Tick...tick...tick

Ever since I had the Lazy Daze' front brake rotors turned back in Demopolis AL I've been hearing this light tick..tick..tick from the left front wheel when passing a concrete barrier with the drivers window open. I jacked the wheel up and rotated it and I could hear the tick but I couldn't see into the wheel assembly well enough to definitely identify it. I was pretty sure it was the brake rotor lightly rubbing on a sheet metal shield and it didn't sound or feel like a wheel bearing so I ignored it. But darn, it didn't go away! The last couple of days I began to hear that tick..tick..tick even with the window closed and decided it was time to get that wheel pulled to check it out.

Turns out there is a Goodyear shop right handy by the Wal-Mart here in Sullivan MO and it didn't take too long to wander over there. And hang around in spite of a run in with poor customer service - at least the mechanics seem to know what they were doing.

Yep - it was indeed a bent shield.

But that's not all.

The tick..tick..tick was getting louder because the wheel was leaning harder and harder against the shield as the lower ball joint wore. Aha! - of course! That ball joint was one seriously worn puppy too. As was the right one. I knew there was a bit of looseness in the front end but it didn't seem serious and I was going to wait until I got home to check it out.Thank you ticking shield.

We're sporting nice new lower ball joints and the weather is going off the map. Life is good, Kate.

Night camp:

Wal-Mart parking lot, Sullivan, Missouri