thanks fellers, good to be back.
but in the cosmic swing of the pendulum, I am afraid some pins got knocked over. yesterday I was cutting out my firewall pieces and got a call from mom-in-law.
IMG_0177 by
Joe Doh, on Flickr
55121813997__993428FE-ACDE-4D8A-A3A5-8AFA2D56F0C8-1 by
Joe Doh, on Flickr
the balljoint castle nut came off in the middle of traffic. the cotter pin was sheared, I asked if she hit any BIG bumps lately and she said absolutely not! not one bump or jostle or even a pothole. oh except that construction zone yesterday where they had a six inch ditch dug across the road she hit at 40 mph. would that do anything?
after unsuccessfully trying to lift it and get the balljoint back on the arm to get it out of the road I just stood in the heat for about an hour till the tow showed up and took it to her mechanic (me) to be fixed. I got it apart last night and need a ball joint press tool. only $170 with the right attachments at cardboard frieght. sheesh. birthday party this weekend, I see limited progress in my immediate future.