Good laugh...
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,027
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From: Baltimore MD
St. Jude Donor '08
Good laugh...
I took my car in for a 4 wheel alignment today at a local shop. They did my 69 camaro last year so I figured the vette would be no problem. They came to get me to show me a major problem they discovered. It seems the rear wheels were stuck and wouldn't spin. I just put rotors on last night so anything is possible. I grabbed the wheels and sure enough they wouldn't spin. I reached in and released the parking brake and they spun fine. This made me a little nervous letting them do the alignment but 2.5 hours later I drove off and all seems well.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
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From: levittown pa. usa Even a bad day with my `Vette, is better than a good day at work
St. Jude Donor '10
Hmmmm! With that kind of crew, next thing you know they`ll come running to you to tell you that the steering wheel don`t turn when the keys are out of the car 
Large Impressive Member
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From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
I wouldn't be too hard on them. I had my car for a few days before I realized that you could move the brake back down after setting it to make getting in and out or the car easier. Then, after that realization, I would drive off with the brake still set, light on the dash notwithstanding. Glad I got over that habit before I put good pads and rotors on! 
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,027
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From: Baltimore MD
St. Jude Donor '08
I wasn't hard on them...it was one of those moments where nobody needed to say a word. I did bring them the "advanced street" alignment specs and the car feels great now. I'll really find out if the sun ever comes out again in MD!!!
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 13,717
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From: RI
Originally Posted by Corvette Kid NC
I wouldn't be too hard on them. I had my car for a few days before I realized that you could move the brake back down after setting it to make getting in and out or the car easier. Then, after that realization, I would drive off with the brake still set, light on the dash notwithstanding. Glad I got over that habit before I put good pads and rotors on!
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,111
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From: My redneck of the woods louisiana
you should have had them top off the headlight fluid while they were at it. 
just a tip i had a very good experience with sears autocenter they mounted new tires aligned it and replaced the oil in like 2 hours.
just a tip i had a very good experience with sears autocenter they mounted new tires aligned it and replaced the oil in like 2 hours.
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Large Impressive Member
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From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by pwoolford
I wasn't hard on them...it was one of those moments where nobody needed to say a word. I did bring them the "advanced street" alignment specs and the car feels great now. I'll really find out if the sun ever comes out again in MD!!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,954
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From: Obama=death for America
No matter where you go, it always depends on the caliber of the person working on your car. He could have 20 years of technical expertise or a kid learning the trade. Sometimes, you get the short straw and you unfortunately got the straw with the hole in it. But at least the problem that you experienced wasn't anything major and it was easily rectified.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,428
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From: Jacksonville FL
Originally Posted by Corvette Kid NC
Oh you'll like that advanced street set up. And wonder why they didn't come that way to begin with. :
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,038
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From: Brick- Next to the land of Mojo NJ
Originally Posted by 85 500 horse
No matter where you go, it always depends on the caliber of the person working on your car. He could have 20 years of technical expertise or a kid learning the trade. Sometimes, you get the short straw and you unfortunately got the straw with the hole in it. But at least the problem that you experienced wasn't anything major and it was easily rectified.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 175
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From: Fort Myers FL
Originally Posted by wht_slvr_86
you should have had them top off the headlight fluid while they were at it. just a tip i had a very good experience with sears autocenter they mounted new tires aligned it and replaced the oil in like 2 hours.
just a tip i had a very good experience with sears autocenter they mounted new tires aligned it and replaced the oil in like 2 hours.
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by Midnite 88
They didn't come like that to begin with 'cause it will wear the tires much quicker. There is always a compromise. Just my .02 worth.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: St. Peters MO Sometimes you have to prove yourself by doing alot of killing or alot of dying...
I agree with Corvette kid NC. The first vette I test drove I noticed the brake light was on... but the handle was against the floor board. I was confused, but the owner showed me what was up. If you aren't familiar with the car, it is a pretty common mistake... but it is damn funny that they'd point out such an odd "problem" such as that.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,817
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From: Hartland WI
Originally Posted by pwoolford
I wasn't hard on them...it was one of those moments where nobody needed to say a word. I did bring them the "advanced street" alignment specs and the car feels great now. I'll really find out if the sun ever comes out again in MD!!!
Where do you find the "advanced street" specs? My '88 ('vert, auto, Z52 option) just got new tires this weekend and I want to get her in for an alignment right away - might as well look into those specs.
EDIT - Ah - never mind - found them at VB&P's site.
Last edited by rstackjd; Apr 4, 2005 at 10:35 AM.
Race Director
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From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
Originally Posted by Corvette Kid NC
Au contraire, I went through a set of Kumho MXs with the advanced set up and they wore pretty evenly.
I think midnight's point is that they will WEAR faster, not wear more unevenly.
Yes, there is ALWAYS a compromise.....Vette Brakes even tells you what those compromises are.
Larry
code5coupe
Waka, Waka, Waka!
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Richmond Virginia
CI 4-6-8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Contributor
Originally Posted by Corvette Kid NC
...
Glad I got over that habit before I put good pads and rotors on!
Glad I got over that habit before I put good pads and rotors on!
You would not have done any dammage at all to the new pads and rotors. The emergency brake uses an entirely different set of pads than the main brakes.
I only mention this because if you really did put a lot of wear on the emergency brake, then the e-brake pads are still worn even after chainging the main pads. There is a drum-brake setup inside the rear rotor that is used only for the e-brake. You might want to replace those too.
Sorry if you already knew this, I just would have hated for you to lose your e-brake in an emergency, when you were expecting it to be using new pads.
