I have a Mazda B-3000, 1994. I've posted about this truck before.
The truck has been meticulously maintained as far as a person of the
female persuasion who knows nothing about cars can. In June, a chance
stop at a new garage (since closed, or I'd take it there) turned up so
much play in the left front wheel, while the truck was running up on
the lifts, that the mechanic told me I really needed ball joint repairs
ASAP.
Otherwise, he said he "never saw a truck so dry at this age." He let
me stand under the car and told me beside the ball joints, everything
was in definitely acceptable shape.
I loaned the truck to a brother-in-law who knows less about cars than
me. I've seen him drive it before, and he hammers it even if I'm in
the passenger seat. He didn't know about this stop at above garage and
calls two weeks later and says "Don't you take care of your truck?
Your exhaust system's totally gone. Your 'undercarriage' is SHOT!!!"
I take truck in to chain muffler place and get it replaced up to the
catty. Brakes and brakes lines were new in January. One new, one good
front shock.
Before Ernesto this weekend I visited the back BACK woods. Dirt road
ruined by June floods. Half-mile in, half-mile out. I drove five,
eight MPH tops. When I finally got back to pavement, a vibration was
so bad I thought the wheel was ready to come off. Vibration is not
constant. Gets unbelievable upon acceleration, so I drove without
accelerating. When I don't accelerate, the vibration stops. But
yesterday I started the truck, and without even taking it out of Park,
it was vibrating like a washing machine.
I think I'll part it out. But I know I'll never own a truck again and
if I knew what might be causing this, I'd spring for the fix. If those
guys from Northeast PA who were here in the spring read this, could you
remind me where the garages were you suggested? I need a new
windshield too and also someone who could slap some Bondo on the wheel
wells.
I never knew how much I love this truck until now. Thanks.
On Sun, 03 Sep 2006 04:38:44 -0700, pennsylady2002 rearranged some
electrons to form:
> I have a Mazda B-3000, 1994. I've posted about this truck before.
>
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> the lifts, that the mechanic told me I really needed ball joint repairs
> ASAP.
So, did you take that advice?
> I take truck in to chain muffler place and get it replaced up to the
> catty. Brakes and brakes lines were new in January. One new, one good
> front shock.
Shocks should always be replaced in pairs.
> Before Ernesto this weekend I visited the back BACK woods. Dirt road
> ruined by June floods. Half-mile in, half-mile out. I drove five,
> eight MPH tops. When I finally got back to pavement, a vibration was
> so bad I thought the wheel was ready to come off.
> I need a new
> windshield too and also someone who could slap some Bondo on the wheel
> wells.
>
> I never knew how much I love this truck until now. Thanks.
Obviously, if you need a new windshield, and you bashed in the fenders,
you did more than "I drove five, eight MPH tops".
Is there more you want to tell us?

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David M (dmacchiarolo)
http://home.triad.rr.com/redsled
T/S 53than drove
sled351 Linux 2.4.18-14 has been up 3 days 14:13
pennsylady2002@yahoo.com - 03 Sep 2006 13:58 GMT
> > the mechanic told me I really needed ball joint repairs ASAP.
>
> So, did you take that advice?
No. I thought I'd ride the truck out until it legally expires in
January. After I posted here, I Googled this group, and looks like
this is going to be major orthopedic surgery.
> Shocks should always be replaced in pairs.
Didn't know this either.
> Obviously, if you need a new windshield, and you bashed in the fenders,
> you did more than "I drove five, eight MPH tops".
>
> Is there more you want to tell us?
What happens in the Poconos *stays* in the Poconos. :) Seriously, the
fenders were Bondoed and repainted when I bought it, and it's been
ungaraged in the mountains two years. The windshield cracked when I
washed the truck with my pressure washer.
Advocate - 03 Sep 2006 15:23 GMT
>> > the mechanic told me I really needed ball joint repairs ASAP.
>>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> January. After I posted here, I Googled this group, and looks like
> this is going to be major orthopedic surgery.
If you had ever seen what happens when a ball joint fails, you wouldn't
drive it another day. Your truck is unsafe and if you don't wish to fix it,
it should be parked.
pennsylady2002@yahoo.com - 03 Sep 2006 17:19 GMT
> If you had ever seen what happens when a ball joint fails, you wouldn't
> drive it another day. Your truck is unsafe and if you don't wish to fix it,
> it should be parked.
It is, sir. Thank you for taking the time to show your concern. I
consider myself fortunate to have not been killed, the more I read
about how dangerous this situation is. Have a nice Sunday, you deserve
it!
>I have a Mazda B-3000, 1994. I've posted about this truck before.
> I never knew how much I love this truck until now. Thanks.
...don't matter how much you love it, it is time to put it out of it's
misery.
john