For this being a slow month, it has been rather expensive in van maintenance.Replaced the ball joints last week, along with having the bearings cleaned and inspected, and an alignment.
Something still wasn't right after all of that.
So I call them, and we figure it may of been the substitute alignment guy who just happened to do my alignment.I show up Sat morning as they were opening, being #1 on the board out of 12, I explained to them this has to go fast, as if the phone rings with a load, I gotta go.We put it on the rack, and find out the whole problem is the drag link and a center tie rod is bad.I'm thinking, I just replaced the whole steering system in February of this year. Everything.So we order the parts, should be there in a couple of hours, once again, keeping the van available for the much needed phone call from dispatch.Of course, the parts come in, they had the bay open, and the alignment rack open waiting for the parts to be put on by one mechanic, and than Mike will do the alignment,who is very good.Always flawless.We get the parts off, and the new ones out of the box, and, of course, Brandon calls with a good load.That about killed me to explain to him how I was trying to beat the chance of getting a load without going out of service and having to start at # 12 again.anyway, we get it done.All is cool.Who would think that new parts would wear out so quickly? I was beginning to think my one friend was right, with him always saying it is "Those Michigan roads". But, later on, talking with another van driver at the yard, him having a GMC, he also has the same problem with premature wear.I guess they just don't make parts like they used to anymore.Anyways, hoping for a load today....