Thursday last week I hear a grinding coming from my left front wheel on braking. I knew I needed front brakes, but couldn't get parts and time until Tuesday night. I have had a bit of a shimmy dance the last few weeks, so I was going to diagnose that as well.

I'm a big believer in leaving straight, true, clean rotors on when new brakes go in so I just picked up a set of Wagner Thermo-Quiets at Parts Source ($99.00). Jacked the truck up and pulled the right side apart, sure enough, the right outer tie-rod end was shot. Called Canadian Tire at 8:40 PM and asked if they had the part. They did, but they close at 9:00, I asked him to pull the part, I was on my way. I was able to manouvre my wife's car around my truck and out the driveway (I know, park the working vehicle behind the one being repaired!). $33 and I had a new Nascar Advantage (MOOG) greasable tie-rod end.

The jamb nut was rust-welded to the tie-rod and the -end, but half a can of penetrating oil, a little heat and the medium-sized BFH knocked the end off the tie-rod, but the jamb nut stayed put (helpful for coming close to the alignment after replacement, but not so fun at the alignment shop - now I know why they steering wheel wasn't straight when driving straight).

The ball-joint end came out easily, except for having to use the air gun to back the nut all the way off - rust, and maybe some cross-threading by the previous installer?

Cleaned the caliper, anti-seize where needed and on with the new pads, no problems.

Around to the left side and pulled things apart. Suspension looked and felt solid on this side so just clean up the caliper, anti-seize and new pads in. Check the rotor and .. . . . . . ARGH! Metal from the pad backing had cross-polinated with the rotor, so new material on the rotor and scratches and gouges. It is now approaching 11:00 PM and no way to get the rotors machined or replaced. Put things together and a quick run around the block - nope, not going to work. Park it and have a beer before bed at midnight.

Next morning, I'm in the driveway at 7:00 using hand tools so I don't wake the neighbours after keeping them awake half the night. Pull the wheels and calipers and I'm at Parts Source at 7:45 for an 8:00 AM opening to get the rotors machined - web site says they do it. Tim Horton's coffee in hand, I wait for the sign to light up.

Haul the rotors in and hear "We don't do that anymore. Machine is broken anyway." OK, new rotors 60 bucks apiece rather than $30 each for machining.

Back home and put it back together, no problems, shower and in the office for 9:30. But I still have a bit of a wobble in the front end, especially at low speed (<10 kph), so I'm booked for an alignment this morning, after pouring more penetrating oil on the jamb nut throughout the evening last night, hoping to allow proper adjustment!

They better not find anything else that needs replacing! Will keep you posted.

 

whew.....oh and...pics or it didn't happen....lol

 

ya, you should have filmed that adventure!

 

If the wobble is a bearing, those are pricy too. but easy to replace if you have 3-6 dealer supplied bolts on hand.

 

Wobble was the tie-rod end. Alignment yesterday and everything is tickety-boo!

 

When working alone on your back in a driveway, hands covered in brake dust and grease, not much chance I'm pulling out the camera!

I'll get pics of the results!