Confession Time......

[parapaul]

Well, as it was fine yesterday evening I decided to get my back calipers painted to match the front. No problem, got the car up on axle stands, wheels off, and gave them a good clean prior to painting.

2 coats of hammerite and they were looking good, which was lucky as it was just going dark. So, working in the twilight, I put the wheels back on with the bolts finger tight, took out the axle stands and lowered the car again. Nearly lost one of the black bolt covers in the dark on the driveway, but after a bit of scrabbling I found it. Phew!

Tools away, brush in the bin (have you ever tried to clean Hammerite off a paintbrush? ) and back in front of the TV by 9:30. Early in bed, up early for work this morning.

I walked out of the front door at 6:15am, slowed briefly to admire the very shiny newly painted calipers behind the rear wheels, then climbed in and set off for work. Got as far as the end of the road and noticed a knocking noise from the rear offside corner. Definately speed related, but stopped completely when I braked.

My first thought was that I'd got a great big dollop of paint on the disc, but I couldn't have because it was all masked off (7 P's, everyone ), so I carried on a bit, wondering what it could be. Worryingly, it got worse, and i'd got 15 miles to go. Then, like a bolt of lightning, I had a horrible vision....I knew EXACTLY what the problem was.....

...with the bolts finger tight...

"Oh drat oh darn ", I thought to myself as I pulled into the first side street I could find. So there I was at 6:20 this morning, in my green squadsuit, at the side of the road, emptying the contents of my boot to get at the spare wheel well and find the wheel brace!

Oh, how very, very stupid did I feel?

[parapaul]

And no, I'm still waiting for an internet connection at home so there's no pics....

[Duncan]

Yikes!!!! Lucky you spotted it before you started driving too quickly! That could've been nasty!!

[spoons]

Very Very lucky Paul... and well done for owning up..

What colour did you paint the calipers ??

[Brocks]

Could have been worse mate...

http://forum.vectra-c.com/showthread.php?t=27730

Lucky escape there!

When i bought Me Pug years ago from a dealer, I could here a funny noise from the wheel so I popped into the local tyre place and asked em to have a look. They took off the Wheel cover and a bolt was rattling in between the cover and wheel. We checked all the wheels and found all the bolts loose! The Dealer tried to claim local kids had broken into their compound....

[mark1319]

Thats a bit of a school boy error
Lucky you sorted it out, could have ended in tears.

[Jay Kay 313]

& that could of done alot of damage mate lucky. The my old aprentis at the vauxhall dealer I used to work at didn't tighten all four wheel up on a vec b and I had to give it a road test to say the lest I cr4pped myself then I kicked his *** then I kicked mine for not checking the wheel's

[gaz2711]

Hi Mate
Lucky you noticed as like my staff would have done, they would have taken glee in a full extrication even if you had a small shunt.
You may have ended up with a convertible for the summer !

[parapaul]

I gather you're with the fire service then?

What colour did you paint the calipers ??

Bright red really stands out against the bodywork, especially with the kit fitted. We ARE going to make it down to see you at some point, but may see you at Trax first!

Thats a bit of a school boy error
Lucky you sorted it out, could have ended in tears.

I know, the number of times i've changed wheels on cars I really ought to know better!

[j13hdb]

I lost the 2 wheels off the drive axle loaded at 38t once-1 went across several fields and as far as 'm aware still not been found 16 years later, the other nearly hit 20 people filling their cars up as I swerved into the services. Poed my pants , had to lie to the Belgian police and had to wait 3 days for another wagon to come from England to rescue me. Was a god job as well- I'd nearly drank all my ale from Calais!

Was scary at the time but can laugh at it now!!!!! Just think how much you saved replacing 50p shaped discs!!!