Precise1

Congrats on poluting apc... B

Yow, that gonna do no favors to the interior, not to mention the ecu... Personally, I like to check how deep things are first, snorkel or no... Hope it wasn't too bad... Is the driver 1/2 amphibian ? B

Congrats, and glad it wasn't outrageous. It's always nice to have the vehicle in good shape ! B

This was fairly covered in a post, try the searching function. If you can't find it, it was mainly replacing the pins (and bushings I believe, or maybe that was door hinge pins) with a lot of grease... Not to difficult, but the carrier is heavy so be careful. Hopefully others will chime in and or redirect you. It's not a terrible job from what I understand. B

Yeah, the assembly must pivot on the shaft that goes into the caliper. Exploded view is important at this point... If you cant find one anywhere, go talk to a parts guy (stealership is prob best) and he'll show one to you and give advice. If you don't need the VW immediately, you can always pull the caliper, it's not hard. The big thing is if the hole in the caliper is ovaled or rounded out (bell shaped), you need a new body, if not a seal should do it... If you can afford to be patient, you can save some $... I'll help if I can, GL... B

LOL Slick, I think you just like working on them, not driving them... Not that there is anything wrong with working on them, but thats not all of the fun !! Not like I should talk... The Pathy will be "done" (for now) in a month or two, so that only leaves me 2 other projects in the works; a 79 VW bug convertible and a BMW motorcycle... Congrats on the score. You seem to know chevys so I'm sure you'll get it working nicely. After all, Pathys aren't the ONLY vehicle worth tinkering with... :X B

This guy is definitely twisted, which garners much respect in my book... I'm thinking that some of these could be roof mounted on a Pathy for that little extra oomph in passing situations, and very well could make the difference in getting yourself out of a mire.... Enjoy. B http://www.aardvark.co.nz/pjet/

Looks like a lot of fun !! Obviously the Pathy didn't let ya down... I like the bumper dent, it adds character. B

Ok, as a wish list item, I want the Moller Sky Car.... http://www.moller.com/ At a cool million, I'm just gonna keep wishing, but it is the shet !! While you are there, check out the Wenkel based rotary engine they sell. VERY COOL !! I first found it when I was looking for a motor option for a STOL kit plane I want to build. After checking it out, I want to set up a motorcycle like that and build an amphibious vehicle based on that power plant. All I need to succeed is a rich wife and a place to work... Talking to the GF about that right now, she needs to find me one or make millions herself so I can be a parasite; we are working out the details What I could do with just some basic backing !!! B

Looks nice 88. You and your white components.... How much did you grind off of the frame pan hard rod mount lip curl ? Did you devise a method to determine lateral movement if any occurs ? Very tight bolt holes should minimize that anyway, but it is always nice to know. My channel iron version of the same thing should be completed and posted soon. Basically the same thing minus the welding; there's only a few logical ways to approach it, and not a whole lot to work with... Again, nice job. B

Sorry Bud, but that picture isn't very good... I'd guess that the fluid is coming out from behind the arm ? I'm assuming thats the e-brake setup ? Not knowing the system, I can only think of 2 ways it would work. 1 is rotational (it compresses fluid inside the caliper via piston, etc. 2 it is somehow wormgeared to push a piston directly into the caliper. Either way, there have to be seals and they are blown. With some luck the shaft, piston, or caliper body is not damaged or worn beyond a good seal's ability to close the gap and merely need changing. I'd find an exploded view, that would help a lot. Does that arm that the nut holds on seem at all loose (bad sign)? Its hard to help remotely like this, but better picts would help a lot. Can you pull it and get a side view ? I'm kinda going out on a limb with my diagnosis; dont have enough info to go on... B

Nicely done, looks like it belongs there ! What did you finish it with ? Rattle can or something better ? As for the lean, well, I think it is the truck... Reason being the amount and tilt of the LCAs does not look the same. I could be wrong, but I'm usually pretty good at this type of thing; other factor would be if that parking slot is not level... My Pathy has fooled me by leaning when the pavement isn't flat. Collary is who cares, if it drives straight and has no wierd tire wear... I can think of the perfect thing to finish off the front end look... Comming to Pathy near you soon... B

Can you isolate where it is basically comming from ?? I'm not familiar with 03s so I cant do a minds eye thing... Try driving with the windows down next to a wall, I've used that trick before and it can help a lot... B

You mean besides the fact they are the #1 vehicle for engine fires ??? Personally, thats a big minus in my book... B

LOL, slow down there Airrun... If ya read closely, my comment was directed at the lazy slob sports fans, not at all calling ALL sports fans lazy, etc... Harbinger, for the record, my TV and I went camping about 8 years ago. It was a rather rugged trip, and unfortunately, the TV died of a close range shotgun blast. B

Well, the rarest Pathy is metalic midnight blue with a pearl over coat... I havent seen one yet, but if I win the lottery it will happen. As for dedicated sports/couch/slouch fans, don't make me ill ! Quit living life vicariously, you dont ever know these people. Get off your hiney and do something of your own. :o B

Well, finally had to chime in on this... Feral cats are out of hand in areas and need to be dealt with. Humanely... as in human. If you can pop a cat in the head at 50 yards, Ok. If you are drunk JoeBob and laugh when you only wound and they squirm off, then I'd rather put a slug in your head. It comes down to reality; cruelty is unnecessary, population control is not. I dont care, cats, dogs, lemurs, or ferrets. If something has to be done, be it quick and humane. There is a reason the deer control squad were sharp shooters, not BillysueJoebob with a schlitz and a gun... Why should it be less considerate ? For the record I like cats and dogs are ok, but when they eat their crap and want to lick me, I consider shooting them... B

Well, as per the PM I sent ya, your stand off block has been done a while now... Sorry if I didn't realize I had to make it and DELIVER it also... Perhaps I should installl it so you dont poke your eye out with a screw driver or something... As for Johns bike; apart and together twice in 2 weeks sounds like it should have been done correctly the first time. He obviously didn't listen to the spriggot arm advance plate advice I tried to give him... As for your heap, anything that looks like it was used as a semi supository, resurected with primer and given bald tired for re-birth doesn't classify as anything I'd ride willingly ! Love ya man B

Christ MM, you actually riding that bolt bucket around ??? I'd hoped you only use it for a gravity sled, but as you seem to be putting gas in it... Did you at least stock up on body armor ?? Don't make me come by and show you what a motorcycle is supposed to look like... B

I think they look fine, but without the right backspacing, adjusting steering stops, a lift and maybe fender trimming, I think you will have some rub-a-dub. While we all know 31" tires fit fine, 9" seems a lot for the space. I'm thinking they will 'swing wide' when you turn the wheel. B

Glad to hear repack I didn't want to think so (just finished reading an ER book), but mainly wanted the RDN not to think it was ok. Glad we have that solved. Yeah, autobody was a mystery to me before, now it's just a wonder. I'm not sleighting the knowledge involved, but it's amazing how much they use chains, comealongs, pry bars and mallets. Like I said, I'm a newbie at it, but I have an idea what I would try next time; something like what you did... B

LOL repack, thats not the posture I'd asume next to a tensioned comealong... Ok RDN, one problem you have is that you have bent your radiator support at that corner. anything you try to mount up, wont in that spot. I recommend pulling it out in the same manner. First, just do the bumper, but stop if it starts to crease, the rest will have to be done by hand, don't be shy about trying it. Next I'd try to pull that corner forward, including the radiator support (you dont want to replace this if you dont have to) Then I would remove the fender, finish the radiator support, and give some love to the fender to try to save it. Start with a comealong (it's worth buying), pry, pull and hammer the rest; you would be suprised at what can be done with some attention and patience... Ok, to qualify this, I'm a machinist, not an autobody guy and have only done a little of this work reciently. I hit a cement island 3 months ago (did QUITE a bit more damage) and have had my truck in 2 auto shops, watching what they did, and how. Since then I have 'fixed' many little things and improved many others. I am not an autobody guy, but what I described is how I would handle the damage. If you are not satisfied with the results, pros and/or replacing parts comes next... If you were near me, I could send you to a guy who would get it to 80% for no more than $300. Have you considered asking some shops in the area what they could do (with your prepwork) for cash ??? Worth a shot and you may be suprised. Hopefully an autobody guy will chime in to correct me or point out details. GL !! Bernard

Hey Rami. By the nature of squeaks (and you discription) when the front suspension moves, something complains. Something is upset, tired, had a long decade, etc. Try isolating what side it comes from, or what wheel causes it. Next, shimmy under and look in general. Does everything look like toast, crudded up, dry, or only some things. Compare this to when it happens and imagine what your suspension is doing. Ok, now, get a spray can of wd-40, silicone spray or something else temporary like that. Now spray 1 suspect (joint, bushing, etc) well and drive some. Is the squeak gone ? Did it lessen ? If not, pick suspect #2 and shoot him, etc, etc, etc. This may sound painstaking, but not really, I have isolated causes by this method quite quickly. The nice thing is that you learn a lot. Get a cardboard box and cut it open so it lays flat (write 'this side down' on one side) and use that as your creeper so you can slide under for 1 minute anywhere. All that being said, squeaks can be from several places, or not in the front end at all, but something disturbed by the motion. My hood latch was squeaking for weeks before I figured that one out. What the heck, you got to start somewhere... Bernard

Hey jammer, I have to agree with M about the hack job... Wraping wires with tape is an "on the road" repair, not something a stealership should do. Atleast terminate the wires professionally !! If that is how they treated the easy stuff, I can imagine how other things were done. I won't say all the work was crap, but some definitely is. Dont be shy about calling, complaining, and visiting with the insistance that something be done/redone; you payed them for good work/service. I recently had an autobody shop pull a worse hack job than that. By being calm, realistic, and a constant pain in the a$$, from a $1900 bill, I got $200 off immediately, 2 parts worth about $200 (as a go away now gift) and on my last visit, a $600 refund. Thats more than 50% off; I called it even and never ACTUALLY threatened anyone. I cant help you with the sensor question, but I can advise not to be shy about issues you are having. Bernard

Duffman, take your time, do it right, call for help at whim and save some $ for the unforseen things that WILL arise (sorry Slick). When you are done you will be very happy and have blast with a pretty tough little SUV !!! Congrats ! B