Now for something totaly different.

hwcurtice · May 24, 2007

Update

Okay, got back to the truck this afternoon with a flat bed waiting for me. Only thing odd was this shop rag behind the tire. Didn't think much of it, and I really didn't check the truck out that much.

Got it on the flatbed and off we were to Monroe.

Got to my destination and off the flatbed it came. Now that's odd, why are all the lug nuts on the front tire loose? Um, why is the cap over the lug lock gone? Why are they gone on all the tires? And why is one of the studs busted off?

Nice, someone was trying to rip my tires off! On the freeway. High traffic area, oh and the cops checked my rig out too. I wonder if they checked before, during or after these losers were trying to get these tires off?

I'm going to have to stop by there and see if I can find the caps for the lug locks.

Oh well, worse things to worry about. Tomorrow, I find out what the problem is.

skrause · May 24, 2007

That's fawked. Glad to hear you got it off the road. Nobody thinks twice when they see someone "working" on a car on the side of the highway.

Glenn · May 24, 2007

That sucks. I'm glad it wasn't a lot worse. Post back and let us know when you find out what is going on with your truck.

hwcurtice · May 24, 2007

Glenn said:
That sucks. I'm glad it wasn't a lot worse. Post back and let us know when you find out what is going on with your truck.

Oh, I will. Nothing speaks more than symptoms with actual diagnosis of the problem. Be neat if it was just the tire being loose....

Of course that means someone did that while it was parked across from the SPD. But the shop rag sort of dismisses that senario.

Look for updates this evening.

:corn: :beer: :corn: :beer: :corn: :beer:

hwcurtice · May 25, 2007

Update, Part Deux.

Ya know what it sounds like when your rear drum brakes fall apart in the drum?

Yep. thump, thump, thump. But only on the right side. The shoes were ground into the drums about 1/8 inch deep, which made the drum unturnable. The shoes caught in the drum, which pulled them from their appointed spot. Took out all the hardware, and the wheel cylinder.

Parts for Dodge's are almost as expensive as Toy parts.

Cost? About the same as mentioned for the ring gear.

And now I have new rear brakes, and the E-Brake works now too.

I HATE drum brakes. Disc brakes are so much easier to work on. Oh, and you can tell from looking when they need work.

I still don't understand why the power went down. That doesn't seem right.

skrause · May 25, 2007

hwcurtice said:
Ya know what it sounds like when your rear drum brakes fall apart in the drum?

Nope, but I know exactly what it sounds like when they're tossed into the scrap pile. :redneck: Interesting, and your brakes were still working?

hwcurtice · May 25, 2007

skrause said:
Nope, but I know exactly what it sounds like when they're tossed into the scrap pile. :redneck: Interesting, and your brakes were still working?

I stopped. Could have been the drag too. I haven't seen the old parts yet. I also haven't heard since they took it out for a drive after doing the rear brakes either. I suppose another call will be coming soon.

hwcurtice · May 25, 2007

I stopped where the truck is. Everything is fixed, they just want to do one more thing. Fix the E Brake. Which is good. I wanted it fixed anyway.

I saw the drum. Really nice and shiny. And rutted throughout. The shoes for the really bad side? Pad at the ends, nice shiny metal in between. Not even resurfaceable. From the mechanic, when I asked about the power loss, he said, the brakes being the way they 'were', would do that.

Man, brakes sure can be a drag....

From what I saw, I think the only things that would have been accomplished by limping to the next exit is the one wheel completely locking up, and me needing a new clutch too.