can, you shouldn't have any issues with disk brakes... drum on the other hand are more difficult, i personally HATE working on them, but sometimes you have no choice

 

[gregorys1989]

they are front disc. its two wheel drive so the wheel bearings do come inside the rotors. Ive decided im gonna do those myself. as well as the coolant flush and probably trans. The ball joints and the coolant leak im not comfortable enough with yet so im gonna pay someone to do it. which sucks butt its better than messing up that beauty i got sitting out front. Im a bit technically inclined. ive put on a water pump in a old boneville. changed serp belt. and yes ive changed tires. I had a dodge neon prior to this so i couldn't really work on anything myself with that pile of garbage. thanks for all the help

 

[--weezl--]

you could probably manage the ball joints too then... and the leak, like i said, it depends on what it is, as to how hard it would be... i'm going to guess heater core?

get a bearing packer, it will make your life 1000x easier!

when you change the coolant, remember that when you drain the rad, you're not going to get the fluid in the block also... best way to get it, is pull the thermostat out, even then you probably won't get 100% of the coolant, but you can fill it with water, and dump it a second time, then adjust the coolant strength accordingly later...

make sure to post up any questions you've got, i'm on here like 30x a day, and know the brakes fairly well, i'm subscribed, so as soon as you post a question in this thread, i should see it

 

[gregorys1989]

yeah it needs the collant flush badly. theres rust in the radiator and resivoir. but my mechanic told me not to waste the money untill the leak is fixed. and yeah that might be it

 

[Airmaster]

yeah I had to hand pack my bearings... after the third one I kinda had it down to a T. Still took about 10 to 15 minutes for each bearings, didn't have the packer, probably would had the brakes done 2 hours earlier, not to mention clean-up time haha!

 

[--weezl--]

i personally HATE HATE HATE packing bearings by hand, but a bearing packet makes it like a 1-2 minute job, if that

 

[modelageek]

they are front disc. its two wheel drive so the wheel bearings do come inside the rotors. Ive decided im gonna do those myself. as well as the coolant flush and probably trans. The ball joints and the coolant leak im not comfortable enough with yet so im gonna pay someone to do it. which sucks butt its better than messing up that beauty i got sitting out front. Im a bit technically inclined. ive put on a water pump in a old boneville. changed serp belt. and yes ive changed tires. I had a dodge neon prior to this so i couldn't really work on anything myself with that pile of garbage. thanks for all the help

I agree wit Weexl?......it seems to me that if you are comfortable enough to do the brakes and rotors that you could handle the BJ's also........Do you have another car that you can drive while working on this one?..........do you have a digital camera/phone camera. if you get stuck you can take pictures and post them here........you will get plenty of help......

also it is to early to decide if you can fix the coolant since you have not even found out where it is

IMHO.......this is what you should do

clean the engine bay and suspension off. You can use simple green and wrap the alternator etc in saran wrap.......

come up with a plan. I use a spreadsheet and right down everything that I need. vendors, prices, tools required, tips and suggestions on doing the job. anything you can think of to help plan it out.

it sounds like a nice truck with the 88k miles.....these things do break down and if you plan on keeping it you might as well get in there and learn how to do it.....some jobs seem overwhelming but once you break them down they are not to bad.....

I would even suggest that you get advice about what parts to use.......I have used regular rotors and had luck with them but I am partial to Timkin bearings and moog parts....You can get some latex gloves and pack the bearings ahead of time.....make sure you use high temp grease, not conventional grease..............you should go on rockauto.com and become familiar with it........they are a good company....

*Please go to vehicle profile and add as much info about your truck as you can, ie, tranny? AC? 2WD? Cab? engine?.etc.(trust me.....I am not like the others it really does help the people that are responding)

 

[--weezl--]

+1 on rock auto! OMG cheap! their parts, with shipping, and duty, accross the line into canada, were STILL roughly 50% of the local parts stores!!! and i called for all of the parts that i needed! oh, i placed the order sunday night, i had some of the parts wednesday, the rest thursday!

my way i do it, i fix them one at a time, (though brakes bearings and ball joints may as well get done at the same time, as it's all the same disassebly for the bj's as the pads... and the rotor is only 1 more step really

i also just go start buying parts, and get a pile in the garage, do lots of swearing, lots of drinking, and borrow my roommate's bmw x5 to run to the parts store several times, while i'm covered in grease and smell like tranny fluid or gear lube (he loves that)

though i don't know if he will lend it to me again, because last time i went, his car/van thing smelled like gl-5 for about a week (which stinks like hell, if you've never smelled it before)

 

[gregorys1989]

No i do not have another car to drive while I work on this one. Butt, in a couple weeks I wont have school so ill have from Sunday night to Wednesday at four to get er goin. And yeah I have a good camera on my phone. never really thought about that. Also I know about rock auto. Ive never bought anything from them but ive been around the sight and noticed they kill everyone elses prices. U guys are awsome though thanks for the help