I turned in my 2012 Honda civic lease car yesterday and decided to keep my 2001 Monte LS with 130,000 miles on it. I have been driving it all winter without any issues. This car served my daughter well for 3.5 years. So I'll run it for a while and save some cash. This forum helps a lot with maintaining and troubleshooting that is needed for our Monte's.

Thanks all!

 

Yay Congrats on keeping your Monte!!!!

 

Glad to hear you're keeping your Monte. That means no car payment to.

 

Congrats on keeping the monte

 

No payments are a nice deal! I bought a few parts from rock auto.com. 1st is the intermediate steering shaft, 2nd Monroe strut assy for the front. They sell for $102 per side and have a visa check card reimbursement for $90 when you buy a pair.

I also bought a wheel bearing for the passenger front from Amazon. It's a Detroit axle and it was $34.49 free shipping.

Everything will be here next week, if the weather permits I'll do it all next weekend.

 

I will never get rid of mine. I'll buy another one but never will I part with my intimidator.

 

I installed the wheel bearing on the front passenger side. All went well except for one of the 3 bolts that mount the bearing was a pain to get off. It required PB blast and baby steps with a breaker bar, it almost rounded the head off the bolt. I had to get a new bolt. It's done!

On doing the job, I noticed the boot for my ball joint has a tear in it. I replaced that control arm 3 years ago, so ill just do the ball joint when I do the struts and intermediate steering shaft.

I read the rebate on the struts and I must buy 4 to get the $90 visa card, O well I have a bad strut and needed to replace it anyways.

 

I will get rid of mine if I ever get two enjoy

 

I put the intermediate steering shaft in today and took it for a ride. It's so nice not feeling a clunk or notchy steering anymore.

I also bought a mig welder from harbor freight to weld in some sheet metal rocker panels that I had made at work. This will be my first attempt on body work. It is pretty crusty along the rockets.

 

Just take it slow and talk to somebody who knows how to do it first. That's all I can say. I made a bit of a mess on the back of my truck which I need to have fixed this summer (probably when I replace the spoiler).

And I was too proud to ask my friend for help (who works in his dad's body shop).