The Sound of Silence...

While Mossflower was visiting her sister in Canada, I was asked to drive her car into the garage to keep it out of the elements. No, I do not have a special talent for driving cars into the garage. The garage can accomodate a total of three cars as long as two are in tandem and two are side-by-side.

Getting into the car was not a major problem - we had a back up key available. Getting it started - let's just say it "grumbled" a bit before actually succeeding in sustaining ignition on all four cylinders. Once it was running smoothly I backed it out into the street and pulled up into the garage to pull it all the way forward in front of Jean's PT Cruiser (she has since "graduated" to a new Town & Country Touring minivan). When I put on the brakes to avoid going through the garage door at the back end of the garage, I heard sounds that were never intended to be heard in a motor vehicle. Metal on metal in full quadriphonic sound.

Jean called Canada to clear the necessary mechanical work and we took it down to the local Chrysler dealer who replaced:
1. Both front rotors
2. Both sets of pads for the front disc brakes
3. Both rear drums (cracked)
4. Both sets of brake shoes for the rear brakes.

About $700 (US) later the car drives (actually, brakes) better than it ever has, according to a very grateful Mossflower. The service manager pointed out that it will need a couple of new tires before it can be inspected this spring. At least there is time to save a bit for that repair.