The victory first:
I was able to extract two of the stuck spark plug boots using a $5 set of Sears picks and an inspection mirror. It really wasn't that tough. I didn't continue on to the third boot because a quick glance at my watch revealed that it was 12:33AM.
Well, give me a break, I didn't get out to the garage until 11PM because TLC had two new episodes of Junkyard Wars.
The defeat:
I am totally unable to remove my axle nut. I can't even budge it. I had to work at it for some time to even unstake the nut, but having finished that I still can't break the nut free.
So, crap, I guess I'll just have to pay somebody to replace it. I'm pretty bummed because I found a place in Ocala (
www.cvaxles.com) which would rebuild my axle for $55 and ship it back the same day they got it.
It's looking like I won't have my SVX ready for next weekend's trip...although I am going to take the car to a local transmission shop that a friend had luck at. No, I won't tell you the name. You'd freak out. If I were you, I'd freak out.