I've waited to calm down a bit before I post this but I wanted to *share* with my fellow Cruiserheads potentially the worst experience I've ever had from an auto shop.
Usually I try to do most of my own work taking into consideration doing the jobs which are more labor intensive. I farm out the oil changes, tire rotations, simple stuff, well I guess tire rotations are not so simple, anymore.
Anyway took Connie in for her first major tune up (sans valve lash check), oil change on schedule, and *tire* rotation.
Dropped the truck off ( I usually wait and *help* the mechanic) but today I was going to the dentist to have a cavity filled.
Came back picked up the truck (mouth full of novicane or whatever the heck they use) paid the bill, and drove off without for the first time in my life without doing a walk around the truck. Nothing personal but I don't like going to the dentist (must be the mouth full of novicaine or whatever they use) so I was in a grumpy mood.
Started drving away and the steering just wasn't quite on par. Not really sure how to explain it but it would jeck slightly then release.
Ok, I'm now about 100 yards away and I merge onto a major roadway thru town doing about 25 miles per hour. The steering hasn't improved and now I'm sorta spooked.
I'm now hearing a slight grinding sound coming form the left front tire. Oh, this is not good. I'm now 1/2 mile away from the shop I decide to slow down carefully however the brakes are now funny and not fully responsive.
I come to a very controlled *stop* right in the middle of traffic and pop on my hazards.
Hop out and look down at the left front tire.
HOLY s*** !!!
The hub caps I have on the truck are put-on-first then mount the tire hub caps.
The tire rim is riding on the hub cap on the hub assembly completely free of the rotor studs and any lug nuts.
If I had gone any further the tire would have fallen off. If I had *pulled* over to stop which would have been to the right, the wheel would have come fully off too.
I must have had an Angel on my shoulder.
From my stopped vehicle I'm blocking traffic in the far right lane of downtown Silver Spring (six lanes, three each way) on Georgia Ave. Northbound.
Everything is going in slow motion and I'm partly in a daze.
There's a crosswalk 100 feet from me and the light has just turned and I'm watching about 30 pedstrians walk across the road and especially to my attention is this new Mother pushing a strolling baby carriage coo'ing to her newborn in the carriage walking/pushing across the walkway to the other side.
I'm just watching dumbfounded & numb as I turn back to my Cruiser stopped, hazards on, and the left front wheel, lug nut free, rim completely off the studs, resting supporting my truck on the hub housing.
Cahil
Usually I try to do most of my own work taking into consideration doing the jobs which are more labor intensive. I farm out the oil changes, tire rotations, simple stuff, well I guess tire rotations are not so simple, anymore.
Anyway took Connie in for her first major tune up (sans valve lash check), oil change on schedule, and *tire* rotation.
Dropped the truck off ( I usually wait and *help* the mechanic) but today I was going to the dentist to have a cavity filled.
Came back picked up the truck (mouth full of novicane or whatever the heck they use) paid the bill, and drove off without for the first time in my life without doing a walk around the truck. Nothing personal but I don't like going to the dentist (must be the mouth full of novicaine or whatever they use) so I was in a grumpy mood.
Started drving away and the steering just wasn't quite on par. Not really sure how to explain it but it would jeck slightly then release.
Ok, I'm now about 100 yards away and I merge onto a major roadway thru town doing about 25 miles per hour. The steering hasn't improved and now I'm sorta spooked.
I'm now hearing a slight grinding sound coming form the left front tire. Oh, this is not good. I'm now 1/2 mile away from the shop I decide to slow down carefully however the brakes are now funny and not fully responsive.
I come to a very controlled *stop* right in the middle of traffic and pop on my hazards.
Hop out and look down at the left front tire.
HOLY s*** !!!
The hub caps I have on the truck are put-on-first then mount the tire hub caps.
The tire rim is riding on the hub cap on the hub assembly completely free of the rotor studs and any lug nuts.
If I had gone any further the tire would have fallen off. If I had *pulled* over to stop which would have been to the right, the wheel would have come fully off too.
I must have had an Angel on my shoulder.
From my stopped vehicle I'm blocking traffic in the far right lane of downtown Silver Spring (six lanes, three each way) on Georgia Ave. Northbound.
Everything is going in slow motion and I'm partly in a daze.
There's a crosswalk 100 feet from me and the light has just turned and I'm watching about 30 pedstrians walk across the road and especially to my attention is this new Mother pushing a strolling baby carriage coo'ing to her newborn in the carriage walking/pushing across the walkway to the other side.
I'm just watching dumbfounded & numb as I turn back to my Cruiser stopped, hazards on, and the left front wheel, lug nut free, rim completely off the studs, resting supporting my truck on the hub housing.
Cahil
...
