Changing Parts on Your Truck or a Car: A How-to Guide

Have you ever encountered a situation where a simple tire change has cost you a small fortune? Or an oil change would often amount to a month’s salary! These are quite normal situations every car owner fears, and for good reason. Being a mechanic is not easy; it requires skills, years of experience, and the right tools to finish the job. All these costs in the end, and what you’re paying for is someone’s time invested in making your car keep going better than before. But you must ask yourself, could you have done it instead? Probably not every time or all the time, but a small change of a normal part that’s reachable and accessible and in plain sight can’t be that difficult to repair or replace. And it isn’t; all you need is a simple guide on how to do it. And in the text below, we’ll be explaining exactly that! We’re simply proposing a few universal rules that apply to every situation and if you keep them in mind, there is a big possibility you’ll be able to skip a few visits to your mechanic this year. Read on!

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IMAGE SOURCE: https://www.pexels.com/photo/set-of-tool-wrench-162553/

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Identifying the Part 

The most difficult part of the whole procedure is to make a final identification of the part that needs replacing. And as with every “illness,” we’re first looking at the symptoms. Anything unusual is of interest to you, from a certain noise to performing issues and dashboard lights that go off and on. Usually, the dashboard is a good place to start. It tells you some basics, whether you’re having engine issues or your electricity is off. Whether it’s time for a little oil change or maybe you’re out of coolant. If no lights are visible, then maybe the reason your car is not having the same performance and dragging as before has something to do with the inspection system. Pop the hood and look for the main exhaust hose or intercooler hose. Any rips probably cause the engine to lose air and without air, it’s unable to burn fuel and produce the needed horsepower. Noises usually mean you’re experiencing difficulty with the suspension, with your joints, and maybe a loose bolt on one of the tires. Maybe the tires are a bit flat and need some air. If the car feels unusually stiff when going over potholes on the road, it might be a sign of a leaking shock absorber. Once you’ve established what the main problem is, it’s time to go to the next step.

Preparing the Necessary Tools and Parts 

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It’s time to go to the garage and put it all on the table. We’re talking about wrenches, screwdrivers, jacks, and specialized equipment like a torque wrench—anything you have and can find lying around. All those things you bought once at a flea market and thought you’d never use again. Take a good look, sort them all nicely, and be ready because you might need to use all or a few of them. Now the best place to look for parts is probably your local retail store but sometimes the online market might have a far better price and choice. Let’s take a look at both of them.

Retail stores 

They often give you a good deal if you become a member or you’re already a regular customer. You’ll get a receipt, and a friendly salesperson will be more than happy to explain the differences between different brands and share some wisdom on what you should do. It’s easier to return the part if you’re not 100% sure that you got the right one.

Online shops

Often have a far better assortment of different parts and brands. They offer quite often better prices, and you’ll get a receipt and there’s always a 30-day return policy in place. Plus, sometimes it’s easier to find the part you need if you know exactly what you’re looking for. A quick search of AC lines for semi trucks offers you 10 pages of possible products to buy without having to spend any gas or time. With retailers, you’ll be at risk of going from place to place until you find the part you need, spending your time and gas, going around in circles, and getting stuck in traffic on your way back home. The only downside might be waiting for the part to get returned and a new part sent to you, as you’ll lose at least 2 to 3 days.

So, you bought the part you need and you’ve gathered all the tools. What now? How to replace it? What steps should you take next? Relax, everything is fine; just keep reading and you’ll see! 

Take Safety Measures 

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We know, you probably thought, now comes the part where we talk about how to replace it but before you do anything, you’ll need to consider that you’ve taken all the needed safety measures into account. Park the vehicle on a flat surface, engage the parking brake, and use wheel chocks if needed. Wearing gloves and safety glasses can prevent injuries. If working under the vehicle, always use jack stands instead of relying solely on a jack. These are essential steps you can’t miss. One small misstep and you might get seriously injured as the car can always crash your arm or leg, or a small loose bolt might jump off and hurt your eyes. Gloves, safety glasses, and making sure the car won't move while doing any work on it come first; then comes the part where you’re doing any repairs.

Out Goes the Old 

Now you have to do some repairing, and removing the old part is the first step. The best thing about this step is the chance to see how to install the new one. It’s usually easy and very logical. Take pictures of every step, one by one. Those pictures can help you to later reassign the old part if that’s not the issue or to install the new one. Carefully disconnect or unbolt the old part while keeping track of screws, bolts, and clips. Some parts, such as brake pads or batteries, require additional steps like disconnecting the negative battery terminal or loosening calipers. If you feel lost, your vehicle's manual often has simple instructions printed out on how to do these steps according to the manufacturer without causing any additional harm to the car.

In Comes the New 

Now, you’ve taken pictures of every step while removing the old part. Prepare your WD-40 as well and a bit of grease just in case. Align the new part correctly and secure it using the appropriate bolts or fasteners. Ensure that everything is tightened to the manufacturer’s specifications. Make sure it looks just like the pictures of the old one, and once everything seems fine, it’s time for the final step.

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IMAGE SOURCE: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-fixing-vehicle-engine-2244746/

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Take It for a Drive 

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Once you’ve done it all, it’s time to take the car for a nice drive down the road. Put your foot on the pedal and see how the car is reacting. If no lights are going off, if the noises stopped, and your performance is better than ever, then congratulations, you’ve successfully replaced it, and now you can enjoy the sweet taste of victory.

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All in all, it’s not that hard once you know how to do it. Best of luck and enjoy the process, you’ll see results in no time, saving money and having some fun while doing it.

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