Drove my "new" pickup to work yesterday; I figured I'd just spend some quality time with it to figure out what I'd actually need to fix on it (there's always something.) Well the one issue I knew about when I bought the truck was that there was a little hum from the front end and I figured it'd need some new front wheel bearings. (PO was real good about service - I've got a whole book full of receipts - but not a car guy; so I doubt the bearings were ever repacked since the maintenance schedule didn't call for it.) By the time I got home, the noise was noticeably worse, so it needed attention Right Away. I'd already told JP I'd help him haul the "mother lode" this weekend, so I just dropped it off at the little garage at the end of the street because I didn't .
Well, the guy replaced all the wheel bearings, gave me some new front brake pads ("they're legal but thin, if I put them in now you'll only pay for the parts and then you won't have to worry about it for years") apparently got bored, started checking the truck over, and identified and fixed a vacuum issue with the HVAC controls (I'd already discovered it but hadn't had time to fix it) was done before I got home from work, and charged me $100 less than he'd quoted me when I dropped it off. Also discovered in the shop bays an old F-100 street rod and a shoebox Chevy.
It is good to know people that do honest work for a good price... even better when they are a 90 second walk from my front door.
nate