Cold Nights, Moderate Days, Replaced Our Car’s Brakes and Now another Problem.

Our Location today is McGregor, Ontario, Canada. 

Last night the temperature hung just above the freeze mark for our area of Ontario. Lots of people wonder, How can it be so cold in our area while they are getting warmer temperatures? The reason is because Southern Ontario especially Essex County is at the end of a peninsula that is completely surrounded by water. In the summer time we are often times called the Florida of Canada. We tend to be the last spot in Canada to get cold because of warmth retained from all that water. In the same respect we tend to be the last spot in Canada to get warm because of the cold retained from all that water. 

When we got up this morning before 8:00 it was only 41 F (5 C) inside the trailer. We could see our breathes when we exhaled from all the moisture in the air. This was not only an Electric Fireplace Day but we needed to turn the Furnace on for a single cycle just so we could stop shivering uncontrollably long enough to have our breakfast. 

As the Sun started warming everything up slowly we started seeing many of the residents heading to the Links. This is a Golf and RV Park where many of the residents are Golfers. We did our usual reading and chores along with adding a few more for good measure. 

Having emptied our holding tanks last Sunday I took the time to repeat that today. Wearing just my work sweater with the bright sunlight I was more than comfortable. 

Finding where to locare the Jack and support blocks
was the hardest part of the job.

By 1:00 we were on our way to our son Kevin and daughter-in-law Melissa’s home in Amherstburg. When we got there I didn’t waste too much time to start working on our car. Since the winter of 2012/13 we have been leaving our car with them for security and so Kevin can use it for minor errands to keep it exercised. That’s right exercising our car. There is nothing worse than just leaving a vehicle sit through the winter. When we spoke to them from Arizona this winter, Kevin mentioned that it sounded like the rear brakes needed replacing and he knows what he’s talking about. We keep our vehicles in good shape but I had planned on checking the brakes when we got home even before we left the south west. 

Kneeling on Cement was the second hardest part of the job.

In today’s automobiles there is no turning of rotors which is good because the worn pads had definitely left their mark on them. The hardest part of the job was finding my tools to do the job because many newer cars have half Standard and half Metric fasteners. I learned to do brakes at a very young age when all the brakes were Drum Brakes. With most vehicles having Disc Brakes today it is even easier to do. What appeared to be the problem was corrosion build up on the Caliper Ways which causes the calipers not to retract when the Brake Pedal is released. It took nearly an hour and a half to do the first side but only forty-five minutes for the second side.  

Our son Ken playing with the dogs at his brother's home.

Once everything was cleaned up Kathy and I took the car for a Road Test and were very happy with the results. While we were out we stopped at McDonalds for a Sweet Chili Wrap and drinks for our supper. 

On the way back Home Kathy detected the smell of gasoline in the car. We looked under the hood but couldn’t see anything. Chances are we are going to have to bring it someplace with a hoist to get that fixed. The temperatures are taking another dive tonight hopefully for the last time this spring. Thanks for following along and feel free to leave a comment. Be Safe and Enjoy!  

It’s about time. 

Krackers 

You Might Be a Redneck If 

Your lips are moving as you're reading this.