crazyspeed
Enthusiast
Well, I decided to get the recall done on my 97 GTS before it's too late. I've been dragging my feet about this for three years because I don't trust anyone in my area to do this lengthy recall.
I called the Viper Wizard and was informed he can still do the recall for Dodge....so I decided to take advantage of an unusual late season weather window and visit my sister in Weschester County. .. 800 mile round trip
Chuck was super and agreed to knock the job out in one day. Soooo it's late in the day when I am ready to leave Tator's Dodge and daylight is failing. Tires are cold and the brakes are cold and the roads are cold.
I was heading west and no more than a couple of miles from Tator's on Rt 35, a country two land road in beautiful hilly country, heading towards the Saw Mill Pky. There are no shoulders on this road ( or very narrow shoulders in parts) with steel guardrails along some areas.
I am unfamiliar with the area and momentarily take my eyes of the road to glance at the navigation map and when I look up into the fading twilight.. BAM a deer is jumping out in front of my Viper. I have nowhere to go.. WHAM I jump all over the brake pedal
The Viper stops quickly in the center of the road with very slight twitching but no fishtail.
The tire squeal is still ringing in my ears as I watch the deer jump back into the woods and dissappear...no blood no foul..very close call for all of us ...me ,the Viper , and Bambi.
All I could think of was... the expense and trouble and time and planning to get the Viper all peached out ..was in a whisker of going all for naught.
And then it hit home....less than three weeks ago I had finally installed Tom's 40mm rear brake calipers after procrastinating for 9 months ( Tom...thanks for your patience and expert help) Tom can vouch for the fact that I was yanking his chain for a long time.
I know for certain the outcome would have been very different with the stock rear brake calipers/balance because in the week following the install of the larger bore calipers, I noticed a difference in the braking ( no more nose dive....the car seems to sit down and hug the road under heavy braking). The last time I had braked very hard ( panic stop) I flat spotted the front tires ( bad...thump thump) and tire smoke surrounded the car and filled my lungs. But no more of that crap
Also, Chuck and Rob stayed late to do front brake work which was not even scheduled work for the day...and then Rob took the car out to "break in the brakes".
So ..thanks to the guys at Tator's...I hope you guys were able to put the extra 'beer money' to good use
So , here is a testimonial to the advantages (resources) we have here with VCA
I called the Viper Wizard and was informed he can still do the recall for Dodge....so I decided to take advantage of an unusual late season weather window and visit my sister in Weschester County. .. 800 mile round trip
Chuck was super and agreed to knock the job out in one day. Soooo it's late in the day when I am ready to leave Tator's Dodge and daylight is failing. Tires are cold and the brakes are cold and the roads are cold.
I was heading west and no more than a couple of miles from Tator's on Rt 35, a country two land road in beautiful hilly country, heading towards the Saw Mill Pky. There are no shoulders on this road ( or very narrow shoulders in parts) with steel guardrails along some areas.
I am unfamiliar with the area and momentarily take my eyes of the road to glance at the navigation map and when I look up into the fading twilight.. BAM a deer is jumping out in front of my Viper. I have nowhere to go.. WHAM I jump all over the brake pedal
The Viper stops quickly in the center of the road with very slight twitching but no fishtail. The tire squeal is still ringing in my ears as I watch the deer jump back into the woods and dissappear...no blood no foul..very close call for all of us ...me ,the Viper , and Bambi.
All I could think of was... the expense and trouble and time and planning to get the Viper all peached out ..was in a whisker of going all for naught.
And then it hit home....less than three weeks ago I had finally installed Tom's 40mm rear brake calipers after procrastinating for 9 months ( Tom...thanks for your patience and expert help) Tom can vouch for the fact that I was yanking his chain for a long time.
I know for certain the outcome would have been very different with the stock rear brake calipers/balance because in the week following the install of the larger bore calipers, I noticed a difference in the braking ( no more nose dive....the car seems to sit down and hug the road under heavy braking). The last time I had braked very hard ( panic stop) I flat spotted the front tires ( bad...thump thump) and tire smoke surrounded the car and filled my lungs. But no more of that crap
Also, Chuck and Rob stayed late to do front brake work which was not even scheduled work for the day...and then Rob took the car out to "break in the brakes".
So ..thanks to the guys at Tator's...I hope you guys were able to put the extra 'beer money' to good use
So , here is a testimonial to the advantages (resources) we have here with VCA
I was 3 feet from hitting that deer. I can still picture the .....in my minds eye
tmi
