OK, I'm an idiot...

[MAKG]

So, I decided to take the kid town to San Diego for the long weekend. That's right around 500 miles. I drive old vehicles, so every road trip is preceded by an inspection. I checked out all the belts and hoses, gave it an oil change, inspected and regapped spark plugs, and checked the front end and tire pressure. Everything looks good.

What's missing from this list? You guessed it -- brakes. So, right in downtown San Diego, 500 miles from home, I start getting a nice grumbling sound on braking, from the front left. I swear a bit (oops -- not a good thing in front of a strongly verbal 2 year old), and remove the front wheels for a brake inspection. All four pads are nice-and-evenly worn down to paper thin. The inner driver's side pad is completely gone, and I can feel roughness in the rotor surface.

So, it's really obvious what the problem is. It's a Sunday, so no shop can do it that day, so I drive home the next morning (on the highway, at least), plan a route that minimizes stopping, and perform an emergency brake job in the driveway. Except the shop gives me Dana 28 rotors, and the don't fit. Swear some more (this time, NOT in front of the 2 year old), then take the 45 minute round trip back to the shop for correct rotors, and perform the brake job in the DARK. Now, it stops firmly, quietly, and straight.

The lesson is, don't skip steps on the inspection!

Scheisse.

 

[Hardwareman]

Bummer! I hate when I'm that far away from home and things go wrong like that. I've been in situations similar more times then I'd like that's for sure. At least you made it back without too much damage.

Did you need a new rotor?





Allen

 

[MAKG]

Did you need a new rotor?

I thought for sure I would, so I replaced both anyway. They aren't very expensive ($30 apiece, about twice what resurfacing costs), and I was in a big hurry; I needed the truck today.

It turns out it wasn't nearly as bad as I had expected, but I still think it would have needed a fair amount of grinding to get all the "texture" out. And it was all on one side, so while it might still stay within thickness specs (though I kinda doubt that), I'd expect some thermal issues.

I just didn't want to mess with it.

 

[Hardwareman]

Yeah, cheap insurance for sure.

At least rotors are cheap for 90's RBV's as far as I know. I think for my 95 they're like 25-30 bucks also. Some parts however are still an arm and a leg. That probalby has something to do with Ford still using the same parts on newer Rangers though, especially body mouldings and what not because a 93 and a 2000 still have the same part# on certain items.




Allen

 

[crbnunit]

I did a psudo brake job on a Ford F 250 club cab for a friend about 30 miles off the road in the mountains of Mexico. At least he had pads and a c-clamp!

 

[blkmazda90]

I didn't know what to think when I saw a thread called "Im an Idiot" and MAKG's name under it. lol

 

[skippy]

I didn't know what to think when I saw a thread called "Im an Idiot" and MAKG's name under it. lol

i know,right?

 

[MAKG]

Well, we all make stupid mistakes once in a while.

This one qualifies. I know better than to skip brake inspections.

 

[Mutant Pony]

Wow!!!! MAKG is human!

 

[RobbieD]

Wow; there IS hope for the rest of us.

Don't feel bad, MAKG; nobody's perfect. And, the sure-fire way to make something go bad is to forget to check it.

 

[Evan]

You just need to assume that the auto parts place will give you the wrong part. When I was getting discs set up in the Explorer a few weeks ago, I went in and ordered two new calipers for the rear. Drove 30 mins to the garage, opened the boxes, and there were a set of fronts...

Although you might have to be pretty keen to tell a difference between a D28 and D35 rotor without a reference part.

 

[Ranger44]

Wow!!!! MAKG is human!

x2

 

[Twitch57]

nice

 

[metalmacguyver]

it happens

 

[ZMan]

Ouch man, guess everyone makes mistakes. I tried doing brakes once in my work parking lot..it was 90+ degrees and I couldn't get my wheel off, damn aluminum wheels, was stuck on the hub.