Argh.
On my way home from work tonight - unexpectedly working late - my brakes feel a bit weird. Then I smell something. Is it my truck? Is it that guy in front of me? Hmm. Smells like burning brakes. Please let it not be me. I notice the truck is drifting one way, and pulling a bit the other way when braking. My heart sinks. I pump the brakes a time or two hoping to "loosen" them. Next thing I know black smoke is pouring out of my driver side tire!
Dammitdammitdammitdammit! Fortunately I was at the Sunoco station, so I pulled over there, called hubbby, mechanic, and tow. Tow dispatcher says, "1/2 hour, 45 minutes". Fine. Call the boss and tell them I'll be late, 'cause I won't make hubby - who will have to drive me to work - get up at the ungodly hour I do.
An hour later I call the dispatcher, "he's not here". Dispatcher, after a pause, says in an annoyed voice, that the guy had gone to the corner of 7 and 123 rather than 7 and 193. Fine. 15 minutes they say - I know it's more, rush hour and all.
Another half hour later, I call again "still not here". Dispatcher says the guy says 5 minutes. 15 minutes later, I call back "where is he". Dispatcher has no idea; the guy has stopped answering dispatch calls. Other trucks are tied up, but he'll send a reliable guy as soon as one frees up.
TWO AND A HALF HOURS after my initial call the driver still hasn't shown up (his ass is fired, according to the dispatcher, who sounded as angry as I felt), one of the other drivers has to drop off a Mercedes at the shop down the road, and is on his way.
My radio dies. I try to start the truck. Nope, battery's dead. It had gotten dark. Blinkers had been running for a while, and I'd turned the headlights on for safety after it got dark.
By this time I'm ready to chew stone and spit sand.
Finally the new guys show up, get my truck on the flatbed, and get me over to my auto shop, which of course was closed, 'cause their closing time was about when I called initially.
And, of course, tomorrow I'm Da Boss of my office, AND I have a Really Important Interview tomorrow (looking for my first manager job within my organization). I'll be late to work, discombobulated, and I was already nervous about the interview before my truck had a seizure. I'm screwed.
Anyway, pretty sure it's the caliper(s). Brake fluid seems fine, and there's no dripping (had plenty of time to watch for it) or sprays on the block. The damn brake smoked for 5 minutes after I stopped, and smelled for close to an hour after that. I think the right one may be dragging too, I didn't see smoke but the wheel was hot.
Kenny says he should be able to fix it and get it back to me tomorrow. I sure hope so, I was planning on visiting my little horse on Saturday, since I've been on vacation out west these last two weeks.
I dunno. I love my truck, but maybe it's time for a new one...