Weekend summary

Son-in-law Mike drove up from the Springs to get a brake job done by future son-in-law Jeff, who had done the truck for me last year. Mike's rear driver side brake had been making squealing noises and he was worried about the safety of the vehicle thinking the pads were totally shot. He hit the driveway just as I was heading out to pick up Jeff from across town. When we all got together an hour later things went quickly. The front left was jacked and blocked, the wheel removed then the caliper. The pads and rotor all looked good. The decision was made to replace the pads just to be safe. The process was repeated on the left rear. Again, pads and rotor were good, but the clips holding the pads in the caliper didn't. Both had some signs of wear, and one was misshaped. It looked like it had been improperly installed by an untrained gorilla. Again the decision was made to replace the pads. Off to Checker Auto Parts a half-mile away. Closed?? When the hell did that happen? Oh well, off to Auto Zone a mile plus in the other direction. They had the pads but no clips. Oh well again, off to Advance Auto Parts another mile in yet another direction only to find the clips a special order item that would take several days to get to the store. Back in the driveway the pads were quickly installed, the clips having been given a much better shape with a pair of pliers. On to the right side where the total process was repeated very quickly, like 15 minutes. Jeff is a mechanical wizard.

While the mechanical work was in progress I was scrambling to get the smoker ramped up to smoke some ribs. I got them on just as the work was being cleaned up. We sat around with beers listening to CDs and talking till it started to cool down. The ribs were done a little later. We sat down to eat after Tish got home from work. The ribs were very, very tasty. I'd put some Grill Mates Pork Rub on them.