In case you missed the first part of this little drama, you can find it here.
So after I finished fuming about them changing the opposite side U Joint from the one I asked them to do, I calmed down a bit and figured I would stop and talk to them after work the next day.
They had already admitted that they had screwed up and had offered to do the one I asked for in the first place for free. They charged me $594 for the first one.
The one they did change was COMPLETELY SHOT.
Zero grease left, caps full of powdered rust and no needle bearings left in two of them.
I figured it would be bad but I was hoping to have them change the one that was clunking at slow speed and maybe I could baby the thing until the weather got nicer and I could pick a nice sunny weekend and do that one at my leisure.
I guess they took care of that for me.
So after I thought about this whole deal and weighed in a few factors I came to a decision.
I stopped after work and had a chat.
I have been a mechanic of some sort or another for over forty years myself and I have quite a few ROYAL FUCK UP’S with my name all over them too.
Shit Happens sometimes.
Since the left one was completely shot, they had changed it already and I know the right one is shot too, I decided to step up to the plate myself.
I went in and asked them if they would be OK with me splitting the difference instead of them eating it all.
I am not expecting to get something for nothing here, they are a small family owned business that obviously stands behind their work and they are good people.
They were VERY HAPPY to hear my offer.
I told them that the side that was clunking was getting worse so they offered to come in two hours early, work my truck into their crammed schedule and get it done two days earlier than the appointment we had made already.
Ya can’t beat that kind of service.
So I dropped it off this morning at 6 A.M, handed them the keys and thanked them for going out of their way.
I got a ride back to the shop after work from my buddy and it was done.
Unbeknownst to me, I was in for a surprise.
When they got it up on the hoist they didn’t find any slop in that U Joint.
I would have bet serious money that U Joint was bad because I kept getting a double clunk out of that side, especially at slow speeds.
They decided to replace it anyway and when they took the grease cap off the end of the hub to start tearing into it, a Snap Ring fell out on the ground.
It has automatic hubs, that snap ring holds the end of the axle in the inner hub and keeps it from walking back and forth.
That is exactly what it was doing. He took a video with his camera and showed me that he could push and pull on the axle stub and it would move 3/8’s of an inch back and forth.
What I was feeling was the splines on the axle binding up as it slid in and out of the hub.
It would have basically been a Free Fix to just reinstall the snap ring and pop the grease cap back on.
But as I said, he decided to change the U Joint anyway, especially since this had turned into a bit of a shit show.
In reality, it was due anyway. It was basically dry with no grease left in it at all and it would have been just a short while before it shit the bed too anyway.
It’s a 40 year old truck, Chuck got his money’s worth out of them.
We took it out for a test drive together and no more clunk so I am happy.
He is happy that I can go away and he can get back to fixing cars and making money and his wife is happy that they didn’t have to eat the whole repair.
Win, Win, Win.
Nice people, they stand behind their work and I now have a close by mechanic outfit that I can trust.
More Win.
Now I wait until the 18th and send the Wifely Unit’s Hoopty in for a timing belt and water pump, to start with. I’m figuring she will be lucky to get out of there for under a Grand.
Twin Cam engines are a wee bit pricier to do that on than just a straight up 4 Banger and I have a feeling they are going to find some hoses that need replacing at the very least.
At least I don’t have to dig in my ass pocket for that one.
She pays for her own repairs which is good, she has more money than I do anyway.
sounds like a win to me as well. after moving up here to the hills. finding a HONEST shop is like finding a pot of gold. I know they are very glad they didn’t have to eat the whole price of the repair.
maybe after they fix the wifey ride. drop by one day with some pizza and cold beer
right before closing. that is one way I made some good friends in the past.
I used to figure on 2 beers per man with the pizza as it just enough to feel good but not enough to get a DUI on the way home. bring some coke as well. not everyone
drinks beer. you have done well. young man.
Just make sure it ain’t Bud Light…..
I never bought any Bud lite.
Sound like a good deal to me. I know if they where here I would use them.
Second the pizza idea although would not use barely pops.
Hard to witness integrity nowadays. Good on all of you for acting like responsible people.
Well done, Phil!
Atta boy Phil, your still a miserable old cocksucker but at least you can look in the mirror and see a stand up guy ….er i mean a stand up old cocksucker.
I kinda like being able to look myself in the eye and I can think of a lotta worse things than being a miserable old cocksucker anyway.
I am becoming Chuck after all I guess.
Good On Ya, Phil! You’re OK in my book.
My mechanic is a lazy bastard that never gets things done on time.
Did I mention that I do ALL my own work?
I’ve owned mine for long enough that it’s had 2 timing belt changes, and my #1 rule is “if you take it off to change the belt then brand-new goes back on.” The one exception is the radiator, but it does get cleaned and flushed, everything else gets replaced, hoses, belts, water pump, timing belt idler pulley, coolant, everything. The labor cost is the same, parts cost goes up, and I consider it cheap insurance. Spread over 100K miles each time the added cost-per-mile is peanuts compared to a “midnight roadside adventure” if something left on were to break.
You’d make a good A&P mechanic, laddie.
Good job. That is awesome that you brough some “humanity” into the situation. Treat people with kindness (whether they deserve it or not) and we may be surprised at how they respond. Well done.
You did the right thing, Phil. It sounds like your shop people are good folks.
I’ll bet they’ll remember that you’re a good guy and will go out of their way to help you out and give you a break on prices when they can. I call that the Brother Deal.
BTW, I followed the thread on the original post and have to tell you, I too have always described the port side as the driver’s side and the starboard side as the passenger side. But maybe it would be best to say left/driver’s/port side and right/passenger/starboard side when describing auto repairs to your mechanic and medical procedures to your doctor.
Thanks for being a good guy.
When I was a young wart hog, I always told the parts counterman “driver side” or “passenger side”. Never had a problem getting the correct part. Still do, to avoid confusion.
Happy for you and your new go to wrench but I thought your truck was a ’93.
It is a 93.
2023 – 1993 = 40 nowadays? Ah, new math! 😉
Dammit, ya got me. I was too lazy to take my boots off so I could count my toes.
🤣😸
One more year and ya would have had to take your underwear off…
Eye bleach, STAT!
I knew there was a reason I liked your blog.
Ya, never know what you are going to get here.
Good Phil! Good Cederq too. Great blog!
One guy works his ass off, the other guy works to keep his ass from falling off.
Me? I just sit in the stands and throw peanuts.
Phil:
I Do live in Vancouver, and my ’90 pickup could use some TLC. Any way to find out who these folks are? Sounds like a worthwhile place to spend my repair dollars.
Peterson’s automotive on 4th plain.
Used to be an old Fire Station.
Tell em Phil The U Joint guy sent ya.
🤣
Will do. Thanks for the info.