primitive lends a helping hand; pats self on back

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1128709

Oh my.

Aren't the primitives just ducky, the ways they help people.

Fumesucker (23,739 posts) Profile Journal Send DU Mail Ignore

Helped some young friends of mine out with a car problem, saved them quite a bit of money.

A younger couple I know has two young kids with a third on the way, they're short on cash and their older Ford Aerostar minivan was feeling very unsafe to drive. I offered to help because I know neither of them has a clue about cars and I've been playing with them since I was tall enough to see over the fender into the engine compartment.

The little truck was pulling hard to the right when you were just driving down the road and pulled even worse when you put on the brakes, it was also making a loud noise that could have been any number of things, including a bad rear wheel bearing or perhaps brakes desperately needing attention. Another problem was that at about 40 mph the front wheels had a violent shimmy that made the steering wheel vibrate back and forth, the faster you went over 40 the worse the vibration, the wheel was moving several inches back and forth at 45, it felt like the front suspension and the steering were trashed and about to fall out from under the truck.

First thing I noticed is that all four tires were in really bad shape, they had been run underinflated for a long time (told you the couple was clueless about cars) and had a severe wear pattern that looked like this.. Tread in the middle and bald on either side.

after which a drawing of a tire

Took the van up to the Hispanic tire store up the street where they sell remarkably good used tires for decent prices, got four Uniroyal tires that looked nearly new with lots of tread left for $175, including mounting and balancing..

Amazingly, the tires solved all the steering and vibration problems, it felt like a different truck to drive. However the grinding noise was even more apparent, it had actually gotten louder.

In the course of looking over the van after getting back from the tire store I happened to notice the the exhaust pipe had become bent to the point it was rubbing on the right rear tire and also the coil spring on the right rear suspension. I got a long cheater bar, stuck it in the exhaust pipe and bent the pipe back away from the tire and coil spring. Result, noise gone... The new tires had a lot more tread, particularly on the edges, than the old ones which was why the noise had gotten worse, there was more tire to rub on the pipe.

If this couple had taken their van to the average car repair shop they'd have been lucky to get out for $500 (money they really didn't have), instead we gave their transportation a new lease on life for well under $200. When I started I honestly thought the van was going to need front suspension work which could have been pricey. I've seen bad tires make a car drive poorly before but never to the extent this one was.

rrneck (8,877 posts) Profile Journal Send DU Mail Ignore

1. I was in Lowe's the other day and noticed an offer to install a toilet for $189. I can do it in under an hour. Its really easy.

The same with disc brake pads. Just because it's brakes people get nervous. And don't let them talk you into "turning the discs" if you can help it. I let my pads wear down to the metal and grind a rough strip on the disc an inch wide. It will no doubt wear the $5 pad out faster, but the truck stops just fine.

Omaha Steve's pal:

Curmudgeoness (6,159 posts) Profile Journal Send DU Mail Ignore

2. That was really nice of you to do.

I am sure that they really needed the help, and hope they appreciated it. It seems as if that exhaust pipe rubbing on the tire could have been really dangerous---driving along and all of a sudden that tire would blow big time.

And I hope that you taught them about how and when to check air pressure in the tires.

I am impressed that this is all that was needed to get it running well.

[I_B_Perky]

rrneck (8,877 posts) Profile Journal Send DU Mail Ignore

1. I was in Lowe's the other day and noticed an offer to install a toilet for $189. I can do it in under an hour. Its really easy.

The same with disc brake pads. Just because it's brakes people get nervous. And don't let them talk you into "turning the discs" if you can help it. I let my pads wear down to the metal and grind a rough strip on the disc an inch wide. It will no doubt wear the $5 pad out faster, but the truck stops just fine.

And that's why you are a dummie. Me? I'd change them as soon as the squealer starts squealing. We have to get our cars inspected here in West by God Virginia and if the inspector tells me I got around 10,000 left on the pad, I change them and use premium pads. Saves the cost of a rotor and I like to be able to stop. Besides... good pads make a big difference over the life of the pad and rotor... especially round these parts. You get what you pay for.

I guess it'd be different if you plan on getting rid of the car.

[diesel driver]

And that's why you are a dummie. Me? I'd change them as soon as the squealer starts squealing. We have to get our cars inspected here in West by God Virginia and if the inspector tells me I got around 10,000 left on the pad, I change them and use premium pads. Saves the cost of a rotor and I like to be able to stop. Besides... good pads make a big difference over the life of the pad and rotor... especially round these parts. You get what you pay for.

I guess it'd be different if you plan on getting rid of the car.

Depending on which car I use the most on a mail route, my front brake pads last from 4 weeks on my Buick to about 10 weeks on the Chevy.  I use the cheapest pads I can get (the best ones I've ever used were the $9.99 ones from Auto Zone), takes me less than 30 minutes to change, and are much cheaper than a $30 rotor.  

I NEVER turn a rotor unless it is warped, or I've gone "DUmmie" and let the metal backing plate on the pads get into the rotor.  Some rotors are cheaper to replace than to turn.

Perky, my wife is from McDowell County, and she (as well as I) DEMANDS the best pads on our POV, and that's what she gets!  It would be hard to explain how saving $20 on a set of pads didn't save a $15,000 truck from going over the side of a mountain.  West Virginia is beautiful country, but it can and will BITE you if you're stupid.  On a side note, the man where I get my car inspected knows me and how well I take care of a vehicle, and doesn't even bother checking the brakes or suspension.  Lights, wipers, tires, all ok, sticker, gone.   

[Karin]

Took the van up to the Hispanic tire store up the street

Why was it necessary to mention the lineage of the business owner? 

[Mike B the Cajun]

Why was it necessary to mention the lineage of the business owner? 

 
  Just as soon push as many buttons as possible. I'm surprised the car owners weren't black or mixed.

[Tucker]

So the exhaust pipe was rubbing on the tire and the tire didn't rupture!

They wouldn't have been able to go a mile before the tire went flat from the abrasion.

[Aristotelian]

 
  Just as soon push as many buttons as possible. I'm surprised the car owners weren't black or mixed.

Or disabled lesbians...

[dutch508]

Or disabled lesbians...

Mixed race disabled lesbians, illegally in this country, and Muslim.

[Gina]

next thing that will  happen is vehicle bursts into flames and he is sued 

[GOBUCKS]

next thing that will  happen is vehicle bursts into flames and he is sued 

I think he's pretty safe. The vehicle doesn't exist.

[Tucker]

next thing that will  happen is vehicle bursts into flames and he is sued 

Of what?

[I_B_Perky]

Perky, my wife is from McDowell County, and she (as well as I) DEMANDS the best pads on our POV, and that's what she gets!  It would be hard to explain how saving $20 on a set of pads didn't save a $15,000 truck from going over the side of a mountain.  West Virginia is beautiful country, but it can and will BITE you if you're stupid.  On a side note, the man where I get my car inspected knows me and how well I take care of a vehicle, and doesn't even bother checking the brakes or suspension.  Lights, wipers, tires, all ok, sticker, gone.   

Exactly, DD. Not to mention the fact the premium pads disperse heat better and that is important when your going up and down mountains.  I've noticed in the last 10 years the rotors on cars are made of crappy metal. Used to be if you never scored the rotor it would last the life of the car. Now they rust out or warp. I just changed the rotors on my car about 3 weeks ago cause they started rusting out and that was on a 2004 Chevy.

[obumazombie]

Why was it necessary to mention the lineage of the business owner? 

Libs aren't colorblind like MLK said they should be.

[formerlurker]

There are actually places that sell used tires with tread that are worth anything?  seriously?

[diesel driver]

Exactly, DD. Not to mention the fact the premium pads disperse heat better and that is important when your going up and down mountains.  I've noticed in the last 10 years the rotors on cars are made of crappy metal. Used to be if you never scored the rotor it would last the life of the car. Now they rust out or warp. I just changed the rotors on my car about 3 weeks ago cause they started rusting out and that was on a 2004 Chevy.

When I did fleet maintenance for the trucking company I worked for, I used either premium NAPA pads or Performance Friction's Carbon Metallic pads from Auto Zone.

Both lasted about 30-40K miles (about 6 months), cost about the same, and would stop your ass on a dime, and give you 5 cents change!  The rotors were cast onto the hubs, being a 1 ton truck, meant they cost about $200 each.  I think I replaced 6 in 20 years, 5 because they had cracked, 1 had the outer bearing fail, and weld itself to the spindle.

i have a 1978 Malibu I use on my mail route, and a 1995 S-10 4X4 Blazer I use when the weather gets nasty.  Both use the same calipers, wheel cylinders, rear drums, pads, rotors and shoes.  Makes keeping a parts inventory easy.   

[AllosaursRus]

I got news for this moron, just because they replaced the tires doesn't mean the problem will go away. Once these tires start wearin', the problem will more than likely be back! I'd say the thing needs front end work!

[WinOne4TheGipper]

Why was it necessary to mention the lineage of the business owner? 

He said that the tire store was Hispanic, not the owner.

[I_B_Perky]

When I did fleet maintenance for the trucking company I worked for, I used either premium NAPA pads or Performance Friction's Carbon Metallic pads from Auto Zone.

Both lasted about 30-40K miles (about 6 months), cost about the same, and would stop your ass on a dime, and give you 5 cents change!  The rotors were cast onto the hubs, being a 1 ton truck, meant they cost about $200 each.  I think I replaced 6 in 20 years, 5 because they had cracked, 1 had the outer bearing fail, and weld itself to the spindle.

i have a 1978 Malibu I use on my mail route, and a 1995 S-10 4X4 Blazer I use when the weather gets nasty.  Both use the same calipers, wheel cylinders, rear drums, pads, rotors and shoes.  Makes keeping a parts inventory easy.   

Semi metallic pads used to be the best DD. I always put them on the cars when I changed them back in the day. I talked to the napa guy when I went to buy the rotors and pads and he said that they got this ceramic composite pad that blows semi metallic away. About 70 bucks for my car. Top of the line. I think I had semi-m on the chevy, original equip, and I put the new ceramic composite pads on them when I changed it and the difference is amazing! Tap on the pedal and you gonna stop. I had to hit it hard the other day cause a kid ran out in front of me. I was going about 40. With the old pads, the abs would have kicked in cause it would have locked up and I would have probably hit her. The new pads didn't lock up and I got it stopped about 2 foot from her.

Of course I needed a new pair of undies after that. I was glad I put those pads on there now. What's 30-40 bucks when compared to a kids life or your own?

That's just the way I look at things. Some things you just do not skimp on... and I am a notorious cheapskate.   

[obumazombie]

Some things aren't an expense. Some things are investments.

[I_B_Perky]

Some things aren't an expense. Some things are investments.

And I think that is the difference between conservatives and the dummie libs. They are always looking for the quickest, cheapest and easiest way out.... and sometimes that ain't just the way to go.   

[diesel driver]

And I think that is the difference between conservatives and the dummie libs. They are always looking for the quickest, cheapest and easiest way out.... and sometimes that ain't just the way to go.   

Especially if it's free, and from the government.

Most DUmmies remind me of spoiled 5 year-olds, with the mental capacity of spoiled 6 year-olds.  (No offense to either 5 or 6 year-olds.)

[diesel driver]

There are actually places that sell used tires with tread that are worth anything?  seriously?

 

Depends on the type and size of tire. 

Passenger car tires, hit and miss.  Personally, I wouldn't except if it was the only thing available.  

Light truck tires, better.  Heavier construction, less chance of a flaw, bulge, broken belt, etc.

Seriously, I wouldn't put used tires on anything I use on the highway.  The damage alone done by one blowout will be more than an entire set of new tires.  I've seen recaps take fenders and wheel wells completely off a truck, break leaf springs, sever brake lines, even bend a drive shaft!

[diesel driver]

Some things aren't an expense. Some things are investments.

Depends on your point of view:

Ask a businessman or an accountant about taxes, they'd call it "an expense"

Ask a politician about taxes, he'd call it "an investment".

Ask a DUmmie about taxes, he'd call it "MINE"!   

[formerlurker]

 

Depends on the type and size of tire. 

Passenger car tires, hit and miss.  Personally, I wouldn't except if it was the only thing available.  

Light truck tires, better.  Heavier construction, less chance of a flaw, bulge, broken belt, etc.

Seriously, I wouldn't put used tires on anything I use on the highway.  The damage alone done by one blowout will be more than an entire set of new tires.  I've seen recaps take fenders and wheel wells completely off a truck, break leaf springs, sever brake lines, even bend a drive shaft!

I agree - it would be scary to say the very least. 

[diesel driver]

I agree - it would be scary to say the very least. 

I'd sooner play "Russian Roulette" with a semi-auto.