How to Fix a Car Real Real Good: Your Guide to Automotive Independence

Last week, something unexpected happened to Mr. Money Mustache: his car had a problem. Many people feel helpless when their car malfunctions, immediately thinking of expensive repair shops. But what if you could learn to handle some car issues yourself and save a lot of money? This guide, inspired by a personal experience, will show you how to approach car repairs like a pro, even if you’re a beginner. This isn’t just about saving money; it’s about gaining automotive independence and understanding your vehicle inside and out.

For years, boasting about owning a reliable car and minimizing driving helped keep car maintenance minimal. Simple tasks like yearly oil changes and occasional spark plug or air filter replacements were manageable. Doing these tasks personally was a way to become more familiar with car maintenance.

However, recently, luck changed. Just before a trip to Canada, a humming sound from the back left wheel of the Honda minivan became noticeable. Initially, it was thought to be tire noise, a common issue with older tires. Ignoring it temporarily, a 1500-mile drive was completed.

Upon arriving in Hamilton, time was set aside to visit Costco for new rear tires, combined with grocery shopping. Excitement was high after the new Pirelli P4s were installed. Starting the engine and driving off, however, revealed the roaring sound was still present, just as loud. This indicated a mechanical problem, a new situation. The question arose: how do you fix your car when you don’t know what’s wrong?

Most people would take their car to a service center or dealership, resulting in a repaired car and a hefty bill. These costs can quickly add up, making older car ownership seem expensive and even pushing people towards buying new cars, despite the significant financial downsides.

But there’s another way. What if you could drastically reduce car maintenance costs, say by 75%? Imagine becoming someone who can maintain a 20-year-old car in excellent condition or even profit from buying, maintaining, and reselling used cars.

This is achievable. The goal is to empower you with the techniques for automotive independence. Here’s a guide based on practical experience:

Mr. Money Mustache’s Guide to Automotive Independence

———

1. Diagnose the Problem by Describing Symptoms and Searching Online: The first step in fixing anything is understanding what’s broken. In this case, the symptom was a “noise from rear wheels.” Typing this into Google quickly led to the likely culprit: worn-out wheel bearings. To confirm, a YouTube search for “wheel bearing noise” revealed a video demonstrating the exact sound. Online forums also indicated that professional mechanics typically charge $250-$400 for this repair.

2. Utilize YouTube as Your Mechanic School: Once a potential issue is identified, YouTube becomes an invaluable resource. Searching for “[year] [car model] replace rear wheel bearings” – for example, “1999 Odyssey replace rear wheel bearings” – will likely yield step-by-step video guides. A video from 1aAuto showed the process on a similar van, demonstrating the common practice of replacing the entire “Hub and Bearing assembly” for simplicity and cost-effectiveness. To address specific brake types, a search for “1999 Odyssey drum brakes” (since the initial video showed disc brakes) provided a guide from Eric the Car Guy, highlighting the even simpler procedure for drum brakes as they don’t require caliper removal. YouTube has revolutionized DIY car repair, offering clear visual instructions far superior to traditional shop manuals.

3. Identify and Price the Necessary Parts Online: Search for the specific part needed using terms like “[year] [car model] rear hub and bearing assembly”. This search leads to online auto parts stores like Amazon, revealing part details and price ranges. The identified part, a “1999 Odyssey rear hub and bearing assembly,” was surprisingly affordable at around $40.

4. Purchase the Part from a Reputable Source: If time isn’t critical, ordering parts online, like from Amazon, is convenient and often cheaper. However, when immediate repair is needed, local auto parts stores are the solution. Using Google Maps to locate nearby stores and comparing prices is essential. In this instance, local Hamilton auto parts stores offered varying prices for the same part, ranging from $150 down to $67. Choosing the best-priced option is a smart move.

5. Gather the Required Tools: Video tutorials usually list the necessary tools. For this wheel bearing replacement, the tools included a car jack, jack stands, a standard socket set, a hammer, and a large 36MM socket for the axle nut. The large socket was purchased from Princess Auto, a Canadian equivalent to Harbor Freight, known for affordable tools. Having the right tools makes the job significantly easier and safer.

6. Get Hands-On and Do It Yourself! Car repairs can be more enjoyable and less daunting with a friend’s help. Moral support and extra hands, especially from someone with mechanical experience, can be invaluable. Enlisting a friend like “The Kettle Black” (Nick), with experience maintaining a 30-year-old Toyota, provided both assistance and camaraderie for this project.

With limited equipment (no air compressor for an impact gun and a slightly undersized jack), the repair began. Here’s how it went:

Van jacked up and secured on jack stand for wheel bearing replacement.
The van was safely raised using a jack (left) and secured with a jack stand (right) for stability. With the parking brake engaged, the five lug nuts were removed, and the rear wheel was taken off. This initial step is straightforward.

Showing the new hub and bearing assembly purchased from local auto parts store.
Here’s a look at the new hub and bearing assembly, a key component for fixing the noisy wheel. It’s a surprisingly well-engineered part.

Removing the brake drum after wheel removal for access to the wheel bearing.
Once the wheel is off (top left), the brake drum can be gently pried and wiggled off. Remember to disengage the parking brake for this step! Bonus: this step provides easy access for brake shoe replacement if needed.

The tricky part: Installing the new hub onto the axle required careful alignment and force.
This was the most challenging part. Getting the new hub onto the axle required careful alignment and some force. Grease, gentle tapping, and the axle nut eventually helped to seat it correctly.

Tightening the 36mm spindle nut on the wheel hub assembly with a socket wrench.
Tightening the large 36MM spindle nut using a socket wrench. The specification called for 180 ft-lbs of torque, but without a torque wrench, body weight applied to a one-foot wrench was used to approximate the correct tightness.

A Word of Advice: Patience is Key. First-time repairs often have unexpected challenges. Disassembly went smoothly, but installing the new hub proved difficult. It was a tight fit, requiring precise alignment to avoid jamming on the axle. There was a moment of doubt, wondering if the van would be stuck indefinitely. However, remembering that this repair is commonly done provided reassurance. Using a block of wood and a hammer to gently tap the hub onto the axle, followed by using the axle nut to draw it in fully, eventually resolved the issue.

The satisfaction of driving away in a now quiet and smooth van, knowing a new skill was acquired, was a major highlight. Anticipating future repairs as vehicles age becomes less of a worry and more of an opportunity to learn and grow.

* Car repair costs are often inflated due to markups on parts and high labor rates. Garages often profit significantly on parts, and labor rates can exceed professional salaries when annualized. Mastering DIY car repair can lead to significant savings and even open doors to helping friends and neighbors, potentially creating a lucrative side income or early retirement venture.