Why no vehicle inspections in most states

It's just such a minor cause compared to everything else...well, mostly people not paying attention. Followed by things like drinking, falling asleep, and having medical emergencies while driving. Then a distant (like 1%) from road conditions with vehicle defects coming up just behind road conditions.

https://www.cga.ct.gov/2015/rpt/2015-R-0227.htm

https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812115

Snow Wheeling!

I...have no idea how much snow fell. 2"? 18"? Let's go with 12" :)

Work is under control, let's take the afternoon off :)

Hit Hampton, Eastford, Ashford, and Stafford with pinch of Union and Willington thrown in.

The best part:


And the full video (with plowed roads sped up):





Oh I so should've brought my good camera. There were lots of beautiful scenes!






I love this house! I really, really need to return with my good camera (this is the second time I've stumbled across without a good camera)

Cars back on the road...till tomorrow :D

Not a big update...

Had insomonia on Sunday night, not a great sleep on Monday, woken up by work on Tuesday, couldn't get to NAPA on time to get my lug nuts, up till midnight with issues on Tuesday, had 10pm changes on Wednesay. Felt to tired Thursday to deal with heavy stuff.

Finally got out for an hour early Friday morning to get the wheels back on, take it off jack stands, check fluids, put in a new air filter. Went to start...forgot that Tuesday was like 9 days since I last started it, battery was dead.

Lunch time did get to the quick lube in Putnam for an oil change. It was beyond waht they wanted to handle for a coolant change.

Still one the list is spark plugs, probably fuel pressure sensors (for a stalling-when-warm-start issue that doesn't bother my much, just takes a second start) for me to do then to Sorels for tires, alignment, and coolant change...then I should be good except oil changes for another 50,000.
Old eyes needed the magnifier to set the torque wrench :D



I know the Boy Scout have had to crack down after a fatal accident after midnight New Year's Weekend on their property by a Jeep that rolled over. I know the police have posted about an arrest for some "willful trespass" (along with drunk and carrying without a permit), and Facebook reports that rangers were out posting signs...

Figured while I was of the way there I'd check out the main entrance and it is at least a little optimistic to me they haven't gated it or put up no vehicle signs. Perhaps they're just signing the utility right-of-ways and the old town roads will remain open? I'll have to explore some time it's quiet like 7am on a Tuesday.

Brakes...2 of 2....

It's all done by the getting the new lug nuts in on Tuesday.

Ok, so this worked well -- Harbor Fright tool box, and another tool box tray kept my shit organized.



Took a half hour, but was able to chisel that mother fucking nut off.







Ok, I am really liking this flex head 1/2". I understand now why mechanics like them, it really sped things up.





Interesting, the front rotors are totally different design from rear. They do take most of the force so make the most heat I guess.



Took me about 45 minutes for the first front (had to beat the rotor off with a metal 5# hammer, dead blow wasn't enough), 30 minutes for the other which is about how fast this *should* go. Fucking lug nuts.

Fusion Brakes...1 of...3?

But first...oatmeal with frozen fruit nuked :)



...and it was probably a good idea to Fireball the hot cocoa given how the day quickly devolved...





Fucking two piece lug nuts. Fuck them with extreme prejudice. So the 19mm nuts had swollen so a 19mm and 3/4 didn't fit, and a 21mm and 13/32nds were too big. Had to drive by three other auto parts stores to get a 20mm from O'Reillys.

Which then couldn't take off one lug on the Left Front, got them all on Left Rear, and got stuck on the Right Rear.

So off to NAPA for a bolt so I could put it in the vice and use a punch and hammer to knock it off...



And I punched off the fucking two piece cap. !@#$!#% #$%#^#$.



Out comes the air hammer that I can't remember last time I need to use it.




LOL...the grinding noise that worried me into parking until I could do the brakes...was a stone that got stuck between the rotor and shield.




So lots of conflicting info online...some folks say just push in the caliper, some screw. Definitely needed to be screwed...for now...



Guess I could've gotten away without the rotors...still have ~103,000 on the old rotors so I just ordered some while I was at it. :/




The brakes on my '09 Fusion were total shit. Complete shit. They were stuck the day I drove it home with 25,000-ish miles from the dealer. I did brake pads every 20,000 or so miles.

These brakes? 103,000 miles on the car, 80,000 since I owned it, first time I've touched them. And this design...dayum, the easiest to work on brakes I've ever had the pleasure to work on.



Oh the whole "turn" v. "compress" conflicting info? The one kid who got it right was the one who used vice grips on the side (instead of the notches) to turn them. Once turned in, the didn't fit but compressed easily to finish.



Anyway, 1 down. By butt was getting cold despite sitting on a towel.

I'll bring out a patio chair cushion tomorrow to sit. This damn car is so low I can't get it high enough to sit on a bench, hell I'd need a two post lift to do an oil change o_O

So I'll finish two more wheels tomorrow...but I'm afraid the LF will likely need a trip to Sorels to have the bad lug nut removed.

Beef Stew & Garage Organizing X

Did a little bit on Wednesday...the slots in the bench meant it could support the board while cutting in the middle. But...my batteries for the driver died just after I started...





But I got out on Thursday at lunch after a hectic morning and got to relax finishing getting them up :)