Why would I post from Ocala?
Trip Start
Dec 15, 2009
1
19
23
Trip End
Jan 05, 2010
Ocala, Florida
Friday, January 1, 2010
After stopping for a little fast food, I notice a slight vibration and can here a muffled flat-tire like noise coming from the Rodeo. Drive a little further, definetly not a flat since handling is not affected, noise still persists pull over to have a look at things. Check all tires, giving each a shake to see if I can notice any play, nothing. Back on the road, vibration and noise continure, pull over again, check rear-differential fluid, fluid is up and clear no noticeable sign of any problem in the rear. Get some advice from a mechanic friend (hard to help from 3800 kms away) and decided to try and nurse it along, back on the road. Noise is now getting worse, ok time to find a shop, TomTom finds us a Pep Boys 8 clicks from our present location and we begin to head that way.
Noise fades for a few minutes then the real trouble starts, back end starts to skate a little then a loud bang and I have to correct the Rodeo from jumping lanes. A fraction of a second later and the back end drops out, in this time I have been reducing speed and moving over to the lane nearest the shoulder, I now know that I have lost the tire that was making noise, not a flat mind you but lost the tire as in it is now a satelite of the Rodeo. Over to the shoulder I go and into some grass, steering is not very responsive nor is braking, I guess the stopping power of the one Rotor is seriously impacted when it does not have a wheel attached to it... But we stop and we are safe, which is all that matters, a very good outcome when you consider this took place at about 50 MPH!
As I was getting the vehicle stopped and under control I was looking in the rear view hoping my tire was not going to cause an accident I could not see it but did not notice any of the other traffic taking evasive measures. Time to get out to inspect the damage, yup no wheel, oh and there it is coming to rest 3 feet conviently behind the Rodeo. The stud had broken off and the other four lugs then stripped. The tire did not do any damage to the wheel well, the tire itself is now missing a little rubber and the inside of the rim is scarred up a bit.
What I believe happened goes back to my little incident before the trip ever began, the wheel that came off smacked into the curb with enough force to crack the alloy rim so I believe some damage was done to either the wheel bearing or the rear axle shaft. Before we decided to bring take the Rodeo we did have things checked out I was a little more focused on the front end side of things, so this has been a lesson learned.
So we call CAA to arrange for a tow, now many thanks go out to my Dad who purchased this membership for us as a Christmas gift before we left, it came in very handy indeed and CAA were excellent with thier assistance. The tow truck arrived within 40 minutes and I had him stop at a local hotel to drop off our baggage and then he and I took the Rodeo to the Pep Boys we were headed to before the calmatiy occurred.
Initial prognosis is a bent Axle shaft and a damaged rotor, now this was New Years day of course so there were no parts to be had and I am not sure if we can get them tomorrow.
So just to recap we are all fine and we look forward to getting back on the road just as soon as we can, we will provide an update tomorrow on how things are looking.
The Waffles
