Focus, or why it's better to go to pros...

[epbrown]

Well, UPS missed me by about 15 minutes yesterday, so in order to get the tires on the car before work I placed them on will call and picked them up first thing in the morning. I ended up using the shop that did the Michelins on my Rolls, since they were close, having a slow day, and (in my experience) amenable to listening to picky car owners.

Walking through the process with the mechanic, which slowed him down considerably, I saw an excellent reason why some jobs are best done at a garage instead of at home.
Here's the pro version:

Remove the old tires. Inflate and balance the new tires. Mount the new tires. Customer goes home in 45 minutes, ready for trip tomorrow.

Here's what I would have done:

Step 01: Remove the tires. Listen to her, "Take the Rolls." It'll take me 30 minutes, TOPS, and the Porsche is much better on the highway. We'll make much better time this way.

Step 02: Consider painting the lugs, since mine look worn as do the ones the wheels came with. Where can I find some Wurth's matte black?

Step 03: Huh, should I get wheel locks as well? That would look cool, though I keep seeing posts on the Pelican board about people losing the keys. How many posts? How much are they? Better fire up the computer...

Step 04: I don't like the plain black center caps, maybe I should get the crests painted. Didn't I see something in Pano about some guy that does that? Wonder what he charges...

Step 05: Man, those calipers look plain. Maybe I should paint them. Red to match the exterior, or black to match the new wheels? Or maybe bead blast them. Can you bead blast calipers? And how are the pads anyway? Lot of guys are using the Boxster brakes; now that I've got the bigger wheels...

Step 06: The rotors are vented! Cross-drilled would work better and look nicer through the spokes. Aren't they on sale somewhere? I thought I saw something in Excellence...

Step 07: Look at those wheel wells, tsk. It's filthy in there. I ought to scrub those puppies out - really make the wheels look better. Whoa - time for work!

Step 08: Man, I slept late. We're supposed to hit the road by noon. Better get those wheels on! First, get some carbs in me...

Step 09: That hit the spot. Oh, the wheel wells! I was going to clean those. What have I got that will work...

Step 10: Looking good in there. Only one more to go...hey! That must be my oil cooler. Kinda small, no wonder all the guys upgrade them. What's that run, anyway? Just check the board again...

Step 11: LOL! Man, that Wayne's a crack-up. Shouldn't have spent so much time reading, though. Just that last wheel well, put the tires on, and we're on the way! Hmm, what's this do?

Step 12: Sheesh! What's her problem? If I got back all the time I've waited for her to get ready, I'd be immortal! What's an hour? The wheels are on, we're good to go. So we'll be a little late...

Step 13: I tell ya, I'm definitely reconsidering this relationship. With a temper like that, only one of us is going to grow old, and likely that will be in prison for murder. I definitely heard something when we started down the street. She'd be happier on I-65 just outside of Indianapolis with a dead car? Not bloody likely! Heck, I may have saved our lives, who knows what's wrong, and does she appreciate it? Not hardly. So we'll be 5 or 6 hours late. It's not like we were going to do anything...I'll post a question to the board, describe the noise, see if the guys have any ideas.

Step 14: Yep, just what I thought, tires out of balance. Nice to have the guys confirm my diagnosis. Don't have anything to do that with here, shouldn't take long at a shop, though. Hmm, it's kinda late, and most places close early on Saturday. Fat chance of anyone being open on Sunday, and the kids working Sunday are fresh out of school anyway - it's not like the master mechanics are working weekends. Better wait until Monday. Better yet, Tuesday, in case the boys are hung over or something. No hurry.

Step 15: Take the Rolls.

[tight as a bull's ass]

There is no substitute for working on your own car.

[pbs911]

LOL

But whats the problem. Sounds like most of my projects.