Thanks for the optimism we needed...we adore this truck and she has gotten us this far toward home. You are right...a little upside down on trust but it will go away with more miles behind us. Thanks again...needed to hear your honest msg and calling it what it is

 

I'd agree with the guys saying over tightened wheel bearing was the root cause. I set mine up with just the *slightest* possible end play I can; have over 200k on the same wheel bearings. They are not in an oil bath and are not meant to be preloaded (like pinion bearings).

Your rear brakes could be due for service, and yes that does make the fronts work more. The rear wheel cylinders have a tendency to stick on one side, so only about 1/3 of one shoe gets applied. New wheel cylinders or a simple hone job with new cups will probably take care of rear brakes (pretty cheap stuff).

 

Thanks GoinBoarding -

Your explanation as to what can happen with the rear brakes helps a lot.

We are going to have the brakes inspected today just for peace of mind and to help rebuild that trust once more - given we have the Rockies ahead of us on our final stretch next week.

Will be sure to post the outcome(s) as we go along....

 

400+ is harsh... I see no more than $200 for a good set of locking hubs... And 1 hour in labor...

 

That's the problem with being towed to the "closest mechanic" via emergency roadside insurance. We knew this town was going to be trouble and would cost a lot. Pleaded with insurance company to take us 36 miles to Billings but would have charged $3/mile per vehicle (had to tow 5th wheel AND truck) so that was out.

We decided against looking for more trouble with 500 miles left on our trip. We are pulling out of Billings Monday and will just take it slow, pay attention to how everything is handling, etc. and stop in Great Falls (a few hundred miles from here) if we just aren't certain all is well.

We've just been reading and reading to gain that trust back - new brakes have a wear in period, towing in mountains can heat up brakes (need to downshift more than I had been) - new steel mile marker hubs do get warm, etc. Basically my wife and I are recognizing there aren't 30 things falling apart here...but guarantee a free brake inspection shop is never truly free - so we cancelled that appointment for this morning.

We know mechanics we absolutely trust back home in Glacier Park. Fingers crossed that everything is "normal" and "ok" and will have the truck looked at if we have concerns after these final 500 miles, once back home (or sooner if there are problems between here and there).

Hope we're making the right decision but again, feels like we are now looking for trouble instead of diagnosing an actual problem.

 

good luck!! nothing worse then having trouble on the road hundreds of miles from home!!

 

Hi!

As promised, wanted to update on our travels - we made it through the mountains to Glacier with zero problems...all went perfectly. Trust restored! Thanks again to all of you for your help when we needed it so quickly...take care.........

 

Glad you had a good safe trip. It is a scary feeling anymore for me being broke down anywhere. I'm getting older & can't work on my stuff as I use to be able to do. We have had a run of break downs on out stuff. I have had a hard time finding a shop that will do the work correct & not make you wait two weeks to get it back. So the other day I called a shop & took one of our vehicles in & they got it done the next day. Now they are not cheap but they did what they said, they found a screw up of another shop & fixed it, then called my attention to a bad wheel bearing. When they mentioned it I remember hearing a weird noise coming from where the said the bearing was bad.
So my point is I have decided that paying what I think or others think is too much is well worth it if the work is good, the shop stands behind it, as this shop has a 1 year 12,000 mile warranty on parts & labor.
The guy in that little shop that charged you the $481 when you called he was willing to recheck his work. He didn't put you off or make excuses. So you made the trip & his work was OK maybe pricey but you didn't get stranded again.
Craig

 

Yeah I am thinking now that you are back home safely and without any more trouble that $500 repair bill doesn't look so bad.