I could not have done this without this video. Tried other videos, not as complete. Did it in my driveway, took about 16 hours on a 2008 (in 2023), so 15 years of rusty bolts that needed every trick in the book to remove. Getting all the bolts off was 14 hours of that. If you undertake this at home, prepare to use every trick to break the bolts free, including a trusty torch and lots of penetrating lube. Sometimes the tool combinations required to reach the bots was a total Rube Goldberg, as I didn't have the range of tools Eric has.
one of the things i like best about your videos is making me feel good about paying my mechanic to do work on my cars when it's too much for me to handle
EricTheCarGuy My favorite is how Eric explains everything. Why he uses a certain lubricant, tool, etc and what can happen if he doesn't etc. Answers a lot of questions I get in my mind
mrsemifixit, exactly right! I hate it when I look for a repair video and not even half of the instructions are given and the video is only 5 minutes long FOR A HEAD GASKET! Eric realizes not everyone is a mechanic who watches his videos, so he goes that extra mile.
Astral Auto Repairs Yes which is perfect for the DIY'r it's like having a tutor there with you. Most other videos just show someone fixing something. No thought process is verbalized which does no good for learning.
mrsemifixit, I think a lot of auto repair content creators on TH-cam forget that TH-cam is MAINLY for the DIYers who are looking to avoid high priced repair shops, and even though Eric is a master technician, he breaks the instructions down so we can follow, and Eric, if you see this, "WE CAN DIG IT"!
You're a great professional Eric. Your ability to describe, disassemble, reassemble is superior. The inclusion of what tools may or may not need was awesome 👍
This video really saved me from spending $1,400.00!! I just have one caveat though. This is not as easy as it looks. Though I saved $1400.00, there were many challenges along the way. I had the same problem with the s.b. link. High side pressure line was a pain to get off and on. Back motor mounts did not align. Took me and a friend two days. I've seen some people get it done in 5 hrs. Good for them. But... if your like me, a person that does minor fixes eg. Altinators, brakes, fuel pumps etc... then do yourself a huge favor and think this through before making that commitment. Nothing was easy about this. There were several times I wished I just payed for this job to be done. With that being said, this job is over and I'm happy it's fixed.
I bought an 09 EX-L that was in a small collision for a (not amazing) fair price. I'll be replacing the Lower Control Arms and ball joints, CV Axles, outer tie rods, front wheel hubs and bearings, the timing belt, all the engine and transmission mounts but the steering rack seems the most daunting! I do not have a lift, a few Jack's and 4 Jack stands. Wish me luck, I feel your pain with rusty bolts! I should get a torch 😢
@@johnreed2272 good luck with all that. Patience with that steering rack is needed when you change it out. Halfway through I was seriously regretting on changing it myself. Honda must have really thought about this and made it darn near impossible to work on it. When it comes to turning wrenches, I’m not shy at all but this was the worst I’ve ever had.
This type of video is Eric the car guy when it´s best. A relatively long detailed video, shot in the best possible angle and light, narrated "live" with a twist of humor, and tons of useful information. A real "Eric the Car guy Classic" production.
I do not own a Honda Odyssey, nor do I know anyone who does, But I finished this video with confidence that I could try to fix a power steering rack on one. Great video Eric.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these type of videos. Yes, I like the Fairmont videos, too, no doubt, but the general repair videos are the girl that brought you to the dance! Never ignore her! :) Kudos, Eric!
Finally a good old Eric the Car Guy video! These are the ones we've been missing. I started watching your channel back when you were in the old shop, had an ugly pony tail and we could pretty much smell you through the video. You always made great videos. You have a great sense of humor and a very enjoyable way of presenting things. Hopefully you'll go back to videos like this and I think you'll see some of your old viewers coming back.
Eric love the channel, just my opinion these videos are why I started watching your channel at the very start back in the old workshop was hooked have never missed a video, I also watch etcg1 and agree with everything you've said about views and wanting to go in a different direction, but these types of repair videos are the reason why most of the viewers started watching and have stayed watching your channel ,in my opinion they Should be the bulk of content can not get enough of them....,Best of luck From Australia
Thank you for that feedback. However, my point of view is that I still put just as much effort, if not more, into the Fairmont videos. They still contain a ton of useful information, repair and otherwise, along with the challenges I face when doing a job, just like this video. It's just that the Fairmont seems to be a vehicle that few people have an interest in. The irony for me is that I'd wager you don't even own an Odyssey that needs a power steering rack, yet you watched and enjoyed this video. I just wish more people would see the #FairmontProject videos with the same eyes. Thanks again.
Once again EXCELLENT video (and bravo for shooting the nut in this plastic tube there!) . I hate videos where they do a job and only show the end result for each moves, as if everything is so easy and simple. What I like the most is that you actually show it all, the easy and not so easy steps and hurdles and how you deal with those. THIS is what happens in real life. I live in a place where cars gets a lot rusty and where removing a single nut is almost always a challenge! Anyways thank you again!
Great video. One thing I would suggest is to make sure the new power steering rack comes centered/aligned. Speaking from experience. I installed a new power steering rack on my car without checking if it was centered and of course it wasn't (even though the site said it was). So I had to take it out, center it and reinstall it. It sucked to say the least. Live and you learn i guess. 😅
IDK if anyone really notices the excellent, nay, scrumchalescent shots the camera man gets. Amazing job. Some shots im left wondering how they got the shot. Touche cameraman.
Thanks Eric for this video. I appreciate you getting the lighting and angle for the camera for all fasteners. You definitely have the BEST automotive repair videos on TH-cam. I’ve been watching you for years and you have helped me so much. Keep up the great content. Cheers!
EricTheCarGuy something I would enjoy watching is an annual blooper reel. Something to sum up your year and see a "behind the scenes" look at what you do
Excellent video. Great editing, very detailed yet efficient...no wasted time. Mechanic wanted $700 parts and labor. Local junkyard said if I pull it out myself (great practice btw), $50. You just saved me $650, minus the price of a few new tools.
As a mechanic who solely does suspension and steering work, I find the easiest way to remove swaybar links is to actually avoid using impacts on the allen/torx keys inside the thread. The thread just doesn't have the strength to hold up to an impact. Instead, I use basic hand tools and ratchet spanners. 9/10 times it works, there's always ones that are just too rusted or damaged to use, so vice-grips on the back side of the link work fine. Nothing against the way you did it on this car, just sharing my experience. :)
hand tools may save the link, at cost of time. impact with small Allen or torx tend to destroy. impact on nut n hold in back with key is fast, but often will destroy link.
Yet another excellent video Eric. The multiple camera angles must have been a real bear to get right along with the lighting but, MAN, does it make this an understandable process. This one also helps me to understand just how much my mechanic EARNS every penny when doing something like this. Good on you for attempting to show us how it's done correctly.
Eric, another method that works with stuck flare fittings is to take a pair of vise-grips and clamp them over the line wrench to give it a tighter grip.
I just wanna thank you sir for your video I did exactly the way you did I follow you step by step you just save me $600 dollars thank you again and god bless you
eric, try putting the suspension under load when trying to loosen a stabilizer link. it has helped me time and time again. i put a transmission jack under the ball joint. it puts the stabilizer link bound up on the inside, making loosening all that much easier
I've had good luck by using handtools on a stabilizer link by using handtools I first used penetrating oil then i used a wire brush to brush off the bulk of the rust, then I put an allen wrench in the end and used a wrench just like you did with the closed end and got it loose by loosening it a little bit and then tightening it again and keep doing that until it came off took me about 5 to 8 mins per nut and it never stripped. I'm not saying your wrong at all I mean whatever works best for you is the way to go offcourse, I'm well aware of the problems that you run into working on rusty cars especially japanese ones. Great video though!
I wonder if those brass bristle brushes I see in weapons cleaning kits would help with the stabilizer link sockets? Chucked in to a slow drill it could clean out those cavities so the allen key would get a good seat. Just a thought from someone that really doesn't know.
Seconded on the replacements handy, although I stick to moog aftermarkets since they have the nut on the back end you can grab ahold of. Usually worth the few extra dollars compared to OEMs.
Hi you from Finland at the middle of the Summer. I love these videos, they have helped and encouraged me a lot, they are nice to watch, and very useful for everyone of us, who are planning to do the same kind of repairs for our vehicles sometimes. In my case there is my sisters' Citroen C5 waiting for an another repair every year.
Hey Eric, had a rattle in the front end of my car, so I checked out the Eric Video Encyclopedia Of Mechanics, followed your method of hitting the front tyre with a hammer and found the cause...rattling disc pads and worn slides. Thanks for the help, and another interesting steering video.
@@ericthecarguy I would love to have your thoughts on this mystery sound that only seems to happen in the warm/hot months. I had the control arms replaced and today shocks and struts. Still making the sound. Tight turning, slow speed with acceleration usually from a stop. Forward and reverse. Both directions but not 100% of the time. Making me CRAZY!!! Help? th-cam.com/play/PLn5IhraTCbZSbd6RztpjkoFJHt03DNU91.html
Awesome video. Love the fact that you go over the tools needed for the job. I did this on an Accord a few years back, on the ground. It took the entire day, and I was tired, and sore, and cranky by the time I finished it. Wound up replacing that high pressure hose after I rounded the fitting, and then just cut it off lol.
Thanks for the tips and tricks Eric, your videos have excellent camera shots and descriptions. I always feel confident on doing a job after watching your vids a couple of times.
Nice to see you going "back to your roots" ! On that high pressure PS hose fitting ... heat the housing with a propane torch and the quench the fitting with a wet rag. You don't need a lot of heat. 200-250F
Great video. I have an 08 Ridgeline. Looks like this would be a similar repair for my rack. I was told by the dealership the entire cradle had to be completely removed. But this makes it look a lot easier. Thanx again Eric!
Eric, I love this video. It's classic ECTG. I enjoy watching you work. Things I like about this video; it's useful, you did it in a way that a DIYer could accomplish. Good job.
Hi Eric and everyone, @ 10.52 you could go with your left hand behind the strut, and pull the balljoint sideways to the left while losening the nut with the impact. This way the nut comes off more easy. Of course not if it is really, really rusted on. And Eric thanks for all your great videos. Verry good camerawork also !
Eric thanks for making this video I did this same replacement on a 93 one and it was a live saver. I think this method is much easier to do than loosing the whole front thanks again keep it good 👍 Btw I did ot on the floor with 2 jackstands and 2 floor jacks
love the videos they are so in depth with detail and with all the camera angles you can see everything that you are doing perfection. keep up the great work and i love the fairmont videos will defiantly help when i build a fox body mustang
Great repair video. I am sure everyone of us (the viewer) have been have been in the same situation with that nut and bolt that was spinning. Rather it be a ball joint, tie rod end or any kind of balljoint, those can be the most challenging at times. Just seeing how you tackle these kind of challenges are priceless.. Keep up the great videos. Thanks Eric, good job! Stay dirty!!
Good shit big E, I'd never own a Honda unless it had 2 wheels but this was very detailed and informative and also very entertaining, keep it up and stay dirty.
350munro anything against Honda? Hondas last forever, my 99 accord has 218,000 miles, I bought it when it 30,000 miles. and I bet it could still go longer, but now I have another 99, but this one is stick shift, hell, even Eric has a couple of Hondas
As far as four wheeled vehicles go I dont go anywhere near anything that isnt V8( or more) and as honda only make 4,5,6 cylinder I just dont rate them. I would far rather have a V8 that exploded every 50K miles than suffer through some 4 cylinder shitter for 300K, but that is just me, if you like 4 cylinder shitters that last forever then good for you.
350munro wow, if that V8 is exploding every 50k, than thats the shit engine, when the little 4 banger that could goes on and on, but I'm not trying to argue, different strokes for different folks, more power to you
I like boost and lots of it so most of mine dont last 50K more like 5K, I think the longest lasting engine Ive ever had lasted about 30K before I wanted to rebuild it.
Smashing tutorial eric :-D, this video will help someone a lot!!. All the required key points covered from your vast experence, in a logical presentation. i bet the alignment wasn't very far off at all. That nut jumping into the pipe was mad :-D. Heat is your frend, and a large hammer lol.
@eric- Helped a buddy replace a stabilizer link and had the same problem. Then my SL went out. Had to destroy the ball joint to get a grip to keep it from spinning. Sigh. But, some how I stumbled into a replacement part that had a nut on the other side which made reinstall easier. So something to watch for when buying parts! But wonder why they are made that way in the first place?
after buying a clock spring i learned to tie the steering to the brake pedal also a line crowsfoot 3/8 to 1/2 ext. and breaker bar gets the high line off
while counting the threads or the turns is fine when changing a tie rod, something I have noticed over the years, not every replacement is the same length overall or even have the threads in the same location. what I usually do is use a tape measure and measure from the backside of the inner on the flat where the threads start all the way out to the center of the outer where a grease fitting would normally be and I'm usually only about a 1/16 of an inch out when the time comes to align it. obviously not every time is the same, so whatever works works, just mentioning about differences in brands of inners and outers.
Im in the process of doing this now. Watching the video to remove the steering arm from the rack. I banged the crap out of it and it would not come off. Watch from 7:05. See the mis hit with the hammer? So I was "See the ball Danny ,BE the ball Danny. It came right out. Maybe more to come?....
When I needed to replace my Stabilizer links on my 03 Accord EXV6 sedan. I held the Allen bolt with the allen wrench. And then loosed the nut with a open end wrench It worked easily.
Excellent, a good old-fashioned repair video! As for the type of repair, my dad paid $1200 to have a rack and pinion put in his Focus since it was leaking, and a year or so later it's leaking just as bad again. Makes me wonder if they ever even put a new one in it or just replaced a couple of seals and took his money for the part.
I've had similar issues with aftermarket racks. AC Delco to be specific. I had to replace one in a Civic 3 times. The 3rd time I used a different brand of rack.
Albania is a Wonderful place! It's on the Adriatic Sea, just a stone's throw (+) from Greece, and they have some incredible places to visit. My nephew honeymooned there, and was well-treated everywhere.
Would love to see some videos on your wife's 2012 Odyssey. I've got a 2012 pilot that's going to be ready for a timing belt in the next 10k miles or so. Seems to be some differences in that generation v6 from the prior ones when I looked at the procedure. No one seems to have a video on it yet though. Love the video, old, new, Oliver, and beyond. Thanks again for the pod light!
good one, i like your solutions for getting some of the bolts loose. I like these videos more than the ford ones- seem more real because of the problems you run into. solutions you come up with can be used in many applications.
Awesome video. But it gave me flashbacks from my harsh initiation into car repair, having to replace the head on my 2007 Cobalt after I destroyed it and one piston by careless replacement of the timing chain tensioner. Not my day job!
Hey Eric if you turn the wheel with the key in the on position then you force fluid through the system without the pump making more bubbles when turning the wheel lock to lock. this also helps save the ps pump too, something I've learned in my short time so far in the trade
Its not a wonder why repairs like this cost money. Lots of work involved. nicely done. you might try freeze penetration spray for things like getting that high pressure fitting to come off while the rack was on the car.
12:00... the allen head is for you to hold to stop it spinning when you undo the nut... you apply force to the nut! not the allen head! sorry but thats a fail lol :) handtools only btw
Well, you might want to watch the video again because I tried that. Also, in my experience, impacts are the best way to deal with rusty fasteners. BTW, I've dealt with a million of these when I worked for Honda.
I won't even bother most of the time with rusty fasteners and just use the torch on them before I even try to remove it. Also the Snap-On 3/8 6 point flare nut crowfoot wrenches are my favorite for lines if they fit.
Have you ever heard or worked on a "rust welded" fastener?? Those nuts there are from my limited experience working on my cars are usually self locking type, without the nylon. They have different kind of thread on them, that cuts the studs thread as they go in not to come out easily. What is important is, as they cut the stud, they tear some of the zinc plating on the stud threads. Zinc plating is there to slow down corrosion and rust. So those sway bar links do get rusted a lot. And they are right there exposed to salty water/snow/ice splashing around from the tires. End result if they are really rusted, they are really rust welded, and very difficult to remove. Like Eric said in the video, some of them have a flat section on the other side that a thin enough crescent wrench can hold it, at the same place Eric placed the locking pliers. With those there is more chance of getting them out, because you can put the wrench there and beat the nut with impact wrench until it breaks the rust bonds and nut comes off. The ones in this video don't have it.
EricTheCarGuy ha didn't see that was probably pouring my coffee or something, but I work predominantly on 10 plus year old French cars and they are all that style it's a pita, but l have learned the hard way that the more you go at them with power, the more they fight back, gently gently, lull them into a false sense of security, talk softly to them... then bam suddenly twist the thing... yeah probably been doing this too long.....
I don't think your supposed to undo the bolt with the allen key your supposed to hold the bolt with the key and stop it turning while you loosen the nut with the spanner .
In my experience there are a hundred different ways to do something when it comes to auto repair. My philosophy is that if it works, it works. What I did worked just fine. Thanks for your comment.
You guys or gals must have never worked on a rust belt car, or only worked on cars that are one at most two years old. I love it when Arizona/California/etc sunny state guys comment on how easy they disassembled that nut or bolt that someone from North cautions or tells how difficult it was to get it off. Those sway bar links are notorious if they have seen salt during winter. Eric was being kind in his reply here :)
Once again Eric another awesome detailed video!👍🏼...U sir are one the best master technician that explains well and appreciate this very much.i learn alot from ur videos. I have to do this job pretty soon and will need this to help me.
You can get adjustable screw type jackstands on amazon. look in the rv section for trailer support stands. 4 pack. there designed for travel trailers but work basically the same as your big stand. they look like a pyramid with a big bolt on the top.
Undoing the flarenut on the high pressure line on my 300zx PS rack was a colossal PITA. They do those nuts up stupid tight. Ended up rounding off the nut with a flarenut wrench, ended up using vicegrips to crack it loose.
That's happened to me before as well. Hence the reason I removed the line as an assembly to break it loose on the bench. It made things harder, but it avoided rounding the nut. Thanks for the comment.
Chrysler tech here, the Italians love the torx, too. Both internal and external. See both types on the chassis of all the Fiat based cars. The one thing i don't understand, is why the Volkswagen engineers specced the triple square bolts, knowing that outside of Europe, most people don't have the tools for them.
Yeah like on the damn oil pan's and they love to strip! >=/ Could not even change the oil on my Jetta without having to take it to the shop to replace the bit. Why not just use a regular old bolt. Overly complicated engineering. Grrrrr.
I could not have done this without this video. Tried other videos, not as complete. Did it in my driveway, took about 16 hours on a 2008 (in 2023), so 15 years of rusty bolts that needed every trick in the book to remove. Getting all the bolts off was 14 hours of that. If you undertake this at home, prepare to use every trick to break the bolts free, including a trusty torch and lots of penetrating lube. Sometimes the tool combinations required to reach the bots was a total Rube Goldberg, as I didn't have the range of tools Eric has.
Butane torch saved my buns, also got my first (cheap) impact and my God the difference is night and day
Impact Extensions, driveline and stubby sockets joined my tool chest that day
one of the things i like best about your videos is making me feel good about paying my mechanic to do work on my cars when it's too much for me to handle
Eric, you have the only DETAILED video on TH-cam for this repair, GREAT JOB!!
Thanks!
EricTheCarGuy My favorite is how Eric explains everything. Why he uses a certain lubricant, tool, etc and what can happen if he doesn't etc. Answers a lot of questions I get in my mind
mrsemifixit, exactly right! I hate it when I look for a repair video and not even half of the instructions are given and the video is only 5 minutes long FOR A HEAD GASKET! Eric realizes not everyone is a mechanic who watches his videos, so he goes that extra mile.
Astral Auto Repairs Yes which is perfect for the DIY'r it's like having a tutor there with you. Most other videos just show someone fixing something. No thought process is verbalized which does no good for learning.
mrsemifixit, I think a lot of auto repair content creators on TH-cam forget that TH-cam is MAINLY for the DIYers who are looking to avoid high priced repair shops, and even though Eric is a master technician, he breaks the instructions down so we can follow, and Eric, if you see this, "WE CAN DIG IT"!
Can’t begin to imagine how much time and how many knuckles I have saved watching Eric’s videos. Thanks!!
You're a great professional Eric. Your ability to describe, disassemble, reassemble is superior. The inclusion of what tools may or may not need was awesome 👍
This video really saved me from spending $1,400.00!! I just have one caveat though. This is not as easy as it looks. Though I saved $1400.00, there were many challenges along the way. I had the same problem with the s.b. link. High side pressure line was a pain to get off and on. Back motor mounts did not align. Took me and a friend two days. I've seen some people get it done in 5 hrs. Good for them. But... if your like me, a person that does minor fixes eg. Altinators, brakes, fuel pumps etc... then do yourself a huge favor and think this through before making that commitment. Nothing was easy about this. There were several times I wished I just payed for this job to be done. With that being said, this job is over and I'm happy it's fixed.
I bought an 09 EX-L that was in a small collision for a (not amazing) fair price. I'll be replacing the Lower Control Arms and ball joints, CV Axles, outer tie rods, front wheel hubs and bearings, the timing belt, all the engine and transmission mounts but the steering rack seems the most daunting! I do not have a lift, a few Jack's and 4 Jack stands.
Wish me luck, I feel your pain with rusty bolts! I should get a torch 😢
@@johnreed2272 good luck with all that. Patience with that steering rack is needed when you change it out. Halfway through I was seriously regretting on changing it myself. Honda must have really thought about this and made it darn near impossible to work on it. When it comes to turning wrenches, I’m not shy at all but this was the worst I’ve ever had.
Can you do this with jack stands?
Eric. This is why I started watching your posts years ago, helping ordinary blokes fix cars on their driveway, more of the same place.
This type of video is Eric the car guy when it´s best. A relatively long detailed video, shot in the best possible angle and light, narrated "live" with a twist of humor, and tons of useful information. A real "Eric the Car guy Classic" production.
I do not own a Honda Odyssey, nor do I know anyone who does, But I finished this video with confidence that I could try to fix a power steering rack on one. Great video Eric.
Erick, you need a television show! Great job sir
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these type of videos.
Yes, I like the Fairmont videos, too, no doubt, but the general repair videos are the girl that brought you to the dance! Never ignore her! :)
Kudos, Eric!
Michael Bloom I think it's super cool that he's building the Fairmont but I never watch those videos. these repair videos I love.
I like using a slightly bigger torx bit instead of a Allen. I hammer it in, it bites better.
Finally a good old Eric the Car Guy video! These are the ones we've been missing. I started watching your channel back when you were in the old shop, had an ugly pony tail and we could pretty much smell you through the video. You always made great videos. You have a great sense of humor and a very enjoyable way of presenting things. Hopefully you'll go back to videos like this and I think you'll see some of your old viewers coming back.
Eric love the channel, just my opinion these videos are why I started watching your channel at the very start back in the old workshop was hooked have never missed a video, I also watch etcg1 and agree with everything you've said about views and wanting to go in a different direction, but these types of repair videos are the reason why most of the viewers started watching and have stayed watching your channel ,in my opinion they Should be the bulk of content can not get enough of them....,Best of luck From Australia
Thank you for that feedback. However, my point of view is that I still put just as much effort, if not more, into the Fairmont videos. They still contain a ton of useful information, repair and otherwise, along with the challenges I face when doing a job, just like this video. It's just that the Fairmont seems to be a vehicle that few people have an interest in. The irony for me is that I'd wager you don't even own an Odyssey that needs a power steering rack, yet you watched and enjoyed this video. I just wish more people would see the #FairmontProject videos with the same eyes. Thanks again.
like your narrations while demonstrating, it's like massage for learners, no one would refuse.👊
Once again EXCELLENT video (and bravo for shooting the nut in this plastic tube there!) . I hate videos where they do a job and only show the end result for each moves, as if everything is so easy and simple. What I like the most is that you actually show it all, the easy and not so easy steps and hurdles and how you deal with those. THIS is what happens in real life. I live in a place where cars gets a lot rusty and where removing a single nut is almost always a challenge! Anyways thank you again!
Great video. One thing I would suggest is to make sure the new power steering rack comes centered/aligned. Speaking from experience. I installed a new power steering rack on my car without checking if it was centered and of course it wasn't (even though the site said it was). So I had to take it out, center it and reinstall it. It sucked to say the least. Live and you learn i guess. 😅
LOL, I put one in off center, now my wheel is sitting at 2 O’clock instead of straight.
That was 3 yrs ago, Runs good though!
IDK if anyone really notices the excellent, nay, scrumchalescent shots the camera man gets. Amazing job. Some shots im left wondering how they got the shot. Touche cameraman.
Thanks Eric for this video. I appreciate you getting the lighting and angle for the camera for all fasteners. You definitely have the BEST automotive repair videos on TH-cam. I’ve been watching you for years and you have helped me so much. Keep up the great content. Cheers!
My God is this actually a repair video?. No way!!! cool!!!! I have not seen this on this channel in like a long time !!!!!
I've been posting at least one repair video every month since the beginning of the year.
EricTheCarGuy something I would enjoy watching is an annual blooper reel. Something to sum up your year and see a "behind the scenes" look at what you do
Excellent video. Great editing, very detailed yet efficient...no wasted time. Mechanic wanted $700 parts and labor. Local junkyard said if I pull it out myself (great practice btw), $50. You just saved me $650, minus the price of a few new tools.
I've often wished I lived close to you so I could just pay you to do some of these harder repairs for me. Thanks for the video.
Greetings from POLAND !! We do watch you Eric!
Hello Poland!
As a mechanic who solely does suspension and steering work, I find the easiest way to remove swaybar links is to actually avoid using impacts on the allen/torx keys inside the thread. The thread just doesn't have the strength to hold up to an impact. Instead, I use basic hand tools and ratchet spanners. 9/10 times it works, there's always ones that are just too rusted or damaged to use, so vice-grips on the back side of the link work fine.
Nothing against the way you did it on this car, just sharing my experience. :)
cherubman3052 agreed! Impact with a allen or torx is bad news. I use hand tools and never have trouble with those
hand tools may save the link, at cost of time. impact with small Allen or torx tend to destroy. impact on nut n hold in back with key is fast, but often will destroy link.
Do you have to remove the SWAY BAR to R&R the Rack. I have 2004 Honda Odyssey that needs Rack replacement. Thank you.
“I’m going to try to do this in a way that you could do in your garage”. .... then puts car on a lift. LOL
🤣🤣🤣🤣holy fuk that’s funny I laughed my ass out🤣🤣🤣
Did the rack in my 1995 accord 2 mos ago still recovering HONDA IS CRAZY!
Man, this was so painful to watch. You have the patience of a saint, Eric. Great job!
Yet another excellent video Eric. The multiple camera angles must have been a real bear to get right along with the lighting but, MAN, does it make this an understandable process. This one also helps me to understand just how much my mechanic EARNS every penny when doing something like this. Good on you for attempting to show us how it's done correctly.
Eric, another method that works with stuck flare fittings is to take a pair of vise-grips and clamp them over the line wrench to give it a tighter grip.
I just wanna thank you sir for your video I did exactly the way you did I follow you step by step you just save me $600 dollars thank you again and god bless you
This was a great video. Thank you for the variety! 5 years watching and still going strong! Thanks again for all you do.
-Mo
I miss your shows! I still catch them as repairs come up!
eric, try putting the suspension under load when trying to loosen a stabilizer link. it has helped me time and time again. i put a transmission jack under the ball joint. it puts the stabilizer link bound up on the inside, making loosening all that much easier
I'll have to try that next time.
I've had good luck by using handtools on a stabilizer link by using handtools I first used penetrating oil then i used a wire brush to brush off the bulk of the rust, then I put an allen wrench in the end and used a wrench just like you did with the closed end and got it loose by loosening it a little bit and then tightening it again and keep doing that until it came off took me about 5 to 8 mins per nut and it never stripped. I'm not saying your wrong at all I mean whatever works best for you is the way to go offcourse, I'm well aware of the problems that you run into working on rusty cars especially japanese ones. Great video though!
Heck I was able to zip mine out with an impact no problem. Still had a replacement set just to be safe, the OEM links are not expensive anyways.
I wonder if those brass bristle brushes I see in weapons cleaning kits would help with the stabilizer link sockets? Chucked in to a slow drill it could clean out those cavities so the allen key would get a good seat. Just a thought from someone that really doesn't know.
Seconded on the replacements handy, although I stick to moog aftermarkets since they have the nut on the back end you can grab ahold of. Usually worth the few extra dollars compared to OEMs.
Hi you from Finland at the middle of the Summer. I love these videos, they have helped and encouraged me a lot, they are nice to watch, and very useful for everyone of us, who are planning to do the same kind of repairs for our vehicles sometimes. In my case there is my sisters' Citroen C5 waiting for an another repair every year.
This is an old school Eric video. Well done.
This whole video was worth it for 14:03. 👍🏻
what a very patient guy, i'd be swearing and grunting a lot while undoing and doing those parts.
I already gave up in my mind halfway watching this. But I had to wait and see where the spark plug goes. xD. Another great job Eric! Stay dirty!
Hey Eric, had a rattle in the front end of my car, so I checked out the Eric Video Encyclopedia Of Mechanics, followed your method of hitting the front tyre with a hammer and found the cause...rattling disc pads and worn slides. Thanks for the help, and another interesting steering video.
I love hearing how my work helps people. Thanks for your comment and good find!
+EricTheCarGuy hey Eric you are a hard working guy keep up the fantastic work
@@ericthecarguy I would love to have your thoughts on this mystery sound that only seems to happen in the warm/hot months. I had the control arms replaced and today shocks and struts. Still making the sound. Tight turning, slow speed with acceleration usually from a stop. Forward and reverse. Both directions but not 100% of the time. Making me CRAZY!!! Help? th-cam.com/play/PLn5IhraTCbZSbd6RztpjkoFJHt03DNU91.html
Awesome video. Love the fact that you go over the tools needed for the job. I did this on an Accord a few years back, on the ground. It took the entire day, and I was tired, and sore, and cranky by the time I finished it. Wound up replacing that high pressure hose after I rounded the fitting, and then just cut it off lol.
lets translate how he said he described his diagnosis... hahahaha "from my experience" "parts cannon, no diagnosis required". this guy is a gem
respect eric for doing it in the diy way . top spray the nuts and blots with penetrating oil the day before saves so much hassle
You are really in control of your frustrations, No cursing at all!
It's all editing.
Thanks for the tips and tricks Eric, your videos have excellent camera shots and descriptions. I always feel confident on doing a job after watching your vids a couple of times.
2005 Honda and up are solid. Have one with 180,000 miles still running strong no major problems.
Nice to see you going "back to your roots" !
On that high pressure PS hose fitting ... heat the housing with a propane torch and the quench the fitting with a wet rag. You don't need a lot of heat. 200-250F
Great video. I have an 08 Ridgeline. Looks like this would be a similar repair for my rack. I was told by the dealership the entire cradle had to be completely removed. But this makes it look a lot easier. Thanx again Eric!
CV boot grease is the best thing ever. It even goes great on toast.
Eric, I love this video. It's classic ECTG. I enjoy watching you work. Things I like about this video; it's useful, you did it in a way that a DIYer could accomplish. Good job.
Eric the car guy is back at last.
Hi Eric and everyone, @ 10.52 you could go with your left hand behind the strut, and pull the balljoint sideways to the left while losening the nut with the impact. This way the nut comes off more easy. Of course not if it is really, really rusted on. And Eric thanks for all your great videos. Verry good camerawork also !
Eric thanks for making this video I did this same replacement on a 93 one and it was a live saver. I think this method is much easier to do than loosing the whole front thanks again keep it good 👍
Btw I did ot on the floor with 2 jackstands and 2 floor jacks
So hard working Erick mechanics
I learn much more from you
love the videos they are so in depth with detail and with all the camera angles you can see everything that you are doing perfection. keep up the great work and i love the fairmont videos will defiantly help when i build a fox body mustang
Great repair video. I am sure everyone of us (the viewer) have been have been in the same situation with that nut and bolt that was spinning. Rather it be a ball joint, tie rod end or any kind of balljoint, those can be the most challenging at times. Just seeing how you tackle these kind of challenges are priceless.. Keep up the great videos. Thanks Eric, good job! Stay dirty!!
Thank you for an awesome repair video.
Nice job, Eric. Video's like this one are what made you famous on Y-tube .
Thanks for having something entertaining and informative to watch during the quarantine!
Really enjoyed the nuts and bolts detailed R&R on the power steering rack!
Cameraman Brian and you work well together, turning out a excellent video.
2006 & 2007 Accords had a lot of rack issues caused by failed pumps. I would really appreciate a video on a rack replacement for that model! Thanks!
The editing has gotten better.
Good shit big E, I'd never own a Honda unless it had 2 wheels but this was very detailed and informative and also very entertaining, keep it up and stay dirty.
350munro anything against Honda? Hondas last forever, my 99 accord has 218,000 miles, I bought it when it 30,000 miles. and I bet it could still go longer, but now I have another 99, but this one is stick shift, hell, even Eric has a couple of Hondas
As far as four wheeled vehicles go I dont go anywhere near anything that isnt V8( or more) and as honda only make 4,5,6 cylinder I just dont rate them. I would far rather have a V8 that exploded every 50K miles than suffer through some 4 cylinder shitter for 300K, but that is just me, if you like 4 cylinder shitters that last forever then good for you.
350munro wow, if that V8 is exploding every 50k, than thats the shit engine, when the little 4 banger that could goes on and on, but I'm not trying to argue, different strokes for different folks, more power to you
I like boost and lots of it so most of mine dont last 50K more like 5K, I think the longest lasting engine Ive ever had lasted about 30K before I wanted to rebuild it.
So happy to hear you are back.
Smashing tutorial eric :-D, this video will help someone a lot!!.
All the required key points covered from your vast experence, in a logical presentation.
i bet the alignment wasn't very far off at all.
That nut jumping into the pipe was mad :-D.
Heat is your frend, and a large hammer lol.
That was a crazy nut for sure. I love my big red wrench. Thanks for your comments as always.
EricTheCarGuy Gotta love those tools. I personally adore my BFH (big f****ing hammer), giant pry bar and gargantuan pliers 😂👍
@eric- Helped a buddy replace a stabilizer link and had the same problem. Then my SL went out. Had to destroy the ball joint to get a grip to keep it from spinning. Sigh. But, some how I stumbled into a replacement part that had a nut on the other side which made reinstall easier. So something to watch for when buying parts! But wonder why they are made that way in the first place?
It's great to see a longer video on a friday. Thanks, Eric.
Is this guy the best, or is he the Best?
after buying a clock spring i learned to tie the steering to the brake pedal also a line crowsfoot 3/8 to 1/2 ext. and breaker bar gets the high line off
lol, the seatbelt usually works too.
Yay, finally a repair video
while counting the threads or the turns is fine when changing a tie rod, something I have noticed over the years, not every replacement is the same length overall or even have the threads in the same location. what I usually do is use a tape measure and measure from the backside of the inner on the flat where the threads start all the way out to the center of the outer where a grease fitting would normally be and I'm usually only about a 1/16 of an inch out when the time comes to align it. obviously not every time is the same, so whatever works works, just mentioning about differences in brands of inners and outers.
Im in the process of doing this now. Watching the video to remove the steering arm from the rack. I banged the crap out of it and it would not come off. Watch from 7:05. See the mis hit with the hammer? So I was "See the ball Danny ,BE the ball Danny. It came right out. Maybe more to come?....
When I needed to replace my Stabilizer links on my 03 Accord EXV6 sedan. I held the Allen bolt with the allen wrench. And then loosed the nut with a open end wrench It worked easily.
Excellent, a good old-fashioned repair video! As for the type of repair, my dad paid $1200 to have a rack and pinion put in his Focus since it was leaking, and a year or so later it's leaking just as bad again. Makes me wonder if they ever even put a new one in it or just replaced a couple of seals and took his money for the part.
I've had similar issues with aftermarket racks. AC Delco to be specific. I had to replace one in a Civic 3 times. The 3rd time I used a different brand of rack.
@@ericthecarguy what brand did you use? What brand would you recommend for a Camry? Thanks
Good, detailed video. Explains a complex task without wasting time. Thanks.
You are ALWAYS very clear and informative....and patient lol. Thank you very much for you Guidance
Thanks so much for doing that the hard way. I think we are back to the stuff you do so well and I for one really enjoy.
Greetings from Albania Eric! Great job as always!
Hello Albania!
Albania is a Wonderful place! It's on the Adriatic Sea, just a stone's throw (+) from Greece, and they have some incredible places to visit. My nephew honeymooned there, and was well-treated everywhere.
Hahahaaha i thought i was the only albanian watching these kind of videos 😂😂
we are three now :) :) :)
This job is entirely too darned fiddly..... this is one I'd pay someone else to do! lol.... You sir, are a trooper!
Made it look so damn easy, after 2 full days got the job done. Thanks Eric!
Would love to see some videos on your wife's 2012 Odyssey. I've got a 2012 pilot that's going to be ready for a timing belt in the next 10k miles or so. Seems to be some differences in that generation v6 from the prior ones when I looked at the procedure. No one seems to have a video on it yet though. Love the video, old, new, Oliver, and beyond. Thanks again for the pod light!
The only thing I've done to that is swap tires. I love it.
Back to old glory! Thanks Eric, great video. Love the tool shoutout at the beginning and your efford to do it a little bit DIY style.
i'd pay big time for eric to work on my '64 tibird, does quality work. enjoying the fairmont build!
I've worked on one of those. Not a fan of the swing out steering wheel. They tend to pop out of Park. Don't ask how I know. ;)
good one, i like your solutions for getting some of the bolts loose. I like these videos more than the ford ones- seem more real because of the problems you run into. solutions you come up with can be used in many applications.
A REPAIR VIDEO!!!! Hooray!!! Eric the Car Guy is back!
Thanks bro!!
Appreciate the video.... Out of all the videos i've seen... Yours made the most sense. AN was easy on the lift...
Awesome video. But it gave me flashbacks from my harsh initiation into car repair, having to replace the head on my 2007 Cobalt after I destroyed it and one piston by careless replacement of the timing chain tensioner. Not my day job!
Hey Eric if you turn the wheel with the key in the on position then you force fluid through the system without the pump making more bubbles when turning the wheel lock to lock. this also helps save the ps pump too, something I've learned in my short time so far in the trade
Its not a wonder why repairs like this cost money. Lots of work involved. nicely done. you might try freeze penetration spray for things like getting that high pressure fitting to come off while the rack was on the car.
It took an air hammer to get it loose as you saw in the video. Penetrating oil was never going to work no matter how good it was.
12:00... the allen head is for you to hold to stop it spinning when you undo the nut... you apply force to the nut! not the allen head! sorry but thats a fail lol :)
handtools only btw
Well, you might want to watch the video again because I tried that. Also, in my experience, impacts are the best way to deal with rusty fasteners. BTW, I've dealt with a million of these when I worked for Honda.
I won't even bother most of the time with rusty fasteners and just use the torch on them before I even try to remove it. Also the Snap-On 3/8 6 point flare nut crowfoot wrenches are my favorite for lines if they fit.
Have you ever heard or worked on a "rust welded" fastener?? Those nuts there are from my limited experience working on my cars are usually self locking type, without the nylon. They have different kind of thread on them, that cuts the studs thread as they go in not to come out easily. What is important is, as they cut the stud, they tear some of the zinc plating on the stud threads. Zinc plating is there to slow down corrosion and rust. So those sway bar links do get rusted a lot. And they are right there exposed to salty water/snow/ice splashing around from the tires. End result if they are really rusted, they are really rust welded, and very difficult to remove. Like Eric said in the video, some of them have a flat section on the other side that a thin enough crescent wrench can hold it, at the same place Eric placed the locking pliers. With those there is more chance of getting them out, because you can put the wrench there and beat the nut with impact wrench until it breaks the rust bonds and nut comes off. The ones in this video don't have it.
EricTheCarGuy ha didn't see that was probably pouring my coffee or something, but I work predominantly on 10 plus year old French cars and they are all that style it's a pita, but l have learned the hard way that the more you go at them with power, the more they fight back, gently gently, lull them into a false sense of security, talk softly to them... then bam suddenly twist the thing... yeah probably been doing this too long.....
*Eric my rack leaks everytime I watch you. What should I do? Explain in DETAIL how you would service my rack please. 😎*
Umm.... not sure how to answer that.
EricTheCarGuy 😂😂
put a plug in your rack..problem solved
I don't think your supposed to undo the bolt with the allen key your supposed to hold the bolt with the key and stop it turning while you loosen the nut with the spanner .
In my experience there are a hundred different ways to do something when it comes to auto repair. My philosophy is that if it works, it works. What I did worked just fine. Thanks for your comment.
big112233 exactly that's what i do i hold the allen bolt with the allen wrench then loosen the nut with open box wrench. It works perfect
You guys or gals must have never worked on a rust belt car, or only worked on cars that are one at most two years old. I love it when Arizona/California/etc sunny state guys comment on how easy they disassembled that nut or bolt that someone from North cautions or tells how difficult it was to get it off. Those sway bar links are notorious if they have seen salt during winter. Eric was being kind in his reply here :)
Salty roads here in the winter. Sway bar links are cheap, time is money, I removed mine with an angle grinder, much quicker and much more satisfying.
Classic ETCG repair vid. Love it!
Eric, this was a fantastic video - classic ETCG at it's best. Very helpful and very detailed video.
Good job eric, seems like everything for the most part went according to plan
Except for the high pressure line. That was a pain.
Once again Eric another awesome detailed video!👍🏼...U sir are one the best master technician that explains well and appreciate this very much.i learn alot from ur videos. I have to do this job pretty soon and will need this to help me.
Finally a classic ETCG repair video! Love it! Well done! 👍
You can get adjustable screw type jackstands on amazon. look in the rv section for trailer support stands. 4 pack. there designed for travel trailers but work basically the same as your big stand. they look like a pyramid with a big bolt on the top.
Undoing the flarenut on the high pressure line on my 300zx PS rack was a colossal PITA.
They do those nuts up stupid tight.
Ended up rounding off the nut with a flarenut wrench, ended up using vicegrips to crack it loose.
That's happened to me before as well. Hence the reason I removed the line as an assembly to break it loose on the bench. It made things harder, but it avoided rounding the nut. Thanks for the comment.
I think Germans are more a fan of torx bits.
Sincerely, a German :D
Considering that it takes three separate torx bits to remove my radio, yes. :)
jerri0401 😂👍🏻
do you have something against Germans?
Chrysler tech here, the Italians love the torx, too. Both internal and external. See both types on the chassis of all the Fiat based cars. The one thing i don't understand, is why the Volkswagen engineers specced the triple square bolts, knowing that outside of Europe, most people don't have the tools for them.
Yeah like on the damn oil pan's and they love to strip! >=/ Could not even change the oil on my Jetta without having to take it to the shop to replace the bit. Why not just use a regular old bolt. Overly complicated engineering. Grrrrr.