Vehicle & Technical > Discovery

How much of a plonker am I?

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Benji:
Well, me and a few mates decided to go for a play last night on a huge shingle bank that has been formed from excavation at Soverign Harbour in E.Sussex.  We had been there before but recently they must have dumped loads more shingle onto it as the edges were much steeper.

My mate in his V8 Auto 200 managed to get up a semi-flat section after about 8 attempts but i just couldn't get up there!  He was giving his tons of stick and now that i use mine for my business i didn't really want to go mad so i had to give in (and i was gutted). I put it down to his auto gearbox giving him a quicker approach speed!!!!

Anyway on the way home there was a nasty metal on metal noise. Being mechanically inept i thought it was a half shaft as that seems to be the bit that most people talk about breaking, although on shingle there isn't any snatching once the wheels get traction like on other surfaces, so i wasn't convinced. And there was still drive with the diff lock off.

After crying myself to sleep that night thinking not only about the hefty bill that woould soon follow, but also that i might not have use of the car for a while (bank hol weekend), i was straight on the phone when the garage opened in the morning.

£400 just for a half shaft from Land Rover (cheaper from a factors) he said!  They would have to use a Land Rover part if i was in a rush as they carry them in stock.  I was gutted!

So i thought id get a second opinion from my mate at GA Commercials, a trailer and horse box dealer in E. Sussex and although he was busy getting ready for a show he's exibiting at over the weekend he said to bring it down so he could have a listen.

We traced it to the off side rear, so off came the wheel and a bloody massive rock dropped onto the floor!  It had got into the wheel through one of the holes in the outside of the alloy but couldn't drop out the otherside as the disc was in the way.  That was a huge relief and i could have kissed him!

I know where to check next time.

Can anyone beat that in the dim-what stacks???

Ben

Bush Tucker Man:
Done that myself with a pebble rattling between the disc & stone-guard plate.
You hear the rattling & the pound-signs start flashing before your eyes

nzrover:
Well....I'm a mechanic and get to see a bit of this sort of thing.  One Sunday morning I get called at home (which [person of questionable parentage] colleague gave out my home number?) - "My RRC won't go, I think the auto has given up.  It drove to the restaurant fine, then wouldn't move when I went to leave".  I had a smile to myself, told him that if I could have it driving within 30 seconds of getting in he would owe me a bottle of 30 year old Scotch.  Go out to the vehicle, take transfer lever out of neutral, lay claim to a bottle of whisky and return home.
Later the truth emerges - it was knocked into neutral by drunken activities of a sexual nature between said (very rich) plonker and his rather lovely wife.  I eventually got my bottle of Scotch, and haven't paid for a drink at my local  on a Friday night since as he seems to think I won't tell all his mates about it if he keeps supplying my alcohol.  Two years so far and counting (and everyone knows about it).

thermidorthelobster:
I'm the opposite.  When I hear a nasty noise I hope it's a stone lodged somewhere.  It usually turns out to be something expensive.   :lol:

dracula:
My car alarm would go off for no obvious reason.
Took panels off to get at alarm, pulled wires out, started on dash,
only to see an insect crawl over sensors in roof console!!!
Did I feel stupid or whay :oops:  :oops:
Paul.

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