Shoota_77

Yeah @ Shepparton Volkswagen and Audi.

I've got an SQ7 on a boat docking in a few weeks. Not far from Albury to Shepparton.....

Ha ha. Having started my apprencticeship doing valve clearances on Holden Rodeo's I do tend to agree on old (ie Toyota) technology engines. I forget all my hate when you see what a modern one can do. We've delivered 3 Audi SQ7's this year with the 320kW 900Nm diesel V8 in them. Now THAT is a diesel engine it's hard to hate on! Sounds good, goes good and surprisingly good fuel efficiency if you realise the throttle isn't an on/off switch.....

Ha ha, it's not the oil you have to worry about. Some of them get so bad you don't need an exhaust as most of it just comes out passed the injector and through the valve cover!

How many sets of injector seals did you do in the Q7? They chew through them like lollies in the older generation!

Ha ha, yeah enough is never enough!

God don't get me started on the most overrated, under-performing brand on the planet.... I congratulate Toyota on convincing people that being reliable at the expense of making their vehicles capable is preferable. Marketing brilliance. But as you say, each to their own. I'll take the risk that I might have one visit to the workshop now and then (but probably not) to be able to drive a vehicle that puts a smile on my face! Reliable = boring. That's why we all love Skylines!

My last comment on this so I don't block Fatz' post with non related merde but what I was alluding to was that you can't write something off without actually knowing all about it first. Disclaimer - I work for a VW dealership so I'm biased as hell but I bought one myself as they're amazing. Is it as comfy as a Patrol? Possibly not. Does it ride better than every other ute on the market? Yes. Can I drive it like a car? Yes. Does it have the features of a Ranger? No. I get 16-17L/100km when towing the van (2.75T). I bought it hoping it would be towing my car to Winton on the regular but that kinda hasn't eventuated yet. Ok, I'm done! (see me for great VW deals ).

You are a smart man. You, not so much.... The Amarok V6(having the same donk as the Q7) is insanely good to tow with. Our van is 2750kg and the Amarok still pulls like a beast with it on the back.

PM’d back, will have a look tonight if it’s not too cold to venture out to the shed!

Pretty sure I might have a spare one. Will be an old one though.

Holy hell, that's mangled!

Yeah bush was $40, 3rd gear $131. $180 all up delivered from Amayama. That's one snazzy looking workbench!

I ordered a brand new 3rd gear so ordered a new sleeve at the same time. Was only $45 so happy enough with that!

Thats the thing, I eventually got it to move but then it bound up again and broke 2 more things after moving forward 5 or 6mm. The initial 'lock' or binding was broken.

No, I used hydraulic pullers. The strain on them was insane! Theres no way the 3 pins would stand up to that amount of strain.

Ok so I know those bushes are tight but f♡ck me mine was tight! So it sheared off two lots of my studs, snapped the tip off a puller arm, ripped off one of the 8mm thick metal chunks I welded to it to pull off and then finally snapped off an 8mm stud in my bearing puller. There's no way that was normal tight! I didn't take many photos as I was too busy welding, pulling, braking shit, grinding and swearing my arse off to stop and take photos! In the end I just went f♡ck it and cut the f♡cker off as the counter shaft is bin worthy only anyway. Man what a bloody mission that was! Be interesting to see how difficult the one in my other box that is donating the counter shaft is. Hopefully I don't have to cut that one off... Right @BK what's the next step in the no press dismantle process? Does it involve a piece of wood and some heavy down force? Anyone got a cheap no crunch gearbox i can just check in....?

Hmmmm, I like the concept! I might have a quick crack at that before going the bigger bolt option. Might be too late now that I’ve already cut/ground off the 8mm nuts. If I can’t resurrect it from here then I’ll have no choice but to go the bigger bolt option. You triggered some ideas in my dull brain but we’ll see if they go anywhere. Cheers for the inspiration! ?

Finished off the puller. It certainly didn't end up pretty but its super strong. And the results? Failure! Unfortunately even though the bolts are 13.9 high tensile the still sheared off. I've cut off the 8mm nuts off and I'll drill them out bigger so I can up them to 10mm. I thought the 8mm would be strong enough but no... I'm hoping the bigger bolts will be harder even though the size will still be 5mm. I think I might get them properly necked down on a lathe as my method is weakening them. If that fails I give up! ?

Thanks for your offers @BK. Your dad looks thrilled! Tool is coming along. Made up a plastic mock up to start with. I'll let the pictures do the talking for the rest! Hopefully finish it off tomorrow and test it out!

Ok so Project "Waste More Time" is underway... Got the high tensile bolts for the puller today. Don't have a lathe so whipped out the poor man's version ?. Never tried it before but seems to do the trick! I kept the verniers handy to monitor the size as i went and then finished them off with a flat file to get as close to the 5mm hole size in the sleeve as possible. Once I've made the puller section I'll grind the tips to the perfect length (3.85mm) so the necked down section is as short as it can be to make it as strong as possible. Feel free to let me know if posting this stuff is boring as bat shit. Its not very car related at the moment. I've got thick skin so you won't offend me!

Raised? Rooted?

Hopefully it doesn’t become 4” of oil holding sumpness....

Vids for proof.

Thanks for the offer @BK. I'll give my tool a go.... (that sounds suss...). If its a massive fail I'll cave in and might just take you up on the offer!