Wheel Bearing on 2002

Last weekend on Saturday, March 13, 2010, I had the front driver's side wheel bearing and hub replaced. It made the steering-wheel-shaking-during-braking problem we inherited from the first owner go away completely! I was thrilled and couldn't believe it. The rumbling noise in the car while turning also went away completely. Even regular overall driving in a straight line was much quieter, almost as quiet as a new 8th-generation Corolla. I love Top Tech. I wonder if any of their mechanics are single.

While they had the car lifted, I walked around underneath and noticed the front tires' tread getting low. Took the '02 to Discount Tire in Austin today and had both front tires replaced with 85k-mi Pirellis. The guy indicated the driver's side rear tire tread was getting low, too. I'll monitor it and replace it next time. It was another good experience at Discount Tire, despite the $253 expense.

The '02 also got broken into overnight in the apartment complex for my first-ever break-in experience. The alarm had been activated, but I didn't hear it go off last night. The front passenger seat was soaked. The thief took everything in the glove compartment, which wasn't valued very much--lots of quarters for toll roads, two purses to hold the quarters, two tire gauges, and my Windshield screen case. I'm annoyed but thankful they didn't vandalize the car and the loss was so small. I do feel guilty about storing the coins there, though, and will therefore not spend any money on fun stuff this weekend. I hope that thief used the money to buy food for his family or something honorable.

2002 Oil Change

The 2002 got an oil change today and the mechanic mentioned the 90,000-mile service that it missed. It has 99,400 miles now.