Do you like to rebuild everything? If so, please come inside.

[westn11]

First off, I'm the kind of person who likes to at least TRY and rebuild anything on my truck. I'm not just talking about motor, trans, gears, etc. Thats old news I'm talking about anything that can wear out. So my question is:

Does anyone have experience rebuilding the following? If so, please let us know how it went, who got parts from, etc?
Master Cylinder
Hydroboost
PS Pump
Alternator
?? others ??

I understand that many times its easier and not worth the hassle to do things yourself. However, sometimes its fun to buy some o-rings and see what happens

 

[dyeager535]

Master cylinders not worth it unless you have the parts or the rebuilt version is very expensive. You HAVE to hone the bores out, most don't have hones that are the right size. Kits are easy to come by for common ones, but usually at best half the cost of a rebuilt unit.

No clue on hydroboost....that may be worthwhile, but may take some special tools to do right?

PS pump is pretty easy from what I've heard, others may comment. Think it's only two o-rings or something unless hard parts are bad, which is uncommon if the pump wasn't run dry. Removing the pulley needs a special puller, that's the worst I've heard people talk about.

Alternator is by far the easiest you've listed, if it's a 10/12SI. Haven't pulled apart a CS130/144 so can't comment on those. Rebuild kit for a 10/12 is less than $20 usually, add a bearing still under $25. Takes more time to pull and install one than it does to rebuild once you've done the first one. However, if you've got a bad 10/12SI, unless you are broke, convert to a CS, as they are better units all around IMO. Even with a fairly stock electrical load (like my truck) a 78 amp 12SI is not good at idle.

 

[westn11]

I didnt realize that a master cylinder requires boring. By looking at one, it looks like you can throw some o-rings inside it and be down the road :-) I guess they get grooves worn against the inside bore?

 

[tacoma]

Anything with a piston in it will wear grooves in the bore, when it wears.

Power steering pumps are easy. Power steering boxes aren't much harder, just messy and the balls can be a pain in the ass to keep straight. CAN BE, not ARE.

Steering columns are fun if you don't have the manual to look at. I rebuilt my first one in a parking lot with NONE of the right tools, and it was interesting to say the least.

 

[big dan]

yeah most of the time master cylinders dont cost much more than the rebuild kits. same with things like wheel cylinders, reman cylinder is about $10 and a rebuild kit is $6.

you also didnt mention starters. Ive rebuilt a couple of them and they are pretty simple.

 

[westn11]

Starter.. yeah, I forgot about that one. Did you follow a manual? Where did you get parts from?

 

[big dan]

I got my parts from a local parts store, they keep most of them in stock like solenoid, starter drive and brushes. didnt follow a manual. I actually learned everything from people on this site.

 

[supersize75k5]

ive just started buying items with life time free replacement warranty. I rarely work on the projects so taking time to rebuild things takes the fun out of the time I do spend working on it.


the two items listed that do interest me though are the starter and alternator. Steering parts are messy and frustrating and I just went down this road last week and learned my lesson.

 

[original balzer]

I would like to rebuild my SM465 and NP205 the trans pops out of third witch I have been told is an easy fix. The transfer case I would like to twin stick and convert to fixed rear yoke. The way I figure it while Im in there I may as well replace any other worn out parts. It would be a good garage project over the winter, since my truck wont fit in the garage.

I dont know if theres any tricks or cool mods so much as just fresh parts.

 

[GsxrMike]

I wouldn't want to "try" anything with my master cylinder because if I was wrong I might not be able to stop. Yikes!

 

[FOR MUD]

I didnt realize that a master cylinder requires boring. By looking at one, it looks like you can throw some o-rings inside it and be down the road :-) I guess they get grooves worn against the inside bore?

Alot of the time you will find there pitted and cant be honed.

 

[dyeager535]

At best, they build up crud and corrosion past where the piston seals NORMALLY ride, since the pedal doesn't push them very far once installed and bled. When you go to install and bleed an old master, you force the pistons into the crud, pits, corrosion, whatever, which tears them, which means leaking seals and a failed master. This is why previously good master cylinders seem to go bad frequently after re-installing and bleeding them, and why it's a good idea to simply replace them when messing with the brake system. Might get lucky, might not.