[Mark]

Just a quick show of what it looked like in the trunk and the spring clip area

Attachments:

• 20150816_154931.jpg
• 20150822_081709.jpg

[Mark]

I replaced both shocks and the trunk is beautiful now, just like new. It’s amazing that those little buggers
can hold up a heavy weight like that.

The shocks themselves are quite expensive but it was worth it in the end. $35 a piece

The one thing I found that was hard to gleen from many of the video’s I watched was that my shocks used
a “spring” type clip. It was not as easy as shown to loosen them and it took some practice. Once I found out
then it was easy.

You basically just need to get a small screwdriver or a hook type tool. You get that spring to move just enough
but you have to pull the shock at the same time.. there are two “V” shape angles .. like pinchers that hook onto the
ball that it’s set into.. so once you move the spring it will come out… There is no need to remove the entire spring ..
I removed it for the first two.. not knowing ..but figured it out for the back two (mostly no choice due to being set so
far back).

Should take about 10 minutes to swap and all you need is a small pocket flat blade screwdriver as long as you
can afford to pay for the shocks.

I’m posting the pictures in that area of the site.

[Mark]

Thank you Fopeano, that’s great feedback. just wanted to make sure.

My wife and I have had our heads hit multiple times by that trunk so I’ll give it a shot.
I have one other repair I’m doing to the power window so I’m going to take pictures of both
and post it into the repair forum on EricTheCarGuy so maybe it’ll help someone else down the
road.

Thanks for the quick feedback!

[Mark]

Wow, great tip. Ok that’s a good one for me to check out.

I usually read up, watch Eric’s video’s and google search during the week
and this is my weekend project.

I’ll Do the rear brake check next weekend and save the fluid change for the
following.

Thanks richiepearce and everyone.

[Mark]

Wow, great tip. Ok that’s a good one for me to check out.

I usually read up, watch Eric’s video’s and google search during the week
and this is my weekend project.

I’ll Do the rear brake check next weekend and save the fluid change for the
following.

Thanks richiepearce and everyone.

[Mark]

That’s what I feel on my brakes.. it doesn’t go close to the floor at all.
It’s like a softer touch.

I’d compare it to almost pressure you have to apply before you get a firm stop.

I took a look around the matrix today and the rear brakes are drum brakes and
on my wife’s car (a passat) all four have pads. So on the passat it takes
a small amount of pressure to get a firm stop. On the matrix it takes abit more
pedal to get it to a hard stop.

When the pads were worn the pedal would go down further than it does now.
Based on items I’m reading the drum brakes do not get used much so they should be
fine I suspect. I’ve had that car about 6 years, I could try to see if there’s
any air at all in the lines but I don’t know if it’s worth it.

[Mark]

That’s what I feel on my brakes.. it doesn’t go close to the floor at all.
It’s like a softer touch.

I’d compare it to almost pressure you have to apply before you get a firm stop.

I took a look around the matrix today and the rear brakes are drum brakes and
on my wife’s car (a passat) all four have pads. So on the passat it takes
a small amount of pressure to get a firm stop. On the matrix it takes abit more
pedal to get it to a hard stop.

When the pads were worn the pedal would go down further than it does now.
Based on items I’m reading the drum brakes do not get used much so they should be
fine I suspect. I’ve had that car about 6 years, I could try to see if there’s
any air at all in the lines but I don’t know if it’s worth it.

[Mark]

Appreciate the good words. This experience and the group here help us alot in
more ways than saving money and having a safer car, but making us more confident
with our automobiles.

[Mark]

Appreciate the good words. This experience and the group here help us alot in
more ways than saving money and having a safer car, but making us more confident
with our automobiles.

[Mark]

After I got your message, I kind of sat back and thought, you’re right!
My wife and I took it for a test drive. She drove first, and I drove next.
We were out for a drive in her car and we both drove so we had something to
kind of think about to compare it with.

I guess both of us think it’s slightly better. I feel it stops better however
it would be good if the pedal we abit firmer. I almost thought I should check
to see if there was any air in the lines? Any thoughts are welcome. I guess
we’re happy with it but if there’s something more we can do to tighten it up, let
me know.

-Mark

[Mark]

After I got your message, I kind of sat back and thought, you’re right!
My wife and I took it for a test drive. She drove first, and I drove next.
We were out for a drive in her car and we both drove so we had something to
kind of think about to compare it with.

I guess both of us think it’s slightly better. I feel it stops better however
it would be good if the pedal we abit firmer. I almost thought I should check
to see if there was any air in the lines? Any thoughts are welcome. I guess
we’re happy with it but if there’s something more we can do to tighten it up, let
me know.

-Mark

[Mark]

Yes the new pump works like a champ no issues.

As one person mentioned, on the one picture it was probably just condensation
out of the tail pipe connection .. so just an exhaust leak there that could
be tightened up.

I learned quite quite abit and the wife is proud that I took this on and got
it working and saved the family’s budget. I did lots of research and went to
the library, online and of course here for advice and information.

Next time I have a problem I’ll be more confident on solving it myself – but
as always with research and information before I dive in.

The biggest thing with the fuel pump I think was the question of whether to drop
the tank of not.. I got lucky on this one where it pulled out the top, that’s
pretty rare I think.. but hey I’ll take it 🙂

Thanks again guys

[Mark]

Yes the new pump works like a champ no issues.

As one person mentioned, on the one picture it was probably just condensation
out of the tail pipe connection .. so just an exhaust leak there that could
be tightened up.

I learned quite quite abit and the wife is proud that I took this on and got
it working and saved the family’s budget. I did lots of research and went to
the library, online and of course here for advice and information.

Next time I have a problem I’ll be more confident on solving it myself – but
as always with research and information before I dive in.

The biggest thing with the fuel pump I think was the question of whether to drop
the tank of not.. I got lucky on this one where it pulled out the top, that’s
pretty rare I think.. but hey I’ll take it 🙂

Thanks again guys

[Mark]

images 16-17 of the project

Attachments:

• 1998_merc_mystique_16.jpg
• 1998_merc_mystique_17.jpg

[Mark]

images 16-17 of the project

Attachments:

• 1998_merc_mystique_16.jpg
• 1998_merc_mystique_17.jpg

[Author]

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