Truck in Shop - Out of Commission

[Hedgemaster]

On Mon, my truck started making a bad noise in the front. I was already scheduled to have it inspected on Tues (as that's one of my "off/light" days), but after hearing the noise, I decided to only do the remaining jobs on the way back home and skip the few that were a ten mile drive - no sense risking it. As luck would have it, a brake line blew about half a mile from home. The pedal went mushy and having had the same thing happen once before, I knew what was happening. Fortunately I was able to get it (with trailer) backed into my drive (on a hill) without rolling into my neighbor's house. The shop is half a mile away and I was able to drive it there Tues morning to have it looked at. The noise: Front wheel bearing (the other one was replaced several months ago) The brake line: Blew in rear. One section was replaced 2 years ago with recommendation to have others changed due to deterioration. Time went on and I forgot about it. Due to location of the one blown, replacing it without damaging others may prove difficult. Since all are looking "iffy", and I don't want to lose my brakes again, I gave the OK to replace anything that "needs" replacing. More brakes: Front calipers and hoses need replaced. Yay. I expected brakes and rotors, as it eats rotors, but not this time around. Add in the wheel bearing, oil change, inspection/emission and I'm looking at around $1,400 and it won't be ready until Thurs eve. (And they are pushing me ahead of others because they know I need my truck to make money) Subtract for lost mowing wages for two days and this blows royally. I considered renting a truck for a day (thurs), but I don't think it's worth the hassle and added cost for the truck/gas for the few lawns it will keep me on schedule with. This is the longest I've been without my vehicle (out of commission for one day before this) and it sucks. Prepare accordingly. If you don't have a plan for a situation like this, you may want to consider one.

[wat5150]

Lawn care business tips

Sorry to hear that. it does suck but at least you get your truck back fairly soon. My rear end went in my Silverado 2500 last year. it took 2 weeks and cost about $2 grand with new brake lines and such. I guess it can always be worse.

[Hedgemaster]

Originally Posted by wat5150

Sorry to hear that. it does suck but at least you get your truck back fairly soon. My rear end went in my Silverado 2500 last year. it took 2 weeks and cost about $2 grand with new brake lines and such. I guess it can always be worse.

Yeah, initially they were talking sometime next week, but it's a mom & pop garage and they tend to do what they can to work with people. He's gotten me in and out quickly (with the wife's car as well) while doing only what is necessary to keep costs down on a few occasions.

I'd have been a long time customer, but I've always had new vehicles with warranties from the dealer and never needed his services until about two years ago.

The truck is a 2001 Silverado (with only 55,000 miles) purchased new and thus far the only repairs have been one section of brake line two years ago, one front wheel bearing a few months ago, and a few sets of brakes and rotors.
Oh, and while under warranty, a power mirror wire was replaced.

[SECTLANDSCAPING]

You should order the stainless steel brake lines. There pre bent. You just connect and bleed the lines. There only about $150. Thats the same price the shop will charge you for the $30 of line with 400% mark up.

[Cashin H&P]

Originally Posted by Hedgemaster

On Mon, my truck started making a bad noise in the front. I was already scheduled to have it inspected on Tues (as that's one of my "off/light" days), but after hearing the noise, I decided to only do the remaining jobs on the way back home and skip the few that were a ten mile drive - no sense risking it.

As luck would have it, a brake line blew about half a mile from home. The pedal went mushy and having had the same thing happen once before, I knew what was happening. Fortunately I was able to get it (with trailer) backed into my drive (on a hill) without rolling into my neighbor's house.

The shop is half a mile away and I was able to drive it there Tues morning to have it looked at.
The noise: Front wheel bearing (the other one was replaced several months ago)
The brake line: Blew in rear. One section was replaced 2 years ago with recommendation to have others changed due to deterioration. Time went on and I forgot about it.
Due to location of the one blown, replacing it without damaging others may prove difficult. Since all are looking "iffy", and I don't want to lose my brakes again, I gave the OK to replace anything that "needs" replacing.

More brakes: Front calipers and hoses need replaced. Yay.
I expected brakes and rotors, as it eats rotors, but not this time around.



Add in the wheel bearing, oil change, inspection/emission and I'm looking at around $1,400 and it won't be ready until Thurs eve. (And they are pushing me ahead of others because they know I need my truck to make money)

Subtract for lost mowing wages for two days and this blows royally.
I considered renting a truck for a day (thurs), but I don't think it's worth the hassle and added cost for the truck/gas for the few lawns it will keep me on schedule with.

This is the longest I've been without my vehicle (out of commission for one day before this) and it sucks.
Prepare accordingly. If you don't have a plan for a situation like this, you may want to consider one.

Dude it sucks. I got in a car crash a week ago. I had my friends bobcat on the trailer and a women cut out in front of me. Long story short i couldnts stop fast enough and I hit her totaling her prius. Insurance deemed it her falt so good news is my insurance wont go up but I wont have my truck back from the body shop untill the end of next week! Thats 3 weeks with out my truck. Luckly my grandpa gave me his old truck a few months ago so I do have a back up but boy this sucks! Sorry to hear about your truck hedge what are you using while yours is in the shop?

[Hedgemaster]

Originally Posted by SECTLANDSCAPING

You should order the stainless steel brake lines. There pre bent. You just connect and bleed the lines. There only about $150. Thats the same price the shop will charge you for the $30 of line with 400% mark up.

I fully expected the "that's too much - do it yourself" post and that's great for those who can, but that's not me. If I could, I would, but I'm not about to screw around "learning" with something as important as my brakes.

Also, this shop has been good about not selling me more than I need. They have helped save me money in the past where others were trying to hose me - I'll give them my money - as much as it sucks to do in such quantities.

[Hedgemaster]

Originally Posted by cashin home and property

Dude it sucks. I got in a car crash a week ago. I had my friends bobcat on the trailer and a women cut out in front of me. Long story short i couldnts stop fast enough and I hit her totaling her prius. Insurance deemed it her falt so good news is my insurance wont go up but I wont have my truck back from the body shop untill the end of next week! Thats 3 weeks with out my truck. Luckly my grandpa gave me his old truck a few months ago so I do have a back up but boy this sucks! Sorry to hear about your truck hedge what are you using while yours is in the shop?

I'm just not working. I have nothing else to use. (unless anyone thinks a Cavalier would work - LOL)

I was going to rent a truck, but most rentals (I've not found any actually) don't have receivers for towing. If it were going to be in the shop longer, I'd consider it and toss a push mower in the back, but it's not critical to get the lawns cut that I'll miss this week.

[SECTLANDSCAPING]

Originally Posted by Hedgemaster

I fully expected the "that's too much - do it yourself" post and that's great for those who can, but that's not me. If I could, I would, but I'm not about to screw around "learning" with something as important as my brakes.

Also, this shop has been good about not selling me more than I need. They have helped save me money in the past where others were trying to hose me - I'll give them my money - as much as it sucks to do in such quantities.

Its really not complicated. I barely do any of the work on my trucks but I learned the cooler and brake lines will always rot. So I replace them as soon as I get the truck with a permanent fix. To prevent a on the road break down. You can even tell the shop to install stainless steel lines and youll never have to worry about brake lines again.

The most time consuming part is bending them. As far as installing they just screw in. So if you get the pre bent kits, there no cutting or bending. It wont even take 2 hours to do. I watched them done once or twice and been doing it since. Most the shops I been to try to charge 6-8 hours of work.

[wat5150]

Get a bike and tow your push mower!! Lol. I swear I was reading a post somewhere. A guy was towing a mower around with a bicycle!! Funny sh!t.

[Lopes Lawn Care]

That really sucks Hedge, hope your back up and running soon. I had a line break yrs ago. My pops who's a mechanic came by and put a vise grip on the broken line. This prevented the fluid from coming out when I pressed the brakes and made it possible for me to make it home to fix the line. Sect is right, it was fairly easy to fix if you get the pre-shaped lines.

It's really surprising that the brake lines would go only after 55,000 miles. My ford f150 has got 220,000 on it and I've only replaced one line. Not to say that they weren't changed before I bought the truck.