Off-topic stuff…

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Hello! I have a rather off topic question. I’m looking for a reasonable opinion so I can help my mom make a decision.

We have a 2001 F-150 Lariat 4x4, with a 5.4 Triton V8, it’s nearing 300k miles but the rear diff is giving up on it.

During the snow I was taking somebody to work when it started, the rear wheel locked up and slid into a roundabout and just gently bumped the curb. That was the worst time but it makes a bad grinding sound and will lock “softly” randomly, if in motion.

The question is this. Is it worth fixing? Or should I help her try and sell it?
Pretty sure that's a standard 8.8 rear end, so they're a dime a dozen. I wouldn't spend much, but if you're handy and if it's not too rusty, spending a few hundred bucks for an axle assembly in the junk yard might make sense. Beyond that, I'm not sure it's worth sourcing new parts and paying someone to do it, especially if an axle tube is potentially bent.
 
Pretty sure that's a standard 8.8 rear end, so they're a dime a dozen. I wouldn't spend much, but if you're handy and if it's not too rusty, spending a few hundred bucks for an axle assembly in the junk yard might make sense. Beyond that, I'm not sure it's worth sourcing new parts and paying someone to do it, especially if an axle tube is potentially bent.

If the axle is just stopping "randomly", it sounds like the ring and pinion might be missing some teeth/not meshing correctly. A shop should be able to rebuild it. I haven't checked pricing lately, but back in the day (20 years ago) it was like $500-1000 for new ring/pinion + labor to install (its technically easy to do, but getting the gear lash correct takes some practice, so most people pay people to do that). Any decent 4x4 shop nearby would be able to do that, and could be worth a phone call to see how much it would cost.

Also, swapping a solid axle is pretty easy to do, and likely cheaper/easier to do than rebuilding the rear end. Just make sure that you get an axle with the same gear ratio as what you have now, otherwise you won't be able to use 4wd (which may or may not be a problem).

I did some axle swaps with a buddy while I was in high school (Scout 2 axles into a CJ5). The upside with these, is that its a leaf spring rear end. Which means its basically as easy as disconnecting the u-bolts holding on the leaf springs, disconnecting the shocks, the driveshaft, and brakes (emergency and normal).

Then its basically swap out the first axle, and put the "new" junkyard one directly into the same place.

Given, axles are heavy, so that could be an issue. But a buddy or two would make it a fairly manageable thing.

This also might make the shop price to do the labor of the swap pretty cheap too, if you could find a shop that was ok with you sourcing the part. Otherwise you'll be left buying an axle at the shop prices, which is likely a lot more expensive.
 
My husband has always wanted a Leica camera, but they are just not in the budget. He got a new iPhone 17 ProMax and we found this. He’s still figuring it out but hey budget Leica! 😹

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Have you see the prices of a Leica? This was a bargain compared to a Leica body and lenses.
This. Leica is... not cheap.

As a side note (as this is off topic).

Man, gas prices. Not that I "care" tons, because we're on a PHEV, and full EV for our primary driving. But, just been keeping an eye on it because its interesting.

I gassed up on February 27th before I went snow camping in the Jeep. I think I paid $3.70/gallon at the cheapest place locally. I picked up a buddy and his family from the airport on Tuesday night. Gas was $4.85 a gallon. Today the same place, is $4.99. So in under 3 weeks, its gone up $1.30/gallon.

And thats the cheap place in town. Other places are $5.30-5.50. Although I know that other states have higher prices. So this is more of a "wow, its gone up" statement than it is a "complaining that the prices here are the worst".

I'm greatful to be in a spot where it doesn't really impact us (EV, and WFH), but man, its gone up quickly!
 
This. Leica is... not cheap.

As a side note (as this is off topic).

Man, gas prices. Not that I "care" tons, because we're on a PHEV, and full EV for our primary driving. But, just been keeping an eye on it because its interesting.

I gassed up on February 27th before I went snow camping in the Jeep. I think I paid $3.70/gallon at the cheapest place locally. I picked up a buddy and his family from the airport on Tuesday night. Gas was $4.85 a gallon. Today the same place, is $4.99. So in under 3 weeks, its gone up $1.30/gallon.

And thats the cheap place in town. Other places are $5.30-5.50. Although I know that other states have higher prices. So this is more of a "wow, its gone up" statement than it is a "complaining that the prices here are the worst".

I'm greatful to be in a spot where it doesn't really impact us (EV, and WFH), but man, its gone up quickly!
Exactly. My daughter put $65 in her 4Runner in SoCal and it was barely half a tank. It’s just terrible.
 
I’m sure but I suspect, like binoculars the clarity of the lenses and the processing and shutters, etc. are what make the camera so desirable
My husband says precision. The issue with cameras is it’s not the camera body cost it’s the lenses and some of those Leica lenses are $10,000 and up. Unless I can monetize my Scout pictures somehow I don’t think that’s feasible. 😹
 
My husband says precision. The issue with cameras is it’s not the camera body cost it’s the lenses and some of those Leica lenses are $10,000 and up. Unless I can monetize my Scout pictures somehow I don’t think that’s feasible. 😹
My good friend mostly shoots with his older Leica, and man, that thing is DENSE. It's like holding a lead ingot in your hand compared to most cameras, but every movement reminds you of a fine Swiss time piece. I don't know crap about cameras, but it simply felt really good in my hands.
 
My good friend mostly shoots with his older Leica, and man, that thing is DENSE. It's like holding a lead ingot in your hand compared to most cameras, but every movement reminds you of a fine Swiss time piece. I don't know crap about cameras, but it simply felt really good in my hands.
That’s my husband dream someday. If we ever won the lottery that would be one of the first things he bought.
 
This. Leica is... not cheap.

As a side note (as this is off topic).

Man, gas prices. Not that I "care" tons, because we're on a PHEV, and full EV for our primary driving. But, just been keeping an eye on it because its interesting.

I gassed up on February 27th before I went snow camping in the Jeep. I think I paid $3.70/gallon at the cheapest place locally. I picked up a buddy and his family from the airport on Tuesday night. Gas was $4.85 a gallon. Today the same place, is $4.99. So in under 3 weeks, its gone up $1.30/gallon.

And thats the cheap place in town. Other places are $5.30-5.50. Although I know that other states have higher prices. So this is more of a "wow, its gone up" statement than it is a "complaining that the prices here are the worst".

I'm greatful to be in a spot where it doesn't really impact us (EV, and WFH), but man, its gone up quickly!
It's around $3.99 where I am, we managed to fill up our Kia Telluride when it was $3.36 which was still pretty high at the time. Thankfully we can mostly use my Tesla for shopping/commuting so we can make each tank of gas last a long time so it thankfully has less impact for us.
 
It's around $3.99 where I am, we managed to fill up our Kia Telluride when it was $3.36 which was still pretty high at the time. Thankfully we can mostly use my Tesla for shopping/commuting so we can make each tank of gas last a long time so it thankfully has less impact for us.
Same for me by the Lancaster airport. Guessing we will be over $4 in the county by end of next week. I read where the current impacts haven’t even affected the pumps yet so it will keep going up
 
Spring is coming. Around the Midwest that means time to burn the prairie grass. I’ve been here almost 11 years and I’m still not used to smelling that much smoke in town. It’s just weird.
 
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I hadn’t either till I moved here. They put up those digital traffic signs with the dates the burn will be. They also burn the corn fields before it’s time to plant. None of that happens where I came from in SoCal.
Anyone who’s lived in or near an ag area will know all about this.