Scheduled maintenance

[TodFitch]

Coming back from a couple of errands today I noticed that my '33 is ready to turn over another 1,000 miles, so it is time for the next scheduled maintenance.

 

For years I didn't bother with doing scheduled maintenance on a formal basis. Sure, I checked the mileage and changed the oil. But I didn't worry about all the other stuff in the manual as I was tinkering enough with the car that I felt that I got everything greased and checked often enough to avoid unnecessary wear and/or caught failure ready parts before they failed.

 

But one day a couple of years ago I realized there are some tasks I just don't feel like doing, so they weren't getting done. One example of that is pulling all the brake and clutch springs and the lower transmission rest/frame cross member so I can remove the flywheel dust cover and grease the throwout bearing.

 

So now I am on a formal scheduled maintenance regimen and am wondering what what everyone else does?

[greg g]

We are cursed with an annual vehicle safety program.  When I take my car in in September, I have it greased, check the trans and diff lube, check out the U joints, and look for obvious problems.  The check requires that w wheel be pulled to check brake condition, front end pieces and parts are checked.  I put beween 2500 to 3500 miles a summer so some things are ahead of schedule and some a little behind.  Before  go I usually drop in a new oil filter element and have the oil changed.  I do this at the dealership I work at and get a good look at stuff while the car is on the lift.

 

With our trip coming up this weekend, I will be checking the oil, the battery, the belt and hoses, the coolant level and tire pressures.  Probably will put on about 600 miles so a quick look before hand can't hurt. 

Edited July 9, 2014 by greg g

[Dodgeb4ya]

Do they pull the rear drums to check rear brakes too?

[Plymouthy Adams]

Do they pull the rear drums to check rear brakes too?

doubt they will go to that trouble if their inspection program is like most others I have known...the small labor fee the state mandates for the inspection does not allow a very in depth inspection...quick glance at the most obvious...and then there is the good ole boy systems where x cars should be off the road and is not and x cars are pinged for repairs that may not be needed just so the owner can get that sticker on the windshield...I was among the first that got a state vehicle inspection license for our state many many years ago..by design it is a good program..it does weed a few cars not fit of duty off the highway..

[Joe Flanagan]

Pulling the flywheel cover and clutch and brake springs is not something I would feel like doing, either. I'm faithful with oil changes but don't pay as much attention as I should to the other things. 

[greg g]

Do they pull the rear drums to check rear brakes too?

They do on modern cars.  On the oldies with drums they follow the "If the fronts are good most likely the rears are too" school of judging wear.......They do do a quick test drive to see if things are kosher also.