Long suffering Bert, the SUV of questionable origin, is back in our driveway where he belongs. A few weeks back, the front passenger wheel was making some disturbing noises. Trav jacked Bert up to check it out. Since there was nothing obviously wrong, Trav decided to change the brakes. I thought that was weird, since the brakes seemed fine, but whatever. Turns out, I was right. The brakes were fine. But as Trav dropped Bert to the ground after changing the brakes, I noticed some weird movement. I asked him to crank Bert back up. The wheel wiggled, even with all the bolts tightened. All I knew was that wheels should not wiggle, and that was the likely source of the banging sound on turns. Trav knew that it was likely the wheel bearings. 

We called to get Bert in the shop, but there was a three week wait. And Bert was undriveable. We decided to order the parts on Amazon. For that week, I had Tayden’s car because he was visiting his grandparents in Arizona for his spring break. I asked one of my students that is in the automotive program about changing out the wheel bearings, since Travis has never done it before. He made me return the Amazon parts and get really expensive wheel bearings. He said he didn’t want me dead when my wheel fell off. There is something sweet about a student not wanting me dead. He could have viewed this as an opportunity. I also asked if we needed any special tools for the job. He said I needed a BFH. Of course, I had no idea what this was. He replied Big Effing Hammer. Apparently, this is a common industry tool for wheel bearings. How true that turned out to be.

So, Trav and I spent the weekend fixing the wheel bearings, which was perhaps not a DIY job. When I said that we spent the entire weekend, I mean the entire weekend. Most of the time was spent trying to get the rusted, corroded wheel bearings off with the BFH. We had to resort to the internet to find other ideas, which worked on Day 2. Much swearing ensued. It was great. Love those bonding weekends. 

After the fix, Bert had a couple lights on on the dashboard, even though it seemed like the actual controls were fine (the 4WD was not on, but the light was and the ABS worked fine, but the light was on). And there was a weird rubbing on the front driver’s side brake. We kept the shop appointment. 

I drove Bert for the couple weeks, with his rubbing and dashboard lights. There’s something about rubbing and dashboard lights that reminds me of a song. Hmmm. At least he wasn’t making clunking noises on turns. It’s all about perspective. Then, we messed up the repair appointment and dropped Bert off a day late. Trav drove me to work that week, while we waited to see if the shop could take a look at Bert. I heard that his office staff loved it because he was on time all week. My coworker, Colie, drove me home all week. It’s a little relaxing and panicking to be stuck at home with no car. Not sure how it was both, but it was. On Friday, Bert was fixed! We picked him up and celebrated with dinner out. But when we left the restaurant to go home, the brakes in Bert went all the way to the floor. I got out to find brake fluid pouring out from under the front driver’s wheel. 

Now, I don’t know if the parking brake and the car brakes are on a different system, or if the front and back brakes are on a different system, but it seemed like a good idea to NOT find out. So, we got to call a tow truck. Bert, the tower of all things Haldeman, got towed himself. And he was back to the shop. So, now the brake line is fixed, and the brakes didn’t break while I was actually driving, so I am still alive, which is nice. 

Be alive people! It’s feeling like the best way to be today!