Having a s**t day

[KatieandDad]

I woke up this morning, Bright as a penny and thought, as the weather is good I'll do the brakes on the car.

Locking wheel nuts are as old as the car and the key is worn. No problem I thought, I'll drive into town (6 miles) and buy a new set - Problem solved.

Now, I'm moving house so all my tools are in storage, I thought I'd bought the required tools for the job - FIRST MISTAKE.

OK. Offside wheel is off and I can remove the sliding caliper. Can I remove the caliper itself, NO, need another socket.

Put car back together and drive another 6 miles into town to buy a £1.00 socket. I'd measured the size of the socket required using an adjustable spanner.

OK. Offside wheel is off and I can remove the sliding caliper. Can I remove the caliper itself, NO, the measurement that I took was slightly wrong need another socket.


Put car back together and drive another 6 miles into town to buy a £1.00 socket.

By this time I'm getting P****d off.

This time I can get caliper apart and get caliper off the wretched vehicle.

So far so good.

All goes well and the offside wheel goes back on, new pads and new disc, until I come to torque up the new locking wheel nuts. Then the locking key partially shears.

OFFS.

I labour on, thinking that I'll be changing the car shortly anyway.

At least now I've got the tools for the nearside.

An hour later I am finished, absolutely filthy, as anyone who has done this job will know well.

Put all my overalls in the washing machine and sit down for a celebratory beer.

Decide to phone Mum.

OFFS Where is my phone - In my F*****G overalls pocket.

It would have cost £35.00 to have the brakes changed. It's cost me just over £600.00.

[powerflux]

no trolling, but that's why i only use normal wheel nuts. the key is always lost or weak.

[KatieandDad]

I don't know about the Netherlands, but in some parts of the UK you certainly wouldn't be without locking wheel nuts.

[powerflux]

Over here they'll steal the whole car before putting in the effort to remove your rims

[lduarte1973]

are you sure the phone is dead ? have you tryed to dry it out with a hair dryer without battery ?

[Cal Weldon]

I am both laughing and sad at the same time.

[jacco vermeulen]

I could show him my (left) middle finger, Cal.

[brianco]

I left a Panasonic Lumix camera on a river bank on about 27 November 2010. That night the snow came and the camera stayed there for about 2 months. I found it when the snow melted, sitting in a pool of water!! I assumed it dead and then turned it on ...lo and behold another miracle...it showed a screen and a view of what it was pointing at, so I tried a shot and that worked!! On returning home I shook it and some water came out. I left it in a warm room for 48 hours or so and then put in the hot tank cupboard. Two days later all condensation had gone, no discernible fungus in the lens and it still works as well as ever it did!

[brianco]

Originally Posted by jacco vermeulen

middle finger, Cal.

tough

[ODougbo]

You need a pair of speakers - while you work.