Does anybody actually repair any thing or is it all "BUY A NEW ONE"? What kind of advice is that? Why bother asking how to repair if your told "REPLACE IT WITH A NEW ONE" . Some can not afford to run out and buy new crap at will and want to repair what they have. I have seen so many times someone ask how to make a repair and they are told its not worth it buy a new one. Cake decorators give that kind of advice. Rant over

 

It used to be relatively easy to find find things like alternator brushes, starter solenoids and brush kits, master cylinder rebuild kits, and the other supplies and tools to actually repair things. It has become really difficult in the past 10 or so years to find those kind of items, making unit repairs a bit more of a challenge. Parts stores have become much more generic, franchised, and are less capable/helpful. Try finding a parts store to turn a flywheel or brake rotor, or to true/mill a head. Those are becoming very difficult to find as well. Cheap imports, a less skilled labor force, and the internet culture are partly to blame. The "expert" MBAs from Harvard and their cookie-cutter business models also earn a large part of the blame.

 

Depends on the part. I'm not going to 'repair' a seized brake caliper when a new one is $20, but I might try to repair a part that's no longer available at OEM quality because I want the best stuff I can get. If you can't afford the rock bottom prices of 80's GM partsbin cars, I'd suggest you can't afford hobby cars. Perhaps a side hustle decorating cakes could sort that out for you, though.

 

I have been offering "Bench Service"/ Component Rebuilding for GM Vehicles for the past 12+ Years.
We are a Complete GM Power-Train Business...
So we design and build (and rebuild of course) Engines, Transmissions, Transfer-Cases, and Differentials...
as well as Complete Engine Management Systems and Power Distribution Systems.
Everything is from scratch! we do not offer Crate Items.

Some stuff is still popular in terms of rebuilding:
-Turbochargers.
-Saginaw Power Steering Pumps.
-Hydro-Boost Power Brake Boosters.
-EFI Tank Units (Pump and Sending Unit).
-Various Distributors.
-Various Carburetors.

We rebuild so much more, but almost no one goes this route... since Chinese replacements are so cheap:
-Alternators.
-Starter Motors.
-Master Cylinders.
-Vacuum Power Brake Boosters.
-Brake Calipers.
-Wheel Cylinders.
-Clutch Master Cylinders.
-Clutch Slave Cylinders.
-Hydraulic Throw-out Bearings.
-Anti-Lock Brake Pump/ Motor and Distribution Manifold Assemblies.
-Encoder Motors.
-TBI Units.
-Throttle-Bodies.
-Various Electric Pumps.
-Various Mechanical Pumps.
-Differential Carriers.
-Steering Gears (Boxes).
-Steering Gears (Rack and Pinion).
-Etc.

Sometimes I get request for Electronics and Printed Circuit Board repairs... but not often.

 

I believe that I am actually going to rebuild GM/ ACDelco AD230 and AD244 Alternators again.

Most all the Vehicles that we install complete Power-Train Systems in, end up needing a 200A or higher output Alternator.
Instead of ONLY purchasing very expensive Billet Case high output Alternators...
I am going to rebuild and modify a ton of Alternator Cores, and sell them as high output Alternators.

In addition to a proper rebuild/ restoration...
Modify the configuration of the Windings, and install new Diodes...
Doubling the Amperage/ output...
Now you have an inexpensive option for a high output Alternator!


Now a set of Armature Pliers and a Soldering iron can have some value again!

 

Do you have an Armature "Growler"? I learned how to use one when I was in High School, working part time in a tool repair store.

 

I have 3 actually (1 in working order, and the other 2 are in a state of forever being rebuilt) and they are all at least 45+ Years Old.
Having one of these working is absolutely necessary for Starter Motor and Generator Armature Repair/ Reman./ Rebuilding.


Actually... on that note, a significant amount of my Equipment/ Machinery are quite old...
I guess I'll need to use the famous quote: "They don't make 'em like they used to."

 

Don't know if ^^^^this was intended to be rhetorical; here's my 2c:

To rebuild or simply replace depends on 1) the person in question's level of mechanical/electrical skill, and 2) the availability of good quality repair components. For myself, I'd much rather rebuild a unit than replace it with a ****-poor-quality replacement, most of which now come from some back-alley chinese sweatshop. For myself, the question remains whether or not the repair parts were made in the US or in that same chinese sweatshop.

Back in the day, an alternator, for example, would usually require only new bearings and brushes to be put right back into service, and even regulator modules and diodes were easily obtained, and were OEM or equivalent. These days, not so much.

 

I bought a box of china made, LED household lightbulbs, yesterday. Three of the four were bad, out of the box.

The house I bought new, in 1996, still has many original, USA made, incandescent light bulbs, in the recessed lamp fixtures!

 

I've long believed one of the ways China undercuts the price of our domestically produced products is that they do no "quality control" whatsoever, and let we the consumers weed out their "factory defects". I've seen time and again where products (LED lightbulbs, in fact) with the same "lot numbers" are no good right out of the box whereas the same exact product but with different lot numbers all work fine. If they have a bad day at the factory there is no "in house" catching of the problem, it's us consumers who end up weeding through the failures to find one that actually works. Obviously it works for them, and it must be cheaper for them to replace countless defective products VS running any kinds of actual quality control program, so I guess it's the price we pay for getting our stuff at the cheapest possible price.......

 

Sad but true, growing up on a ranch we could not go to town any old time. If we broke some thing you made repairs with what you had or did without. Maybe I just never changed.

 

Impressive and I really mean that, you are one of very few.

 

Perhaps you would walk the 50 miles into town to buy your 20.00 part. I would just fix it. Ever wonder why farms and ranches have a bone yard ?

 

No, I'd click a button on summit and get it in 3 days while I drive my winter rig wherever I need to go. Being 50 miles from a parts store is not a wise choice when relying on a 30+ year old car as your sole means of transportation. Although if I were in possession of said curiously isolated farm / ranch, I would certainly be looking to leverage my copious resources to repair things where possible.

 

That is very kind of you to say.

Most appreciated!

 

It really is a multifaceted Problem.

I agree with you completely...
and in addition, part of the blame is on Us.

Many Americans will not spend a little more money per Part, for an American Part.
They would rather save every penny possible.

It also seems that most of our Youth, has little to no interest, in being hands-on/ learning to fix or repair anything.
They just want everything done for them... they feel that they are entitled to it.

We need to get our people to have pride in our Country, and support it.
...Buy American, and teach our youth to keep American Cars on the road.

 

I'm about to spend $225 to buy the whole hatch pull-down setup. I'm no electrician and ive spent 8 days trying to get it working, so that's my solution.