The Automotive Thread

[Lumber Jim]

I always liked the manual locking hubs cuz I tend to distrust electronics. I had two problems with them though: Muddy shoes almost every time I needed to use them and forgetting that I had them locked in when the snow melted in the spring.

Impressive pics Bly!!

 

[envirotex]

Did you bleed the lines? Sounds like air pockets.

Yes.

 

[envirotex]

Was the master cylinder bench bled?

Yes.

 

[envirotex]

Although, Mr. Tex thinks the brakes may need to be power bled...Any ideas on better ways to bleed them before we haul it off to the shop? We've done a gravity bleed, forced a swimming pool worth of fluid through, hard stomping on the brake pedal, slow pumping on the brakes, fast pumping on the brakes...nothing fixes it so far.

 

[pbrme]

Is it an ABS system?

 

[Supe]

Have the rubber brake hoses been replaced? If you're moving fluid through the system during bleeding, then one of your brake hoses is probably expanding.

 

[envirotex]

Is it an ABS system?

No.

Have the rubber brake hoses been replaced? If you're moving fluid through the system during bleeding, then one of your brake hoses is probably expanding.

No, but they are fairly new and seem OK. Mr. Tex is threatening to drive it into the lake...

 

[Capt Worley PE]

Mr. Tex is threatening to drive it into the lake...

Believable enough. "Brakes failed."

Tell him to make sure he gets wet.

 

[blybrook PE]

Manual locking hubs...now there's a blast from the past.

Not really a blast from the past, they are on all of my rigs (except the 2012). I prefer them to the new "electronic" or the auto hubs which have problems when you are trying to rock a vehicle. As soon as they make a conversion kit for my '12, I'll be putting manual hubs on it! I don't like having it unlock and then relock when switching between forward & reverse.

I always liked the manual locking hubs cuz I tend to distrust electronics. I had two problems with them though: Muddy shoes almost every time I needed to use them and forgetting that I had them locked in when the snow melted in the spring.

Impressive pics Bly!!

Thanks! So far every parts house I've taken it into to request the replacement parts can't believe I did that to a Warn hub. Especially when plowing! I don't mind leaving it locked in for short trips; but will unlock them for longer road trips to save fuel.

 

[Road Guy]

supe - decal on the way (again)

Hope it gets there this time!!!!

 

[Supe]

Thanks! I'll keep a lookout for it.

 

[mudpuppy]

Manual locking hubs...now there's a blast from the past.

Not really a blast from the past, they are on all of my rigs (except the 2012). I prefer them to the new "electronic" or the auto hubs which have problems when you are trying to rock a vehicle. As soon as they make a conversion kit for my '12, I'll be putting manual hubs on it! I don't like having it unlock and then relock when switching between forward & reverse.

I think I mentioned this on here a while back, but the Ford Superduty trucks used to come with hubs that were auto locking, but could also manually be locked. I don't think they offer these any more, but it sounds convenient to have the auto feature and still be able to lock them out for plowing.

 

[blybrook PE]

MP, they still come with it (as of the '12 model year); but are plagued with problems. They are air actuated and only keep their seal for about 2 uses after installation; after that, you are better off manually locking in the hubs if you want any true 4wd.

A few friends that have these trucks have all swapped out their factory hubs for true manual hubs and their problems with their axles dropped immediately. The main issue with the bad seals was it was permitting water into the bearings while performing water crossings.

On another note, the last chance shop in town had 3 sets of hubs on the shelf and were at a price LOWER than anywhere else in town (and didn't have to deal with shipping waits). Now to get some more 3/8" dia. GR 5 or GR 8 bolts to reassemble the axle and I'll be back on the road tonight!

 

[jeb6294]

So here's another question on the new car front. Would I be nuts to buy a Pontiac?

The only one I would considering is an '09 G8 GT. It trounced the Charger in all the comparisons when it came out and, with 4 doors room for the kids and a 360hp V8 under the hood, it looks like it would be the best family car ever!

My biggest concern would be parts/repairs. Do you suppose there are enough similarities to Chevy that it would be an issue or should I just run away? I found one close that is a certified '09 with 66k on it so at least it would have some warranty for about the next year or so, but it won't do me any good if they can't get parts.

One other thought I had was, maybe I should get the truck and then start saving the pennies for another motorcycle...truck for workin and a bike for the gas mpg's.

 

[Master slacker]

The G8 is full of good ole Chevy parts. The LS2 and transmission (whatever flavor you choose) are standard bowtie issue for the most part. Being a four year old car and a Chevy, you'll have no problem finding parts for it. my two cents.

 

[Supe]

The G8 is full of good ole Chevy parts. The LS2 and transmission (whatever flavor you choose) are standard bowtie issue for the most part. Being a four year old car and a Chevy, you'll have no problem finding parts for it. my two cents.

X2. Cosmetic parts will be the toughest to replace on those, not so much the mechanicals. I say go for it, I'd love to have one myself, but when you find one, they don't often come cheap unless they're very high mileage and have been heavily ragged on.

 

[Capt Worley PE]

Be advised the G8 is built in Australia and every dang thing on it, save the engine/tranny is unique to that car. Now that Chevy has basically the same car in the SS, you may be OK, but generally, I stay far away from the craptastic Australian stuff. They are nice designs, but there are build quality issues.

 

[Dexman PE PMP]

The old G8 and the new SS are essentially 4-door versions of the Camaro. Like others have said, the only issue would be with replacement body parts since it's a discontinued car/brand, but most of the inner workings are full-blown Chevy. The car is build on the Holden Monaro platform from Austrailia, and when Chevy merged with Holden, they decided to take that very popular model stateside.

 

[Master slacker]

And if you ever got tired of the original engine or transmission, you could rob a block from a Camaro, GTO, Chevy truck or van, GMC truck or van. Transmission would be almost as available.

 

[jeb6294]

Went and test drove a G8 the other day. Man, that was fun. I don't think I would ever pull the trigger though. The one I looked at was in really nice shape for 66k on it, but there were a few things that kind of bugged me. Being Aussie, the key is one of those switchblade keys. We had those years ago with our Audi. I hate those keys. The other problem is that the fob was beat to hell to the point that the unlock button was just gone. Good luck finding a new one. Also, the radio/HVAC is all combined and kind of cheesy looking so if I ever wanted to do anything with the sound system...can't do it. Driving it seemed like you had to either go or stop. Trying to pull away from lights like a normal person, the engine was a little testy and the tranny felt kind of clunky. Now if you want to tromp on it every time you pull away you don't have that problem but your mpg is going to go down the toilet and you tend to attract the wrong kind of attention. Since this is something that I'm probably going to be driving for a long time, stuff like that bothered me. That being said, in several years I could totally see an SS being a viable option.

For now, I've been looking online and have my eye on a couple Dodge Ram 1500 Crew Cabs. And if you even have to ask me if I'm looking for one with a Hemi then we are no longer on speaking terms.