Monthly Archives: August 2019
And It Was The Perfect Day For It, Too . . .
Although it rained heavily earlier this morning, it had cleared by the time I was up and about and caffeined. So after I got back from O’Reilly’s with the brake cleaner, I was outside and pulling off the driver side rear wheel by about 10.
Although I had pulled the passenger side wheel the other day to look at the rotor, I started on the other side today because it was opposite the sun, giving me a little shade. Then this afternoon I planned to switch over to the other side, again for the shade.
But as happens, my best-laid plans ‘gang aft a-gley.’
I knew something was up when I noticed that the rotor was in really good shape, and not worn down as the passenger side was.
This what the other rotor looked like.
And when I removed the caliper, and then the brake pads, I found the piston in the caliper was jammed and could not be moved, in or out.
At that point I was done for the day, so I put everything back together and headed inside to see about getting new calipers.
I’m surprised that I couldn’t feel any difference in the braking with one side working and the other side jammed, but since 60-80% of braking is on the front wheels I guess it was just masked. But I never felt any kind of pulling when I braked either.
And checking out Amazon for Rear Brake Calipers, I found something strange. On some vehicles the calipers are the same on both sides, but I have a different one on each side. The right side caliper was $43.51, but the left side one was $63.21. And this is the same model from the same manufacturer. This totaled $106.72.
And this was for remanufactured ones.
So I put in a call to O’Reilly’s to see what they had. And they had a set for $105.98. And these were new ones, too. So I told them to order me a set, and was told they would be in this afternoon.
However when I went to pick them up I was told that the price would be $149.98.
WTH?
But I cooled down when I was told that I would get back $22 each or $44 total when I bring back the old calipers to them. So that gives the $105.98 that I was quoted.
So now I’m pushing all this back to this Saturday, Sunday, or next Tuesday, I guess.
Thought for the Day:
Remember, it’s only a murder if they find the body. Otherwise it’s just a missing person.
asdf
At It Again . . .
I meant to mention this yesterday, but somehow I left it out.
Yesterday was our grandson Landon’s 9th Birthday.
Hard to believe that he’s 9 ready.
I spent this morning before work looking at a YouTube video detailing a rear brake job on my 2004 Dodge Dakota, my Job One for tomorrow. Assuming it doesn’t rain like it did today, but they’re still only showing a 20% chance, so we’ll see.
Then this evening I watched a second one . . . and found out I wish I had watched it first. It’s been 50+ years since I’ve replaced rotors and I forgot about the fact that the rotors come covered in a lubricant to keep them from rusting.
I probably could come up with something to get it off, but I think I’ll make an O’Reilly’s run tomorrow morning for a can of brake cleaner spray before I get started.
I did tell them at work today that I might not be in on Friday if I couldn’t get the truck back together by then. And once I get the brakes apart I’ll have to take an Uber to get more parts.
I’m at it again.
Getting home this afternoon, I started disassembling our new Mr. Coffee. And it turned out to be as easy as I hoped after I looked it over yesterday. I just removed one screw underneath the front and the entire control panel just popped right out. And on this model the cable is long enough to actually work on the board.
And then two more screws and the board is loose. It really looks like this model was designed to be repaired.
Or at least for me to modify it.
Thought for the Day:
Remember, it’s not whether you win or lose, but where you place the blame.
fjfj
