Installed WRONG Parts! Damaged Flywheel! Ford F150

[@leonardhirtle3645]

Using the welder to remove the pilot bearing takes me back. I did that many times over the years to remove outer bearing races. Not many people know that it shrinks the race making it easier to remove. Good stuff.

[@MaxNafeHorsemanship]

This video inspires so many comments. "this truck fought me". Welcome to my world. A single truck fought me for months. I even had to change the entire rear end because parts were not available for the original brakes. Then there are all the drum brakes I do. Kinda like you said about the U-joints. Some guys won't even do them. I also use a flapper on my drill to clean things up when I do U-joints. Then there are all the wrong parts we get. The rusted and seized parts. Things that break when you try to take them apart. You make it look easy. Most of the Ford trucks I have seen have dents in the floor boards directly above the cross-member bolts. Pretty easy to figure out why. Carry on.

[@Badge1122]

Years ago I pulled my father-in-law's car upon the curb so I could craw under it and pulled the drive shaft and replaced both U-Joints. Used sockets and a hammer. Was not too hard and he was a happy man.

[@Charles-z8t]

We used to call the clutch basket a pressure plate. You should always replace the throw out bearing when replacing a clutch. The part cost is greatly superceded by the labor cost to replace it later

[@petebrown6952]

ALWAYS LUBRICATE GEARBOX INPUT SHAFT SPLINES! When Ray demonstrated the clutch prior to replacement it sounded like it was grating, release bearing grinding on input splines, still will!!!

[@GReaper]

Yes. It's also recommended to replace those concentric slave cylinders because if they leak, you got another trans pull job, and maybe a new clutch plate to fork out for as well. Input shaft splines also do need to be LIGHTLY greased. Don't want the clutch getting bound up on them, and don't want a bunch of grease slinging everywhere either.

[@nashvillecop1]

The ‘throw out’ bearing is actually a clutch release bearing but probably been called the former by mechanics for decades.

[@richt247]

I came here just to mention no grease on the input shaft... anything internal of the gearbox area you want to double check just to save you the hastle of having to remove box to rectify. Ask is how i know lol

[@GaryH-pw9cm]

@@GReaper I was surprised Ray did not replace the throw out bearing as most are worn out or soon will be with a new clutch assembly. I know He is trying to save the owner money, but the cost of the bearing is nothing compared to a transmission pull and have to replace the bearing anyway.

[@richraff6086]

After 40 years as a mechanic, I have learned that the trick to changing u-joints is to push the first cup well past its correct depth so you can engage the needle bearings of the second cup onto the shaft before starting to press it in. (This keeps those bearings from falling out of place, as happened in the earlier video.) Then you can press everything to the correct position.

[@joshuaswick7875]

As a recently former 93 Ford f-150 owner ( I miss that truck ) I can say that it fought me everytime I had to work on it , it must be an old Ford thing to fight back when worked on lol

[@desotosky1372]

I found your comment interesting that most mechanics would not attempt U-Joint replacement, If I had a mechanic who thought a U-joint replacement was beyond his capability I'd be looking for a better mechanic. It was a real pita in a rust belt vehicle where I grew up but not rocket science. It was a necessity of life for young kids who drove old cars (that they could afford). Specialty tools included a carpenters hammer, a piece of water pipe, dad's C-clamp, and an extended word vocabulary.

[@CJRoberts8812]

When I was a kid replacing the u joints in a 1975 Jeep CJ5, it was a hammer and a couple old sockets.

[@milantrcka121]

Triumph Spitfire, '63 model, in February 1972, Washington DC area. Replaced all 6 totally wasted U-joints in a parking lot, with hand tools and original jack.

[@EyeMWing]

modern u-joints and the lubes in them are sufficiently durable that it really doesn't come up much - and most manufacturers are now making "non-serviceable" driveshafts with the u-joints staked in place and no easy service parts available, and tell you to replace the entire driveshaft as an assembly (though you can still do it if you know where to get u-joints specially configured to replace staked units).

[@CodycoWeb]

Yep a shop that won’t change a u-joint is not a shop at all. They are everyday things in the working of a shop that works on trucks and SUV’s. Have changed many without even removing the driveshaft. Just slide under with a hammer and a clamp and a pair of pliers

[@nateg9770]

Exactly what I was thinking, I've been changing u-joints since I was a young teenager. When he said that I immediately went to the comments.

[@NEW_INSITE]

Back in 1990 I had a Ford pickup truck, I don't remember the year but it was so old it didn't have anti-pollution junk on it. It had a 302 engine with a manual transmission and a clutch. The throwout bearing apparently got worn out was starting to chatter so I took the truck and parked it on the street with two tires up on the curb and the other tires on the street. There was a little bit of a dip underneath and I was able to crawl underneath the truck and using a 2X4, I lowered the transmission down onto my chest and then rolled it to the side. Then I set cross-legged Indian style where the transmission had been and used a hammer and chisel to chip out the throwout bearing. I didn't have all the proper tools at the time. But I got it out got the new throw out bearing put in. The clutch plate and pressure plate were all still in good condition so I put them back on , aligned it installed it in reverse process with the transmission. Used a cinderblock to hold the end up and bolted in place. Needless to say it's not the way you do it Ray, but I got it done the best way I could. Money was tight. All I bought was the throwout bearing, cost about $10. But it all worked fine afterwards, so I guess that's what matters. This thing had a three on the tree shifting stick. You know the shifter on the steering wheel with linkage. That thing disintegrated on me so I got me a Sawzall and cut a hole in the hump on the floor and installed an aftermarket shifter. Took a little while to get the adjusting right but I finally got it working too. It's amazing what you can do when you try.

[@thomasfarmer8605]

Rainman, I give you 100% on doing the u-joint in the vice. Back in my day that is all we had! End result "got her done"!✌

[@michaelpressman7203]

I had a C-clamp, hammer,& a socket on the street.

[@tinydog34]

​@@michaelpressman7203that is how I did it to. Took me about an hour but that's what I had to work with.

[@richardgordon245]

We truly take for granted all the parts, Bolts .Clips,sensors ,fitments , and what it makes to make a vehicle. It's amazing to see all the workings with your videos. Plus all the work it can take to get though the many obstacles of the work intaled.

[@acconboy]

been turning wrenches for nearly 40 years and never, ever heard it referred to as a clutch basket. Always heard it called the pressure plate.

[@forgetfulme1719]

every job is a basket case.

[@rprice7670]

​@@forgetfulme1719for some people 😅 when you work on cars an trucks it just part of the job. It is all in the way you approach each one 😮

[@forgetfulme1719]

@@rprice7670 installing pressure plate without dowel pins, his clutch job will vibrate like a basket at high rpm.

[@rprice7670]

@@forgetfulme1719 yeah I noticed that also an have done many clutch jobs with out them. The bolts that are used have a shoulder on them the line up the pressure plate. I also tourqe the flywheel bolts an pressure plate. I have seen to many clutch jobs that will chatter from not doing it. I would not put up with anyone in my shop not doing so as a shop owner. It is to easy to just do things right especially when bolting things to the crank of an engine. If you like entertaining people like he does then he does a good job.😁😅

[@roots4x]

Plenty of terms are region specific or even car specific. When I got my first American car (Chevy SS), perusing forums for this car were like people speaking a different language.

[@Jbergschneider1996]

Hello Ray, I just graduated from community college in automotive technology I started watching about a couple years ago and I just want to thank you for spreading your knowledge of the automotive world with all of us and you inspire me to do my best when I get into the automotive world thank you for everything you do.

[@ED-ti5tc]

The issues Ray is having on this Ford, makes me some what feel better about the issues I have working on my truck. Simple jobs turn into unbelievable aggravating! Love the videos! Hope everyone has a great rest of the week.

[@jdub976]

I always feel the same way. Don't feel so bad when I see the pro have some of the same problems. Rays problem fixing tool selection is way better than my problem fixing tools though lol. He really is good at what he does.

[@realeyesrealizereallies6828]

Wouldn't call that a simple job, an alternator or brakes are simple jobs, that job is complex and easy to screw up..

[@edwardjenner1381]

Yea, I have an '88, similar, some extra difficulties to to 4x4, but I can foresee all the issues here. Once you have done everything once, it's not bad, but the first time is a real pain. Plus you get to make your own little mods to make things easier, like cutting down the bolts that fit under the exhaust. I've learned the hard way to always clean threads and put back parts as if I am going to have to re-do the job.

[@robertpage2023]

It's a man made MACHINE...........made my men of parts manufactured by people. Want ease of assembly? Buy a Leggo Car.

[@marcengle9968]

This is the only way I ever changed one

[@LimitedGunnerGM]

This series shows a man living his best life and loving his job. Not an ounce of frustration or anger in his voice. I am a new fan!

[@no1froggy]

I am not normally the one to criticise but I would have certainly changed the thrust (throw out) bearing, the damn things are mainly plastic these days & normally fail before the clutch itself so the old ones life is certainly nearing it's end.

[@nigelbarton8350]

Expense on an old vehicle. Ray said in one of the earlier videos it looked to have been done before, and that is a concentric slave not a traditional one so more than a few bucks. And the prop shaft- well it will be so much better than what was on there regardless, and of all the joints I have changed in over 30 years I’ve only had to have a couple balanced after.

[@loudelvis610]

In a perfect world I would have replaced it too....but almost everything you do to this vehicle you are running up against spending more than the truck is worth

[@n3bruce]

@@nigelbarton8350 They are about $50 or so at Rock Auto. I had to replace one that failed one frigid morning, and the clutch was worn down to the rivets, so I didn't feel so bad. Had the replacement fail a couple of years later, but the neighborhood mechanic that did it the first time was no longer doing such heavy repairs so I ended up selling the truck to another neighbor willing to work on it. I fixed it up and drove it for several more years.

[@michaelbruton3537]

I didn't replace a clutch release bearing at the time a clutch plate and pressure plate the next time working on a no clutch situation on the same vehicle the bearing had seized and burnt its way through the pressure plate fingers( all blued up and curled inwards)the actual clutch plate material was fine So I learnt an expensive lesson If doing a clutch change replace all three clutch components the clutch plate the pressure plate and the clutch release bearing and checking for the crankshaft oil seal Are a must !

[@DainSmart-vm7pc]

Are you English thrust bearing ( throw out American way) 💂🏼👍🏻🇬🇧🫖

[@najay0]

protip to bleed ford hydraulic clutches - put a vacuum on the reservoir and pull the air out of the slave cylinder. It cuts down the amount time you need to pump the pedal.

[@DainSmart-vm7pc]

It's good to see a mechanic working for the customers pocket than throwing the parts cannon for what my be wrong, Ray is a mechanic who repairs not just replaces parts ,very hard to come by in mechanics these days 👍🏻🇬🇧 .

[@ryulee458]

So very true it's hard to come by a good mechanic that's honest

[@charleswood9073]

​

[@tombowman2154]

That's how you build a customer base👍🏼

[@Racingnut24]

Especially in a "word of mouth" community 👍

[@ILikeMetricMusic]

This mechanic unit is a good one 😊

[@ciprianbenec4091]

Educational and funny. 😂 Bob Ross moment 😂 seals and trees, both of them happy 😂. Genius!

[@michaelstoliker971]

The correct term for the "basket" is "Pressure Plate". Also, I agree with @no1froggy that the Throw-out Bearing should have been replaced while you had the transmission out.

[@2pugman]

I would have put a tiny "smhear" of a good wheel bearing grease on the trans spline.

[@DonsJunkmail-vg1wt]

Food basket

[@kman0146]

And use the metal body slave cylinders, the plastic ones are junk.

[@johnt.848]

@@2pugman Minimal use of never seize is better than grease.

[@stevemarks9360]

The pressure plate is the cast iron part, the sheet metal part is the clutch cover, the whole thing is a clutch cover assembly!

[@stevenhayes3241]

I was stunned Ray kept the throw-out bearing, its not a deal breaker price wise even for a broke ass like me! Love ya bro.

[@fhuber7507]

I replaced U-Joints in 1960s era vehicles using sockets and a big C clamp to press them out and get the new ones in. I always considered them easy to do. A little fiddly with ensuring the needle bearings stay in place. But a little extra sticky grease keeps them in there.

[@michaelpressman7203]

Me too!

[@garysmith1157]

I learned that the hard way when changing out axle & drive shaft U-joints on a rust-belt Triumph Spitfire!

[@tdc9136]

I've changed them out in a parking lot with a hammer and socket also. In the shop I use the vise like he did. I've changed U-joints out in my Semi on the side of the highway, they just aren't that hard unless rusted.

[@tuberNunya]

I've replaced dozens of u-joints without air tools.

[@stephenjones9153]

Over the Pond in Liverpool UK this 64 year old was taught how to change our own clutch and do most repairs ourselves by my Dad way back when i was a 5 year old, Funny thing is my Dad called almost everything by different name to the USA 🇺🇸. He called the Basket the Pressure plate the Clutch was the Friction plate and what you Guy's and Girl's call the throw out bearing we were taught its a thrust or Clutch release bearing, we call the Trans the gearbox and the part in front of the gearbox is the Bell housing. Definitely feel for you Ray with the wrong part's and the truck fighting you at every stage. Good job very well done 👏 👍👍👍

[@39junker]

If you stick the pilot bearing in the freezer for about five minutes, it'll slide right in. The same goes for anything that pressure fits from the outside diameter.

[@SportFury1966]

"Technique not applicable in Florida, Arizona, or six inches from the sun."

[@norcal715]

@@SportFury1966 You mean "read the legal mumbo jumbo". Some restrictions apply, not valid in some states?

[@WilliamHollinger2019]

Yeah I remember my instructor who got all of us to rebuild echo gt225 or gt223 curved trimmers engines. That was fun I don't remember how I done it man I do miss that class.

[@markiobook8639]

Yes- very common. Look up Abom the use liquid nitrogen or dry ice to fit some interference fit parts.

[@whitevanmanuk]

Or use the engineers claw hammer 🤣🤣🤣

[@dadmezz4024]

Once upon a time, all vehicles were rear wheel drive. All back yard mechanics changed up joints with c-clamps. We did not have tools or internet. That was fun.

[@mr__southern1492]

I'm a back yard mechanic, Own two trucks a 2000 Ford Ranger and a 2000 Ford-250 with the 7.3 powerstroke and do all my own work. I have the internet so it's made it worlds easier than buying a book and going off of that, Although I do have the book you buy at auto-parts for my truck that tells you how to do everything. I'm young just decided growing up I wanted to learn and started doing all the work that needed to be done on my vehicles, Now I've done entire engine swaps mostly all self taught and had no problems. Wouldn't want it any other way, Shops are expensive. Replaced the timing cover and water pump on the Ranger recently and it would have been $1200 in labor at a shop and instead I only had to spend $400 for the parts instead of the $1600 for the parts and labor. Going back to no internet and doing it all sounds like an adventure that I'd love.

[@hoseman1]

Another quality repair, I personally would have changed the throw out bearing, it costs more than the bearing to take it back apart to replace it, I understand you were trying to save the customer money but for the small cost I of the part I would have changed it. Make sure you take care of the wife unit and fix her van.

[@dudehilde]

Congrats on your award Ray, your videos are awesome to the point where I catch myself saying "gravity" when I drop something.

[@jcos55chev19]

Upon the transmission reinstallation, I would apply a small dab of high temp grease into the pilot bearing hole (not enough to force out the bearing, just a very small dab). I would also apply a very light coating of the same grease to the transmission input shaft splines and dowel pins.

[@frankl.5153]

Back in the day, we all did u joints. There was no sending them out to be done by a machine shop. A vise, socket that is a touch smaller and a medium hammer was all that was needed to accomplish the task. And to be honest, a vise was really not needed; just more of a luxury. And don't forget, we also walked three miles to school uphill both ways in the snow. 🤪

[@tomcrotty1498]

Lol, I remember having to buy a pilot bearing/bushing puller 50 years ago. Necessary for my 1966 GTO. Only $18 then but for my income at the time that was very expensive. Works in a matter of minutes. There’s not much call for it today since a large percentage of vehicles are automatic. Changed a lot of clutches back then. Nice work Ray.

[@johnpipolo8366]

Luv the vids and seeing the automotive forensic’s kick in I find them very explanatory with the best diagnosis. Kudos to you👍

[@pauldiesel4582]

Ray, as a viewer, I and others no doubt appreciate your great camera work and mechanic’s eye view! As usual a interesting video!

[@dilwyn1]

Good job too on the UJ ... Textbook replacement I would say, just how we did it in the 70's and 80's when there was no other choice !!

[@NeverEvil1]

Ray, you brought back some painful memories. Back in 1998, I had to change the clutch out on my 88 F150 300-6 2wd truck. The only difference, I was 18, not many tools, very little knowledge, and a couple of Jack stands on a gravel parking lot. Oh, and it was a Wisconsin truck, so the extra rust was a nice bonus to learn on. It took me a week of being soaked in trans oil and clutch material, countless trips to the auto parts store 15 miles away trying to figure out which clutch kit, u joints, and other misc items I needed to do the job. In the end I was successful and got many many many more miles out of the truck, but eventually sold it due to the amount of rust and failing parts. I wish I could get that Crap-Can back.

[@KennyBaltz]

I worked for my uncle in the summer of ‘69 after graduating high school at his Texaco Station. The first job they gave me was replacing a unjoint! In the 1950s & 60s cars this was as common a repair as a brake job! So simple a teenager could do it! Thanks Ray. Love your videos. Chesterfield Va. -KB

[@michaelshields5921]

Old school taught do it yourself method of U Joint replacement on the side of the road or drive way . Use a socket ( a deep well socket works much better ) to hammer out caps , I learned it from my dad in the early 70s as a kid . It came in handy a couple three times in my life .

[@chooky2061]

Ray, I believe you are doing the right approach to repairs. There is no 'one way' to do things, improvising is compulsory and remember, every problem is just a challenge. My favourite moto (Geoff's) moto. It puts life's problems into perspective. Keep up the great work.

[@johndernberger1961]

You need a parts washer! Also thanks for the view of the transmission shaft being inserted into the clutch. Great shot!

[@DainSmart-vm7pc]

This is the first time ive seen this done on KZbin,for some reason no one has shown so kudos to Ray 🇬🇧👍🏻💂🏼

[@AK90]

If I remember correctly he has one somewhere

[@DonsJunkmail-vg1wt]

And a microwave in the office😳

[@DonsJunkmail-vg1wt]

Now it needs a full throttle 18 inch Lift Kit!!😉

[@DonsJunkmail-vg1wt]

Now the troll would have posted about you😏 tossing that tinky ass wrench on the floor

[@mattbrown5511]

Loud Troy noise are a good thing. The wrong parts from your supplier is a real pain in the neck. I remember a journeyman that once told, "I don't care how you get it done, as long as it is correct at the end.". You did what you had to do to fix that old Ford. It is a good repair and that is all that matters.

[@stealthg35infiniti94]

Ray, you did the U Joints exactly like we teach in HS Auto Tech class. We stress that you're careful not putting any Pressure on the drive shaft at any time. Only use forces on the U Joints and holders.

[@barryoverson4988]

rainman i didn't know it was unusual to do universal joints that one went smooth your commentaries are good you are a teacher i trie to comment for the algorithm every man needs to watch and learn the tricks

[@russbeck2]

A quick way to remove the pilot bearing is to fill the centre with heavy grease then push in either an old spigot shaft or a clutch plate alighning tool and give it a serious clout with a large hammer. Well thats how I used to do them and it always worked. 🙂

[@grassroot011]

Nothing like hydraulics to do the work !

[@TheOriginalDaveJ]

Agree. Our Ray is getting a bit over confident with that welder whereas a wee heat with a torch would do the same thing.

[@lucianoburtini8836]

When they were bronze bushings it was common to thread a fitting with a grease nipple into it and 'drive' it out with a grease gun.

[@davidbaldwin2729]

he alluded to the old fashioned time honored way namely fill the bearing hole with bread and use a 1/2 in wood dowel wrapped with electrical tape as needed to make a tight fit in the bearing whole and hit it with a hammer compressing the bread and pushing more bread in as needed until the bearing pops out. usually only piece of bread is needed

[@rprice7670]

A quick way is to have the right tool. That is probably 1 over the first tools I owned an still have 40yrs later an would make short work for removing. Lmao

[@dilwyn1]

Love the Bob Ross moment ... Brilliant 😁

[@JackIrwin-sd7vd]

For sure you should have replaced the old hydraulic throw out bearing. Also, when pressing in the caps of the new u-joints, I just use a socket that is slightly smaller than the cap diameter so that tool alignment does not have to be so precise.

[@Cheepchipsable]

Unless it was replaced very recently, it could save a lot of aggravation.

[@robertbowers9856]

I leared in the army about changing U joints and have since changed I don't know how many successfully, including one where I lost a needle and never had a problem with it. I still have the car after 40 years and that drive shaft is still in the car. You did it just like I do!

[@peterparsons7141]

To add to what you said about U-joint replacement, when I was first shown how to replace, I was told by a good mechanic “ this is my way”, do it the way you like, and whatever it takes to get it done. Here’s want needs to happen, don’t damage the yoke or parts and when it’s right, it’s done. U-joints used to be a normal wear item on some types of rides.

[@wackey3455]

Im nearly a fully qualified machanic after looking at your videos ray, you show step by step detail how you do all your jobs. Well done your a inspiration to all who want to learn. well i have learned so much off you. Thank you.

[@dannyr3346]

“I love the welder” 😂😂 Ej20 Subaru engine laughing at Ray in the corner 😂

[@AUcameraman]

I remember back in the seventies a mechanic showed me a trick that if you pack the bushing hole with bearing grease and press a spindle shaft into the grease packed hole, the grease will push out the brass bushing without needing any special puller tool.

[@markwhit]

Watching from my hospital bed, Pray and wish for me please Ray

[@bryans8895]

Hey, randomly just stumbled across this. I hope you’re doing well 7 months later! All the best!

[@katieluv8422]

Did not even know the F150 came in a manual transmission! It is so rare to see manual transmissions clutch replacements, let alone manual transmissions. Learned alot! Thanks!

[@richwoodcock637]

Agreed with everything except not replacing the throwout bearing. If the customer says no is one thing but other than that it's getting replaced.

[@chodkowski01]

In a year when the throw out bearing fails he gets to charge the customer twice instead of replacing all the wear parts the first time.

[@cb3plus845]

Exactly!

[@forgetfulme1719]

@@chodkowski01 he usually does things 2x, double incomes guarantee, film the owner's decline?

[@davidbaldwin2729]

absolutely replace all 4 clutch components together

[@richwoodcock637]

@chodkowski01 One, I think he has had enough of that truck. Two given its age who know how long it might last. There are plenty of other things that could and will give wrong if it lasts.

[@amishjeff1]

As a retired master tech/service manager, curious why your shop doesn't invest in reusable spray containers and 55 gal drums of cleansing agent (enviro friendly) seeing as how many cans of spray you use.Also, I never see a parts washer station which I found incredibly useful. This is NOT a condemnation post...I always just I found it a lot more econ friendly AND less expensive to employ the reusable cans . I like the "work arounds" you do, reminds me of 30 years of complications and the numerous amounts of tools I had to fashion for particular jobs. Always a fly-in-the-ointment for a supposedly straight forward repairs. Great videos and enjoy watching someone ELSE work for once...Thanks for your efforts.

[@johnh8268]

Not sure about Florida, but I believe I remember Eric O. mentioning how many rules, regulations and fees go along with parts washers today. Apparently spray cans skirt all those laws, which makes the trouble and expense worth it.

[@rprice7670]

I own a shop an work on cars an trucks now for 45yrs an have always had a parts washer an own it also. There is no reason to go through that much cost on brake cleaner.

[@larrykittell726]

I've never heard a pressure plate called a basket. Good video. Thanks.

[@Tedjenkins55]

Only criticism Ray is I'd of replaced that throw out bearing as it's an internal slave cylinder while in there. As a brit will call the the clutch basket a pressure plate. I did this job a few months back on my ford mondeo st220 but had a duel mass flywheel instead of a solid plate flywheel.

[@Bratfalken]

I usually put a smaller socket that goes inside the yokes and still gives view of the clip trace but not so small it just pusches the center of the cup and press the cups inside with the vice, this way you can move it to the exact level where the clip can be installed, to not make it too tight!

[@robertrosicki9290]

Ray ; When I watched this one I could feel your pain the your joy when that truck was ready (almost) to get backed out the door . I started apprenticing on large trucks and heavy equipment in 1980 . Moved to lighter work at a Ford shop , then even lighter at a Honda motorcycle / Polaris snowmobile shop . Finish off and retired in 2014 as an industrial mechanic working in water and waste water plants for the town I live in . It's not all glamour wrenching for a living brother . It gets tough on the body and the mind after 34 years .🤘

[@LilYeshua]

Yes,I remember many trips back to the parts house to get the correct part. I didn't use an air chisel to replace u joints but I used a bench vise and a socket to press them out and in.

[@buddrud]

"Blue Towel Action" Gotta love it. I'm a Surgical Tech. Been working in Labor & Delivery for nearly 21 years now. I set up and assist with C-sections (I say all this because I'm proud of what I do). We have a sterile version of Blue Towels. They are exceedingly useful. I roll some to keep my instruments handy, and the others I use to cover and protect portions of my sterile field. Gotta care for the tools we use. And I also use them like you do, to clean up. Not grease though.

[@kevinhill5596]

Very frustrating job, Ray. You handled it all very well. 👌I hope the van repair is simple and quick! Have a great evening!

[@thomaspiepenhagen4165]

I had to replace a rear u-joint on my '73 Plymouth Voyager on the side of the road. The joint broke apart while driving home. Was a great first time learning experience with limited tools and in the rain. Luckily there was an auto parts store close by.

[@TheLonesometoad]

I used to always designate Spicer solid joints for replacements. I noticed that, even though the joints you used were non-greaseable, they were still hollow. The Spicer solids are much stronger because they don't have the grease passages running through them..

[@jeffryblackmon4846]

Good info! I think I'll go for the hollow ones anyway. My clutch-popping days @ 6000 rpm are over.

[@K.Kelly87]

@@jeffryblackmon4846 Mine are too.. But... That is, I believe Ray said, is a heavy duty clutch set. If that truck works for a living.... So many people buy trucks today as a status symbol, and the hollows are ok for the light work. But if that truck does heavy stuff like Ray's Chevy does, I think he said it was a 3/4 ton, I would have gone with the solids myself. But since I don't have need for a truck anymore, I would STILL bring my car to him for a new clutch... From 1300 miles away... LOL! Most of the Mechs in NY are Shysters, with exception of Eric O. @SouthMainAuto, and he is 3 hours away from me.

[@danlevesque5437]

I was thinking Ray would have grabbed the other universal with missing parts to use the grease fittings and then transferred over the caps and clips to that one

[@robertburtcher6724]

​@@danlevesque5437 Each one of those caps is actually custom ground to within a tenth of 1000. We call them tenths in the machining world. The directions in the box explicitly state to number and keep all caps in order. Mix matching components with inferior tolerance is a sure bet for a failure. I didn't pick you out in particular you just had a great statement to answer that I believe is a misnomer. Buying universal joints at O'Reilly's is like letting Helen Keller pick your parts.

[@markiobook8639]

@@robertburtcher6724 tenths or thou's.

[@MrKillerno1]

That was a very smart deduction in welding technique, we, the viewers, hope that every car mecahnic who faces similar problems think so thourougly as you do Ray, very good video indeed.

[@tomcrotty1498]

Cost effective or not according to budget, I would have replaced the throw out bearing. Especially after seeing the condition of the disc, pressure plate (abnormal wear on the diaphragm fingers) and especially the pilot bearing. Nothing worse than a noisy throw out bearing in the time and mileage ahead. I believe it is safer that way. All in all as stated in my earlier post in this thread good job.

[@forgetfulme1719]

owner does not have $70 more? $1200 gone to mechanic's bank already.

[@barnaclebill2266]

I agree. Not replacing the throwout bearing is the wrong place to save money.

[@tomcrotty1498]

@@forgetfulme1719 imagine the throw out bearing going out in a months or even three months time. A frozen bearing will most likely go right through the diaphragm in the new pressure plate. How much will that cost to replace? Ask me how I know.

[@forgetfulme1719]

@@tomcrotty1498 u see outside previously fixed cars growing like sealer lot. sad.

[@forgetfulme1719]

@@tomcrotty1498 parts not much, paying him 2x is expensive.

[@StrengthAndConditioning61]

As a former welder and talking about the electrical path of welders I can tell you that you haven't really lived until you try welding with a cheap ac buzzbox and standing in a puddle of water. Great fun

[@tombogdis]

CONGRATULATIONS RAY AND TEAM! It's very nice to be recognized by BG for doing a great job, technician of the month). We all appreciate the excellent videos as well. You ROCK!

[@davidboose5803]

I've been watching your videos for a long time and I want to say how well you make them. You cover each step completely and accurately with all the necessary bits and pieces to add to the repair. Keep them coming!

[@patsmith8421]

Somebody mentioned that Eric O. wouldn't have done it that way. I watch and enjoy both of you two. If most people watch these they are hoping to get tips. I like it if you both do the same job differently, getting the same results. I do now have my son and wife watching your videos. Just love the commentary. Keep up the good work. Don't let the naysayers get to you. Have a good day.

[@drivingnewengland-thedrive]

What's funny about the Eric O. comment is that the commenter probably doesn't watch Eric channel too closely. Yes Eric and Ray are two different mechanics with different methods, but Eric does state numerous times over the course of different videos about going caveman on on vehicle when necessary and some videos with parts edited out for flying tools and such. So I don't think he'd cringe over the way Ray performs his work. Just food for thought where I would cringe would be watching surgeries where the tools that they use look like they came out of your toolbox, and watching the surgeon setting a rod into someone leg bone with a hammer pouncing away or setting a shoulder and a couple of doctors and nurses standing on the bed, yanking on the person's arm in directions the arm shouldn't go trying to set the shoulder. Now that's cringe worthy.

[@marioreali5925]

​@drivingnewengland-thedrive We were watching a show about a remote hospital in Russia. Poorly funded but good doctors. Surgeon was using a Dewalt battery drill to drill a hole in patients skull.

[@harryellis8873]

That spigot bearing was the cause my back is smashed up the bearing had disintegrated so on the last bold I had taken off the gear box the gear box just come straight out ended up on me damaged three discs in back never had all the fancy gear box stands like now good job ray 👍

[@robertburrows6612]

I would have changed that clutch release barring, there only a few bucks and it's a false economy not to change them , nothing worse than a few months later having to change them because they fail. Same as the propshaft a remanufactured would have been the route I would have taken because it would have be balanced, it possible the old UJ's failed because of vibration in the propshaft

[@jtjones4727]

They usually come with the clutch kit anyway. At least every clutch kit I buy always has one.

[@forgetfulme1719]

@@jtjones4727 standard practice kit but he bought without bearing, more profit.

[@tiredoldmechanic1791]

After working on Fords for some years including two years at a Ford dealership, we always said that Ford didn't make any two vehicles the same. At the dealership, the parts department always needed the VIN to find out what parts the vehicle was made with. Even the part number doesn't help because Ford recycles part numbers. The company that I worked for for 35 years had 9 Louisville Ford trucks so they stocked some common parts. There was a drag link that usually lasted about 150K miles that was about 18 inches long. When one was used the tag would be put in a box for when the Ford parts salesman stopped in each week. He would write down the numbers and send replacement parts. One day a 5 foot long drag link showed up instead of the 18 inch. The numbers matched, including the ones stamped into the part. The figured out that Ford had changed the number.

[@frankbiz]

Great work Ray! That was quite an impressive journey, I bet you're glad it is done. That truck should feel like new. Sounds great starting.

[@leeross38]

Great job great video

[@Yukonjackman1]

We back in the day used to add a little more grease into the caps as we had them off and nicely done you change them out .

[@dannylinc6247]

There's a nice pilot bearing puller set from Snap-on. It has attachments for different ones. Its alot smaller. Comes in a beauty of a red box. Sure wish i had mine. Your solution was genius. Youre saying flex plate for the flywheel ring-gear. But you know a flexplate is used with an automatic. Its welded. They make a distinctive sound when fired at us, sir, they crack when theyve begun to fail , but hardly ever failed on a Ford when men were men. Universals are a simple job to a real tech. But newer lighter construction driveshafts may be available for replacing as an assembly, and not serviced in separate pieces. Trained monkeys can just skip the whole universal benchwork job when its like that.

[@markamcampbell5795]

i thought i was so smart and changed the clutch on my f150 4x4 and got it all back together and was bragging to my friends what a great job i did and looked down and saw the backing plate sitting in the cleaning tray. i just put my tools down and walked away until the next day.

[@robpeabo509]

I hope you got Lauren's Honda going. I wouldn't be concerned with the Spicer U-Joint not being greaseable, A Spicer will last a lot longer than a greaseable unit from most other brands out there.

[@independentthinker8930]

Rebuild my jeep engine every 500k miles, last time I had to get a block. It was same year production, but there were tolerance differences on mounting holes. It was a real pain hand fitting parts

[@mike.47]

As a former parts delivery driver, I can attest that whether the part was ordered incorrectly or the supplier sent the wrong parts, it’s a royal pain in the butt.

[@robertpage2023]

What? Having to take back the wrong part?

[@helenault7452]

As a former parts counter person and dealership parts manager, I can attest that if you don't verify that the part in the box is the part that's supposed to be there both when you send it out and when it gets returned, you're setting yourself up for an angry customer. "Wrong part in box" is rare with an unopened box, but not impossible; "wrong part in box" when the part comes back is really common. I could go on and on about how that happens, but the bottom line is that you just have to know your product and double-check everything.

[@edwatts9890]

I would also replace that core ("freeze") plug while the flywheel is elsewhere. "Inexpensive today, very expensive tomorrow!" I would do it for free, even if the customer would not authorize the work. AND I would install a brass one!

[@bcubed72]

IIRC, there's two clutches that will bolt up to the flywheel. Don't know what the difference is; I ordered the big one, 'cause "more clutch, more better."

[@bcubed72]

@@Nighterlev Then I must have guessed right, LOL. It bolted right up.

[@guymcneill1711]

I like watching your long videos.thank you

[@Duane002]

Always always always replace the throw out bearing with a new clutch!!!

[@javierosorio5169]

Thank you Sir. Always enjoy your time on this repair videos.

[@Stover1928]

Great video series . Difficult job but very well done. Thanks for showing the entire process .

[@7MPhonemicEnglish]

Comes with wrong parts preinstalled. So helpful!

[@on-site4094]

Ray gets the job done & on the road again. Ray. u have to love keyboard am chair mechanics 🤓🤓

[@StevenDaugherty-uo5cs]

Hope the wife unit didn't have to wait too long and you were able to get her back on the road quickly and safely.

[@ILikeMetricMusic]

I’m sure the husband unit gave his wife unit the keys to his transportation if it wasn’t something that could be fixed quickly

[@Mikeb4ugo]

Ray, the best way to get the spigot bearing out is to pack the hole with grease and then with something that just fits the hole, metal of wooden doweling. Hit with a hammer and the bearing is jacked out hydraulically. I do like your videos especially the fault-finding ones, bit more suspense.

[@rprice7670]

The best way is to buy the tool that works 😂

[@minotaurbison]

Bread for the win for pilot bearings 😂, I have used the bread method personally and can say it works surprisingly well.

[@simonsummers9194]

Congrates on your award Ray....you earned that with blood and sweat my friend.

[@marcusdoolette1547]

You and the Eric O are different. That's the whole point! Who wants to watch two guys doing exactly the same thing? Always learn something new from both of you. Keep it up Ray. All good.

[@tonypluymers7429]

In New Zealand we fill the spigot bearing with grease and use piece of shaft to hydraulic the bearing out.If the shaft is a little small insulation tape wrapped around the shaft can take up the slack

[@buttsexandbananapeels]

It irritates me when I find myself in a debate with a “my way or the highway” type. Dualistic thinking creates problems, not solutions. In old timey speak, “there’s many ways to skin a cat.”

[@blockbertus]

@@tonypluymers7429 Ah, yeah. The old "displace bearing with grease" method. But this may not work properly if there is corrosion going on. At least not as well. To be honest, I was kind of surprised by Rays idea and the fact that it worked so well. ;-) What do they say? If it works, it ain't stupid?

[@forgetfulme1719]

@@ClassBLiving64 2 kinds of viewers, one wants to copy his skills, other (including Eric) to get a good laugh

[@buttsexandbananapeels]

@@ClassBLiving64 lol. You don’t even understand “there’s a right way and a wrong way” is the very definition of dualistic thinking! LOL! You don’t come here for the parody: you come here to be a douchebag. Go garbage person it up somewhere else, smoothbrain. At least your screen name is adequate: you’re living as a class b human AKA scumbag.

[@SuperRockhardabs]

Ray, just want you to know I’ve learned so much from watching your videos. I’m gaining a lot more confidence working on my own vehicles as well as family and friends vehicles. I’ve never had any kind of mechanic job or worked as a technician but I feel really confident from the things I’ve learned watching your videos. Keep pushing out awesome content! One thing I do have a lot of training in is welding. Just want to give you a pointer that MIG welding, especially flux core welding produces A LOT of spatter. Much of which you can barely see, which could lead to your mating surfaces not being completely flush. They make an anti-spatter product that you just dip the tip of your welder in which reduces that spatter a lot. It’s definitely worth checking out. You can also rub a little on the surfaces that you don’t want spatter on, and it reduces the amount that sticks to the surface. Just a little bit of shared knowledge. Thank you for the awesome videos, I’ve definitely learned a lot from you.

[@IR-nq4qv]

Good job brother, it would have been OK to see new door pins and bushings installed as well

[@midgoog2]

I used to work in QA for a engine manufacturer. We did a study on lubricating the seal lip prior to fitting when there was a increase in reported leaks in the "field". It was found that the seal lip suffered micro tears when no lube was used and a small group of assemblers were saving some time deleting the oiling . Eric E

[@rogerfleury3591]

GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING RAY AND THE WIFE UNIT! And a LOUD SHOUTOUT to the two new employees! In 1977, I did this same procedure, and it didn’t end well. I thought I did everything right, I did it in my driveway, but when I drove it about 20 miles until the driveshaft flew off the rear of the truck. Luckily it was a 4 wheel drive, so I was able to get back home. I took it to a shop the next day and had it done correctly. I haven’t worked on ANY of my vehicles since. Roger in Pierre South Dakota

[@johnsolomon4907]

Hi, you need to put Airlines to each work bay it would save time.

[@n3bruce]

I have done U Joints on my previous Nissan and Ford Pickups of that era, using just hand tools. They held together ok, but the joint on my 1985 Nissan tended to vibrate at certain speeds. I am sure I bent the yoke a little, but I took it to a shop when it needed a transmission rebuild, and they got that straightened out.

[@jonathankenton7182]

You sir are a heck of a mechanic! I’ve been wrenching on farm equipment, autos and Uncle Sam’s airplanes for over 40 years and I can honestly say you are a true professional with integrity. Keep it up. Love the content!

[@tech408]

Brilliant foresight Ray! I would have ruined the main bearings with the welder. :(

[@timothyweers8054]

When you said to keep from hitting your fingers, put an eye on the target. It reminds me of the old looney tunes cartoon with the cobbler and the elves where the one elf had crosseyes. The one elf would use his head as a target for the crosseyed elf for hammering in the nail into the shoe. Well the elf finally hit the target. LOL

[@billdunlop8683]

I really enjoy the way Ray works and has fun, After watching for a couple of years I'm surprised that Ray with his attention to printing detail did not realign the shift knob to center like he does with the Oil cap . lol

[@billdunlop8683]

@Teller-oj6iz I personally can't fathom the idea of any Religion tagging along online car repair videos and recruiting for their cause. I would appreciate in the future you take me off your list and please in the future keep your religious beliefs out of my comments.

[@dplorbl]

Ray I use to us an air chisel on those bearings, “walking” them out. Gear mesh: Common problem with older small & bigblock chevys when some “wrench” installs the correct starter with the wrong starter nose and it’s bolted up catty wampus

[@kevincurry4735]

Wow this has been a great job and very intense. Today you showed off you mechanical abilities with the diversity not found in all techs which is why you are a Rocket Surgeon indeed. 🚀👨🏻‍⚕️.

[@goodnews5906]

Enjoy your videos Rainman. I am not a mechanic but a cousin was and he would change throw out bearings by filling the cavity with grease. Then he would put a cloth over the end of same size bolt or rod and pound the bolt into the cavity. The grease wound force the throw out bearing out.

[@tmackinator]

A very light coating of grease on the input shaft may have been a good idea.

[@bobhudson6659]

Absolutely agree - high temp grease. It comes with all clutch kits supplied in Australia.

[@raymondniven5281]

And pack the pilot bearing. No need to have it seize up, and ruined the job.

[@rprice7670]

​@@raymondniven5281they make a release bearing where do have to replace the slave cylinder. Plus it is not very hard to remove an repack it also. I have done some with the old wheel bearing packers. But each to there own. Possibly a come back an don't see getting the life out of the clutch if you did a bearing.