mountaindew01

I have been doing a lot of self maintenance on cars for years, things like installing car stereo, taking out interior, very independent fixer, I can take anything apart and feel reliable putting it back together, was like that with toys when I was younger, RC cars and computers when I got older from 14-29, and I've done my fair share of mechanic work, but We just got this 2000 F150 XLT 2wd (V6) from my wife's dad, it was free, he wanted to give us a work truck, its got 160k on the odometer, he gave us a autotire diagnostics report and we were trying to figure out if its cheaper and/or more reliable to get this from a dealer or what I can/should do myself.

The parts list are as follows, it says


2 Brake rotors FR/LR
2 Calipers
1 brake hose
2 ball joints (upper and lower on both sides)
1 Idler Arm
2 stabilizer links
1 camshaft sensor (it said the error code was P0340) - Camshaft Position Sensor Malfunction.


So what I ask is, I'm pretty self confident I can do this but I wanted some support here on what's best/cheapest. we've only got about a 1k budget for this truck at the moment. From what I saw they were charging alot for the parts... but I know the dealer will be that much more... and I have no idea what kind of mom and pop shops around here would be willing to put the brakes on if I got the parts, same with the stabilizer links/idler arm etc.

They wanted... 40 per rotor. 103+120 labor for the balljoint and 60+60labor for the other one, + 2x 60 $ R&R rotor (guessing that means repair and replace fee) then 40 per caliper. Thing is... I Called the dealer, some of it was more and some of it was less but they both totaled out to be around 1400 for everything, that sounds a bit high to me, the dealer wanted 200 labor for the camshaft sensor + 130 for the part. Where Autotire only wanted 129.99 + 102 labor... Just trying to figure out where would be a good place to look to get work done, I'd rather not goto those places like meineke or midas, those places charge an arm and a leg.

But if any of you can direct me or lead me in the direction that would be the best, that'd be a great help (we've got a max of 1,200 to spend at this time)


Thanks =)

Oh note, the only brake work I've ever done is I took the calipers out of my 94 maxima and repainted them and replaced the front rotors (I've heard the F150's have a weird tricky caliper) and I replaced a rotor and caliper on a 89 mustang GT and bled the brake line for a bit when I was younger and helped my brother.

I mean this is brakes + other work, I trust myself but then again, it's brakes, and if something happened, I'd rather the dealer be liable if something did go wrong.


Also, completely off topic (if any of you that know enough will know if this can work or not) what is needed to eventually do a complete swap from the V6 in the XLT to the 5.2 v8? we were thinking since it was free, we saw that a whole motor + trans + flywheel and its assembly would be no more than 5k ish total after labor (new parts), It's worth it since the truck was free and we'll be putting this much into it anyways. And since I love the 1999-04 gen F150's we'll be keeping this one for a while. If that's at all possible too let me know. If it's too much of a hassle and it needs multiple weld jobs and redoing motor mounts and what not, then we may or may not worry about it, I just like the v8's.

Joe Rotax

Big difference between installing a stereo and actually working on vehicles.

Nothing in your post is that difficult to do but I'm getting the impression that you don't have the skills/experience for it and should leave it alone - if you could do it with confidence you wouldn't be asking anyone how to go about it.

Not knocking you or anything but if mechanical stuff don't look obvious to you then best not to mess with it.

ChadF

If you have the will and the time you can do it all yourself. Research everything carefully. Get books and watch videos theres a lot of information available.
On the other hand the time you spend trying to learn how to do all this stuff could have been spent working extra hours at your reg job which might make you look very dedicated and help you rise the ladder and eventually make more money.

mountaindew01

Well, in my past (and in the post) I've replaced a few rotors and calipers before, I've installed fuel lines, and I've installed O2 sensors, Intakes, plugs, starters, and 1 alternator in the past. I know enough about cars and how they work, It's just I haven't done brakes that much, I definitely haven't done an Idler arm, or Balljoint, but they are right there anyways, you're pretty much there when you have the rotors/calipers off anyways, the only thing that would make doing balljoints/idler arm easier is having more room than I have to work with (Have to park on the side of the road where I live) I have the confidence, and definitely the will power. I was one of those kids when i was age 6 till now that is interested in how all things work. but like I was saying, the difference is me doing it for 400-500 for everything, or going somewhere and it being 650-700 for the same parts + 600 or more in labor.


but aside from that, any good reputable shops people can point me to that if I do take it there can do it for a reasonable price? I mean places like meineke and autotire and other places (As far as I know) go and make $ off part sales, they don't do just labor sales (me buy the parts and go and have someone else put it in) I mean the guy from meineke tried to talk down to me like I was stupid. I kept telling him, look you want 80 a rotor, and that's for whatever brand you get, I said I can get the lower end of performance rotors for that. He then proceeded to tell me "look, these aren't some Japanese made imported junk rotors that'll fall apart from ebay. I was like uhh... You do know you can get real name brand stuff from there too right? you can get a whole brembo brake kit from there if you wanted too. "He's like that stuff is all fake". (It's only fake if you're dumb enough to not know what you're getting from the start...) Moral of the story, Id rather not take my truck where someone thinks they can play me for a fool on entry, I'm not dumb. I've just never done it on an F150 before. But I'm at the state now since I've never done the links and idler arm, I'd rather take it in for that (and they'll be in there anyways).

The thing that upsets me about those types of places tho. They want 2 hours labor for doing each balljoints x2 (so 4 hours labor total) 450 some odd dollars. Because that's their set rate, but that's stupid, because they would be right there anyways, after you've taken the tire off, and the rotor, and the caliper and what-not you're already almost there. So, where can I take it that wont charge me set labor like that?


Thanks, Glad to be here at the F150 forums!


Edit: I did have another question in that post too, so if I buy a motor/trans (brand new, 0 miles) trans/v8 (that properly fit each other) how much work extra would be needed to the truck to make the 5.2l v8 + trans fit into the current V6 model (2000 F150 XLT) anything specific? or is it just drop-in install and go.

f-one50

I would say if you think you can do some of it go for it. Personally I hate when other people work on my truck. But then again these newer trucks and cars aren't what they used to be. I would say do the brakes yourself save your self some money one repairs brakes are a pretty easy job.

picaflor

you can get a hanes manual for $25 and tackle most of that job by yourself. it wont be that hard.