The Story of Lori

[ChrissyRyan]

That is an expensive bolt.

[Lori Dee]

That is an expensive bolt.

I haven't looked at the itemized bill yet, but I suspect the breakdown will be similar to:

Camber Adjustment Bolt:   $1.00
Labor to replace bolt:    $126.00

 

[ChrissyRyan]

I haven't looked at the itemized bill yet, but I suspect the breakdown will be similar to:

Camber Adjustment Bolt:   $1.00
Labor to replace bolt:    $126.00

 

Ugh!

[davina61]

Sounds about right!!!! Bolt will be pricy as its a shaped part not a normal bolt.

[Emma1017]

The cost, even though painful, is worth it to drive safely.  Particularly since you off road Lori!

[Lori Dee]

Sounds about right!!!! Bolt will be pricy as its a shaped part not a normal bolt.

I wondered about that. I asked if the problem was that the OEM bolt just didn't have enough threads. That's when he said no, it has more "adjustment points". That made me wonder if it was not a typical bolt, but maybe included a frame or attachment of some kind. That would make it a "part" and not a "fastener".

[ChrissyRyan]

OE parts can differ from OEM parts.
The same company likely makes both.

OE is original equipment.

OEM is OE manufacturer made parts.

For instance, DENSO parts are made by the same manufacturer as the same OE Toyota part, but may have the Toyota ID number and or logo removed on the OEM part.  DENSO may in fact be owned by Toyota!
 
Both OE and OEM parts differ from the "generic after market parts" which are designed to replace the OE part's functionality but may not meet all the quality and performance specifications as the OE or OEM part.

[davina61]

You have to be careful of pattern parts, I have seen lower wishbones that don't line up and have 1/2 the spot welds of originals.

[Mrs. Oliphant]

Thanks, Lori--
Your story made me laugh and brought me to tears. It also gave me a glimpse of myself though, instead of the Army, I joined the Marine Corps. My feminine side was beaten into submission at a young age and rarely dared to reveal herself until about five years ago. They didn't call it GD, they called it compulsive gambling. I have not gambled in almost a year. I stopped shortly after coming out as gender fluid to my friends and family. Thanks, again. Semper fi.

[Lori Dee]

Thanks, Lori--
Your story made me laugh and brought me to tears. It also gave me a glimpse of myself though, instead of the Army, I joined the Marine Corps. My feminine side was beaten into submission at a young age and rarely dared to reveal herself until about five years ago. They didn't call it GD, they called it compulsive gambling. I have not gambled in almost a year. I stopped shortly after coming out as gender fluid to my friends and family. Thanks, again. Semper fi.

It always amazes me how small our world is. We all have so many unique experiences within our common stories. I think we all have the same journey, it is just how we handle our specific circumstances to suit our own needs.

Thank you for your service!

[Sephirah]

You lost me at Jeep, lol. That's not a word UK people know, lol.

[Lori Dee]

My Jeep:

https://imgur.com/hRbUZM8

[Sephirah]

My Jeep:

https://imgur.com/hRbUZM8

That's a big ol' beast, Lori. Probably extremely practical for hunting the beautiful and precious rocks in the inhospitable parts of the world. The UK doesn't... as a rule... have those kinds of vehicles, though. Mostly because most of the places they're likely to go, the roads aren't wide enough for them.

I'll show you a video and you'll realise why we don't have these kinds of vehicles on the road...

[Lori Dee]

It isn't as big as it looks.

But I am familiar with the narrow roads in Europe. The ones that got to me in Germany were the narrow cobblestone streets in the cities in the winter. Cobblestones get very slippery when it's icy out.

Here, the Forest Service roads are like the one in the video except they aren't paved. Just dirt, and sometimes rocks.

Fun times. 

[Sephirah]

It isn't as big as it looks.

But I am familiar with the narrow roads in Europe. The ones that got to me in Germany were the narrow cobblestone streets in the cities in the winter. Cobblestones get very slippery when it's icy out.

Here, the Forest Service roads are like the one in the video except they aren't paved. Just dirt, and sometimes rocks.

Fun times. 

You're only missing the snorkel on the front, Lori. Like Bill Paxton's truck in "Twister".

Honestly though I love the relationship you folks have with your vehicles over there. They're an extension of yourself. Because your country is so damn big. I've seen reactions from US folks to some of the cities we have here in the UK, and it blows their mind that people actually can, and do, walk from A to B. It's just a matter of scale. A 5 hour drive in the US is like nothing. In the UK it's like one side of the country to the other. You need wheels. It's something kind of both places don't really see how different the mindset is.

I love the white though, Lori. How many times do you have to have that cleaned a month? I would go with dirt beige. Or even black, lol.

[ChrissyRyan]

The narrow city streets in some European towns can be so quaint.  Many have stones in the streets.

Then you see an Amazon delivery truck and the world seems smaller, they seem to be everywhere.

[Sephirah]

The narrow city streets in some European towns can be so quaint.  Many have stones in the streets.

Then you see an Amazon delivery truck and the world seems smaller, they seem to be everywhere.

I mean, that's because they were never built for 7 feet wide Chryslers, lol. The streets in a lot of British and EU towns are older than America itself.

[Lori Dee]

I love the white though, Lori. How many times do you have to have that cleaned a month?

Clean it? LOL

Mother Nature provides plenty of free car washes. It was raining again today and trying to snow. It the summer, when it is dry, the wind blows most of the dust away, so I don't worry about it. It's a Jeep. It's supposed to be dirty. 

White is a lot cooler in the summer. I have the back side windows blacked out with insulating panels that I made. That keeps the sun and prying eyes out if I am sleeping in there, or just storing mining gear. From the outside the look like tinted glass. But up close you can't see in them.

The panels are custom fit to each window. They are just a layer of Reflectix sandwiched between two layers of thin foam board. Then the assembly is wrapped in black cloth and hot glued together. It works great.
 

[Lori Dee]

The narrow city streets in some European towns can be so quaint.  Many have stones in the streets.

My late father-in-law installed cobblestones in the streets for many years. It really is an art form. The dirt underneath is hard-packed, then each stone is set into place and the cracks are filled with mason's sand. That gives a very durable surface. The sand keeps the proper spacing between stones and locks them into place, but allows water to drain in between the cracks.

[davina61]

A Skoda Yeti in that vid, its almost the Swiss army knife of vehicles if you have the 4x4 version. Rear seats lift out to give a very big load area and it is built rugged. How do I know? well I have one that is the Elegance trim, heated leather seats, 170hp turbo diesel, 6 speed box. I need to get the aircon fixed and parking sensors have packed up and it needs a good wash to remove the green growth from the roof!!