Automotive Adventures
2011-Feb-19, Saturday 23:18![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
texxgadgetIll get to the snow thing in a few.
About 3 weeks ago, I noticed a scraping sound from the brakes.
I presumed this to be the wear indicators.
Id seen this done before, I was ready to try it.
I bought a set of pads, caliper spreader & a socket to get the calipers loose.
I wasnt sure what size, Oreilly Auto sold me hex bit.
I was sure it needed to be TORX but they convinced me to try hex.
It was late so I waited til the next weekend to do it.
Jaked the car up, removed the tire and realized i had the wrong bit.
I also noted that I was all the way through the outer pad and partway through the substrate.
Nearly 1/16 inch had been ground away from the disc itself.
I put the wheel back and lowered the car and drove down the hill on my now known to be shot
brakes to get the right bit.
Jack up again, remove wheel, and the 1st bolt came out.
The 2nd bolt had a stripped head from the last time a "professional" mechanic did brakes last time.
I needed vise grips to get the bolt out.
I will replace that disc & bad bolt soon.
I didnt do the other side yet. Its still OK and i cent get the wheel off.
It seems the tire place lost a lug nut and used a regular nut and that one is seized.
The driver side wore so soon because the caliper got stuck & only the outer pad was being used.
Meanwhile, it rained this week and I was lucky to have decent brakes.
Driving home at night, a few times, it was raining harder than hight speed wipers could take it away.
Friday, I popped in at the Mt Diablo Radio Club. On the way home, I decided it was shorter home
going over the hill rather than the tunnel.
Going up Fish Ranch I noted that the rain was hitting
me almost horizontal, but I wasnt getting pounded. Could this be snow melting on contact ?
I turned North on Grizzly Peak. This may have been a mistake... I could no longer see.
All light was coming back at me. If I stopped, it was not a white out, but I couldnt see to move.
By the time i passed the old telephone co site, the snow was sticking to the ground and several cars had pulled off the road.
I was doing maybe 10 mph hoping not to get hit. Nobody seemed to be in much of a hurry to pass me either.
I used an old heavy fog trick & opened my door and lined up the running board with the yellow line.
I was also realizing that I should have turned back at Fish Ranch and I was being incredibly stupid.
I was almost to Kensington before the snow turned back to rain.
Luckily, I survived this stupid stunt.
About 3 weeks ago, I noticed a scraping sound from the brakes.
I presumed this to be the wear indicators.
Id seen this done before, I was ready to try it.
I bought a set of pads, caliper spreader & a socket to get the calipers loose.
I wasnt sure what size, Oreilly Auto sold me hex bit.
I was sure it needed to be TORX but they convinced me to try hex.
It was late so I waited til the next weekend to do it.
Jaked the car up, removed the tire and realized i had the wrong bit.
I also noted that I was all the way through the outer pad and partway through the substrate.
Nearly 1/16 inch had been ground away from the disc itself.
I put the wheel back and lowered the car and drove down the hill on my now known to be shot
brakes to get the right bit.
Jack up again, remove wheel, and the 1st bolt came out.
The 2nd bolt had a stripped head from the last time a "professional" mechanic did brakes last time.
I needed vise grips to get the bolt out.
I will replace that disc & bad bolt soon.
I didnt do the other side yet. Its still OK and i cent get the wheel off.
It seems the tire place lost a lug nut and used a regular nut and that one is seized.
The driver side wore so soon because the caliper got stuck & only the outer pad was being used.
Meanwhile, it rained this week and I was lucky to have decent brakes.
Driving home at night, a few times, it was raining harder than hight speed wipers could take it away.
Friday, I popped in at the Mt Diablo Radio Club. On the way home, I decided it was shorter home
going over the hill rather than the tunnel.
Going up Fish Ranch I noted that the rain was hitting
me almost horizontal, but I wasnt getting pounded. Could this be snow melting on contact ?
I turned North on Grizzly Peak. This may have been a mistake... I could no longer see.
All light was coming back at me. If I stopped, it was not a white out, but I couldnt see to move.
By the time i passed the old telephone co site, the snow was sticking to the ground and several cars had pulled off the road.
I was doing maybe 10 mph hoping not to get hit. Nobody seemed to be in much of a hurry to pass me either.
I used an old heavy fog trick & opened my door and lined up the running board with the yellow line.
I was also realizing that I should have turned back at Fish Ranch and I was being incredibly stupid.
I was almost to Kensington before the snow turned back to rain.
Luckily, I survived this stupid stunt.
