Your Worst DIY Experience?
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New Member
Joined: Oct 2006
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Your Worst DIY Experience?
Mine isn't too bad, but it has to be the control arm pinch bolt on the knuckle.
Well I was switching out control arms this weekend. I thought I could do both sides in about 5 hours, but wow, that pinch bolt at the top was a major b^tch!
I had to break out the acetylene torch on the right side and a myriad of oils and of course the trusty air hammer. Still wow! That bolt on the knuckle alone took me a four hours for each side. What's funny is that when i got them off and put in the new bolts, there's actually a little bit of room in the sleeve. Rust builds up to such an extreme that it closes the gap solid. In retrospect I don't think I've had a worse bolt to remove that that. Thankfully the left side was far easier. Still I guess I don't have it too bad relative to some of you...
what's the worst bolt or worst DIY job you've faced.
Well I was switching out control arms this weekend. I thought I could do both sides in about 5 hours, but wow, that pinch bolt at the top was a major b^tch!
I had to break out the acetylene torch on the right side and a myriad of oils and of course the trusty air hammer. Still wow! That bolt on the knuckle alone took me a four hours for each side. What's funny is that when i got them off and put in the new bolts, there's actually a little bit of room in the sleeve. Rust builds up to such an extreme that it closes the gap solid. In retrospect I don't think I've had a worse bolt to remove that that. Thankfully the left side was far easier. Still I guess I don't have it too bad relative to some of you...
what's the worst bolt or worst DIY job you've faced.
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Joined: Mar 2001
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When i installed my current DP...
I took what should have been a 2-3 hour job to seven hours. one of the turbo to DP bolts was rusted in the turbo, and I tried too hard to remove it. Of course it snapped. Of course it took 3 hours to drill out, being hardened and of course I broke a couple of taps and stud removers. What a pain. The results were worth it though 
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Mar 2007
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tranny fluid change for me....
I though about doing it myself and as I insert the hose for the gravity feed, fluid rushes out and runs all the way down my arm to my shoulder and at this point i freakout and call the tow truck for the dealer to finish. Now after all is said and done i think i really chickened out and could do that diy in no time.
Tech Guru
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 34,430
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Engine swap on a 1993 90...or maybe Scirocco engine swap.
90 engine swap was the first time I'd done a swap on a 90. I pulled it apart and had stuff everywhere. Woke up the next day to start reassembly and was sick. Too sick to be working on cars, but I knew if I left the car apart too long I would forget what went where. So I dragged myself out of bed and down to the shop. I worked 12 hours straight on the car, then went home and slept for two days. Diagnosis: the flu.
The Scirocco swap was done on the side of the road near UConn when I was a student there. The job was completed over a January weekend where the temp never got over 10 degrees. I don't think I've ever been that cold since.
The Scirocco swap was done on the side of the road near UConn when I was a student there. The job was completed over a January weekend where the temp never got over 10 degrees. I don't think I've ever been that cold since.
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AudiWorld Super User
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From: Warwickshire
I think that wins although I did a 320i head rebuild in January at my parents farm in mid Wales....
it never got much above freezing but I had to work through the night to get it finished in time to go home to work the next day. I had ice form on the back of my jacket as I worked.
It is strange though, sometimes you can be working in less-than-zero (C not F) and your hands can stay really warm yet other times they just never warm up and you struglle to hold a spanner.
It is strange though, sometimes you can be working in less-than-zero (C not F) and your hands can stay really warm yet other times they just never warm up and you struglle to hold a spanner.
