Check the tech side for my overheat after changing radiator thread. I heated her up pretty bad today and am worried how bad I might have screwed stuff up.

They get pretty easy after changing them about 3 times.

One thing that makes them easier is a pair of channel locks for grabbing the springs and a flathead screwdriver to use as a slide to get the springs onto their studs.

Used some PlastX polish on my bumper and some of the black plastic on the truck last night.
DAMN!!!

I noticed that the bumper-cover was starting to turn black again from where my feet would stand on the cover....threw the buffer on the drill and started buffin' away!
That part of it is black now! Now to finish the rest of the plastics....

There is nothing like having the right tools. A simple brake spring pliers makes this job a piece of cake. That, and a BFH to get the damn drums off.....

I prefer to use the purpose-built tools, which are much easier to work with, safer, and cheap enough, too.

I tend to just work with what I already have on hand.
The flathead method works quite well too, it works the same way the purpose built tool does to connect the springs.

I used screwdrivers and pliers to do brake jobs as a kid because my father's tool collection ran toward things he'd never need while being short on the things that he needed. Having learned too many things the hard way, when I grew up so did my tool collection.

Live like you want to live, but if my brake tool kit disappeared today I'd buy another one before sundown so the next brake job can go quickly and easily and with no bloodletting.

No bloodletting?? What? Are you trying to say your aren't supposed to draw blood at least once, every time you work on your truck?????

that or you can back the adjuster off a bit... or if replacing the drums, just torch it off. =) haha.

I'm a nonconformist.

But if it'll improve my standing in the community, I did come away with bruises from doing the 100k tune-up on Halloween.