Had one of those moments yesterday. I nearly cursed my car and wished for a
'99 version.
I had just come off the freeway at speed, turned and drove four blocks. I
sometimes joke when I heard a ping, then bang and see some small
nut/screw/rock bouncing in the rear view mirror, "guess it was a rock" or
after tapping the brakes and turning the wheel decide that "I did not need
it anyway". I hear the ping, but do not see anything, thinking that it was
something I hit in the street. Until I tap the brakes... go back two nights
around 10pm, cold, tired and not impressed with the 5 minute job that
started 3hrs earlier, when I had tightened, I thought, the two bolts that
hold the front caliper on the passenger side. Though the sudden, beautiful
blue cloud of smoke, I see my perfect beauty ring bouncing down the road and
hear the screaming of my front tire, as my Roadster makes a right angle to
the road, directly for a telephone pole.
In the end, I missed the pole and all other cars by a few inches, was able
to run back a few blocks while waiting for the tow and pick up the thing
that made the ping noise; my lower caliper bolt. Put the bolt in and limp
home.
I have truly enjoyed working on nearly every aspect of this car. I have now
learned to check and double check everything, especially mission-critical
parts, like brakes, steering.
Thanks to the Guardian angel that got me off the freeway going 70 and safely
to some side street going 30 before the bolt dropped. My carelessness could
have cost me and others a great deal more.
Thanks to the list for all the answers to my silly questions.
Daniel Beatty
65 1600 #1322
Portland, OR
www.seaport.net/~daniel
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