Just hit 500 brake jobs last week and my knees are done

I never kept count before but I added up my old work orders and realized I've done over 500 brake jobs in 12 years. That's a lot of time hunched over calipers and rotors in a cold shop in Detroit. My lower back and knees are really feeling it now, especially on the heavy truck stuff. Anyone else ever add up how many of one job they've done and feel old?

3 comments

3 Comments

kellygrant13d ago

After a while your body just starts to remind you of every single one of those jobs. I picked up a rolling mechanics stool with a thick padded seat a few years ago and it made a world of difference for my knees and lower back. It lets me scoot under the car easily and sit upright without hunching. @brookeellis your neighbor Chuck had the right idea with the bucket and foam pad. Sometimes the simple homemade fixes work just as good as the expensive shop stuff. It is a rough road once you hit that many brake jobs though.

scott.olivia13d ago

You tried using one of those mechanics creepers with the padded headrest? That saved my lower back big time.

brookeellis13d ago

My neighbor Chuck swore by a bucket he sat on with a foam pad taped to it.