Most of us forget to include car repair and maintenance in our monthly budgets, a grave mistake that costs us dearly as we approach the month’s end. Cars need regular maintenance and this costs a lot. Our mechanics tell us that repairs are important to keep our cars running and most of us pay through the nose to get them performed. But it doesn’t necessarily have to be that way. One can easily buy parts online, use some simple tools, and utilizing a little basic knowledge about cars, many such repairs can be done at home. There are also videos available online and we recommended Autodoc Online Workshop – DIY Auto Repair, in case you get confused with something. So here are three easy DIY car repairs that can save you a good amount of money.
Best DIY Car Repairs Tips
Change Your Own Brake Pads
Many of us may shudder at the very idea of this. Changing the car breaks me? Of course not! But in reality, it’s a pretty straightforward process and very easy to do. In fact, it is this simple and inexpensive procedure that specialty brake shops and mechanics charge you hundreds of dollars. The whole industry shows that the procedure is really hard because if they were to tell you the truth, they would deprive themselves of the profits they make from this very simple procedure. So here is how you can do it yourself.
All you need are some basic wrenches, pliers, torque wrenches, and a jack along with a set of jack stands.
A set of new brake pads will cost you around $20–$40, depending on your car and the pad material it uses. If you are unsure about where to buy brake pads online, we recommend SparePartStore24.co.uk. The products here are reliable and genuine. IF you compare this price to the industry average of $250 per axle, you will realize how much money this DIY procedure will save you. So, take off the wheel, then remove the hardware. Next, pull out the worn pads and push in the caliper piston. This will let you install the new pads. Once done, follow the same procedure to reinstall the hardware. You can do all four wheels in just an hour, even if you are doing this for the first time. One thing you need to remember is that the new pads last between 30,000–50,000 miles and you need to check them every 10,000 miles. When the thickness of the pad thickness falls below 2mm–3mm, you will need to replace it.
Change the Battery
You won’t believe how many people would go to a mechanic to get their car’s battery replaced. This is actually the easiest of all DIY car repairs. A battery normally lasts 4–6 years, so changing it is something you won’t be doing every day. Most batteries have an expiry date stamped on it, so just look for this date and replace your battery in time. There is no need to wait until you start experiencing problems with your car because it could leave you stranded in lonely places.
A new car battery costs around $80, yet a mechanic would charge you approximately $200 to replace it. So here is how to do it the DIY way.
To change the battery, you just need some good wrenches. Cables play the most important part here. Always remove the black (negative) cable first. After you have installed the new battery, you need to place the NEGATIVE cable last. This is important because if you would think of doing it the other way around, you will short circuit the positive (red) terminal.
Do Your Own Oil Change
The usual quick lube place charges between $30 and $70 for a simple oil change for a car. Some places go as high as $90–$100 when you go there with an expensive imported car. You will also see signs such as “$15 oil change” and may think about going for this cheap option. But this usually costs you in thousands as the oil they provide you with is either less than your car actually requires or it’s just a low-grade oil. Also these mechanics usually find many other problems with your car and urge you to spend extra money to get them fixed. This way a simple $15 oil change costs you more than $300. If you are going on Family Trip with children it is recommended to check the oil level to avoid any problems while traveling.
So, it’s best if you do it yourself. All you need to do is to buy a good quality oil and oil filter and get to work. You will need an oil filter wrench and a drain pan along with the jack stands and a jack. Just find the place from where you can drain the existing oil and fill in the new one. It won’t take much time and save you a good amount of money. Remember, vehicles today require an oil change after 10,000 miles so always check your manual.
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