So I was planning to write an update on the bicycle accident stuff, but instead I am going to write about the weekend and how things went. I will give you update on the bicycle stuff later in the week (maybe tomorrow if time allows)
I mentioned that on Friday I got to do interviewing ALL day, well it continued on Saturday and it was quite the day. We had one more interview to do that morning, and then there was a break for a “celebration of life” service on our campus.
The interview went well (can’t say more there).
The celebration of life service was for a man that was hired at SCC full time the same time I was hired there. We got to do the New Faculty Experience together and so I wanted to make it over to he service. His name was Allen Watts, and he was a great guy. He always had a smile on his face when I saw him (even after years of not seeing each other much). I learned a lot about him at the service. He served at the school and anywhere else he could. There were a few students that spoke about how he impacted their lives, as well as neighbors and friends. The service was well attended and I hope that when I pass that there would be students there that would talk as kindly about me as some of them were about Allen.
Then back to the hiring committee, and it was all about tallying up our numbers and deciding who would get passed on to the president for final interviews. This was scheduled for an hour, but it turned into 2.5 hours of discussion. I think we did an ok job. We’ll see what happens. I certainly know who I want, but it isn’t my choice.
Then I headed home and I had to replace the brake pads and rotors on my 4Runner. You may ask why? Well, there has been a vibration when braking for a while now, and the front rotors had been turned once, and the guy that did them before said that one was marginal. Well, it was never quite right after that and that was almost 50000 miles ago. We are getting ready for a long trip and I wanted that taken care of. And the rear brakes I have never done anything with and the car has 160000+ miles on it. So I figured it was time.
The rears came parts well and I got that all done in about 45 minutes. Then to the front. And that is when everything went south. I started on the passenger side since that was where I ended on the rears. Well, I couldn’t get the bolts out for the brake caliper. I tried, but no go. I couldn’t get my impact wrench in there because of spacing so that didn’t help. I tried for a bit then decided to go the the driver side. Those took work, but I finally got both of them to break loose. And then I found out that I had purchased the wrong rotors. Toyota said to buy the rotors based on wheel size. I have 17” wheels so I bought those rotors. Well Toyota installed the rotors for 16” wheels on my car. So I went back to the passenger side to try that again. Still no go. I tried WD-40, I tried brake cleaner and still nothing. Then I went over to my neighbor and asked if he had a universal joint adapter that. I could use on my impact wrench. He did so I tried that too. Still nothing. I had spent almost 2 hours at this point on the fronts, and nothing. I was ready to give up. But then my neighbor showed up again and asked if a longer breaker bar would help. I said sure – and after a bit of struggle they both finally broke loose. YEAH!!!!!! The kindness of neighbors is wonderful, but need to buy a 2ft long breaker bar.
Then I went and got the replacement rotors and I returned the front brake pads Sinnce the ones on the car looked nearly new still. That took a bit since the person at Autozone was having issues getting the return and replacement all figured out. Then back home and time for dinner. After dinner I finished up the car and it was time to drive it around the block to make sure everything was good to go. Well, I didn’t even get down my court before I heard a grinding/scrapping noise coming from the rear of the car. CRAP!
Well that was in for Saturday night.
Sunday morning before church I jacked the car up and got the tire off that side and found that the parking brake wasn’t right. There is a spring taht holds the brake pads toward the backing plate and on one of the pads that part had come apart. The spring got caught in the system and it was rubbing against the rotor as it turned. I had to get to church so I was get to it afterwards. After we got home I went back out and tried to get it all together. I had a terrible time trying to get it back together, but I realized the best way to do it, and then got that all together. I put the tire on and took it for a drive. And…
The other side then started making the noise once I went over a bump. So, back home and took the rear passenger side apart again, and sure enough the exact same thing had happened on that side. I knew what to do this time so I got it part and back together pretty fast. But when I tried to put the rotor back on it wouldn’t fit. It wouldn’t go on over the parking brake pads. I was dumbfounded since I had just taken it off 15 minutes earlier.
But it was time for me to head in and spend time with my daughter while the other one led her Girl Scout meeting. After a while with that I went out to figure out what was happening, and I found that the part that spaces the pads was slightly out of alllignment and was holding the pads apart. So, I adjusted that the rotor went right on. The tire went right on and then it was time for another drive. And…
No sound. Success. I drove the car around the block to test out the brakes and to see of the vibration was there. And no vibration either. So, double success. Also, I had been noticing a noise from the front passenger side tire when driving and I am not noticing it now either (only a brief drive though). But that may be a triple success.
So a job that I thought would take 2-3 hours took 5 hours on Saturday and 1.5 hours on Sunday. So, a lot more than expected. But I learned some things:
- Get a longer breaker bar.
- Check the parking brake setup whenever the rotor comes off.
Then the weekend ended with a men’s evening at church with food, conversation and a talk about reading the Bible better. It was a fine talk, but a better time just talking with other guys.
I am blessed. I prayed a few times during the car work and God answered the prayers in different ways – neighbors, results, patience, and peace. Yes it took a while, but it saved some money and I enjoy doing this work.