If it ain't one thing.....

[swervin ervin]

This is nothing but a rant post. We all know how it makes you feel better for someone else to read about things that are not going right.

RANT ON.

First after trying everything to get the rear disc brakes working, only thing left that might be wrong was the combination valve. Along with me finding a piece of something inside the one I had, I called MP Brakes and they agreed to send me another one. Now don't get me wrong, these folks are super easy to get along with. The biggest problem I have with them is being able to get hold of someone when you call. You call and even have the extension number to the guy you need to talk with. A answering machine answers and he says he's away from the phone, to leave your number and he will call you back. This is fine, but who the hell wants to sit by the phone waiting for him to call?

Anyway, after getting hold of Joe, the returns guy. He says he will put me a new valve in the mail. We had agreed for him to go ahead and send it and when they get the other one back to give me credit. They even send UPS out to my house to pick it up. Shipping it back cost me nothing. Great.

Well, this was on the 11th. I figured something was wrong because it's only around 2 hours from my house to MP Brakes. Usually parts get here in a day. I waited, thinking maybe we got our wires crossed and he thought I wanted him to wait until they got the part before sending out the new one. I checked UPS tracking and seen they got it the 13th. Still on the 18th, Tuesday, no valve. I called and got tired of not being able to get hold of Joe and left my number for him to call me back. After waiting around 30 minutes he called. I asked him about the valve. He said, you haven't got it yet? Well, no. Then he says let me check my records. I got the other valve last week. He says, sorry, for some reason one didn't get sent. I'll send you one today, which was yesterday. Well, it came today. Guess what? It's the wrong damn valve. It's a disc/drum valve.

Now I have to call him again tomorrow and get him to send the right one. This is really getting on my last nerve. Now let's see. Why did I want disc brakes? Oh yeah. I needed something to piss me off. Everything was going to smooth.

RANT OFF

[87 STEPPER]

Well that sux,

Id'e say go get it your self but with gas price's @ 2 bux it's probably cheaper just to let DooDoo Brown(UPS) do it.

[gldevall]

Mike, why didn't you just buy one of the rear disc kits they have out? Seems like all of the time you have spent on it would have made up for the price difference.

[swervin ervin]

Originally Posted by gldevall

Mike, why didn't you just buy one of the rear disc kits they have out? Seems like all of the time you have spent on it would have made up for the price difference.

Well, I guess this would be an option. But, for one thing, I didn't like the way they were made. Look to flemsy to me. Second, you still don't get the combination valve and master cylinder in kits. So, this would still be my problem even if it was a kit. Third, I wanted to see if I could make this work myself. Believe me, everything looks perfect. Just having a problem not related to what I made. The problem I'm having has nothing to do with what I've done. I have a bad part somewhere and I'm thinking it's the valve. We'll see when I get the part.

I don't really have a bunch of time in it. Most of the time has been spent waiting on parts to get here. It's not hurting a thing sitting on jackstands in my shop. I've got plenty of other vehicles to drive. If I had needed to drive it daily, it would have been a different story. I doubt I would have started a project like this if that were the case.

My time don't cost me anything. My setup isn't any cheaper than the kits yoiu can buy. Probably more. But I did do everything right, even if they don't work, they sure do look cool.

[plumbcut]

keep on keepin on, mike.

this stuff happens to me all too often. I swear I could write a god &^%$ book on it and call it an autobiography.

pc

[Liz]

Dang Mike.. that sucks, and just like plumbcut said happens way to often ...

[Zilverado]

Wow, that's quite interesting. I'm guessing that Joe paniced a little when he found out nothing had been sent and quickly grabbed the first (wrong) valve he could find...

Anyway, as always your attitude stays good. Just keep your eye on the prize.

At least you have a shop for your ride to be up on axle stands in.

[swervin ervin]

Called Joe (the returns guy) back today and of course had to leave my number for him to call me back. These people are so danged nice and polite, you can't get pissed at them no matter how bad you want to. Anyway, he calls me back and I tell him he sent the wrong valve. He says there is a funny story behind this too. He says another customer was needing a VL3350 (wonder why he was also having to get one replaced) and mine is a VL3359. In the confusion he get the numbers crossed and he sent me a VL3350 also. Anyway he tells me the only difference in the two is the metering valve. The 3350 is a disc/drum valve which has the metering valve and the 3359 disc/disc doesn't. I remember seeing something about this in some info from them. Their site is do danged hard to navigate, I've searched and can't find it. But anyway, all you have to do is remove the metering valve and put a solid plug back in the hole. He is sending me the solid plug.

Want to know the funny part of this. The disc/disc valve is $10.00 higher than the disc/drum valve. The disc/drum valve has the metering valve and the other one doesn't. So let me get this straight. It costs 10 bucks more without the valve? They are the exact same thing except for the metering valve. This has got to be a supply and demand thing if I ever saw one.

So, I should have the plug tomorrow and will start reassembling everything. While I've been waiting I purged all the fluid from the lines and calipers. I have the master installed and bench bled with plugs in the fittings. New park brake cables are hooked and working perfectly. All I have to do is hook up the combination valve and bleed the system.

If it doesn't work this time, I'm calling in the dogs cause the rabbits have all been shot.

[Bowed]

I seem to run into that type of situation all to often , sometimes I swear 90% of everything that goes wrong for me is someone else not doing something they should , or doing something they are not supposed to be doing . Anyways hope it comes out right for you this time .