O/T: Good repair shop in/near Beverly Hills, FL?

My oldest son got laid off here in Michigan. His girlfriend's younger sister needed a ride to Beverly Hills, FL. He has the time, and her mom was buying the gas, so he said he'd take care of it for them.

They got there yesterday evening, no problems. Today he calls me at work, problem with the truck. Got it to a garage, right front caliper is intermittently hanging up, pads shot, rotor needs to be turned. The garage is quoting him about $350 to replace both calipers, turn both rotors and replace the pads.

The truck is a '99 Dakota, 2 wheel drive, so it's a fairly simple job. I could talk him through it on the phone but he has no place to work on it and no tools.

Then he tells me that his girlfriend's mom has apparently run out of cash and he doesn't know if they will have gas money to come back. Sounds like she sent two debit cards with them, one stopped working on the way down(assuming no funds to back it), the other one is overdrawing it's account.

So, short summary: he's 1100 miles from home, has his girlfriend, two of her sisters and a friend of one of the sisters with him(having 4 teenage girls in the truck would probably drive me nuts). A busted truck and maybe no money left to get back to Michigan.

I told him to start checking for jobs, might be able to pick up a few days work. Could be his only option. Y'all have any ideas?

Thanks,

Anthony

Can't help you with the garage,but if a caliper's hanging up,tell him to check the rubber brake line running to it. My sons girlfriends Toyota did that and that was the problem. Didn't need calipers at all.

Just do the caliper that is hanging. Part should be around 55 -60 bucks. Buy a good line wrench and go to an auto parts store that won't mind you working in the lot [or find a nice place to work]. Replace caliper then worry about the rest later.I have no ideas about the gas money.Sounds like the mom ain't too swift.

" Needed a ride"? Big Spring Break boondoggle for theose girls. What are THEY paying besides guzzling Miller Lite?
Turn those four out for a few nights .

Yep had a pickup do that and rotors and brakes were good.

Put on a new rubber brake line, bled the brakes and went for another 20,000 miles.

The rubber was coming apart inside and not allowing the fluid pressure to fall back.

Gary

You could pay for it over the phone with a credit card.I think i would want to end this as soon as possible.

I have seen that too where it was just like a tiny triangle shape not letting any fluid return. I cut open the old one. Usually the vehcle is a bit older when that happens but you never know .

Are there any visible signs of this problem with the line? Odd shape or formation that he'll be able to see? Will the rubber have an odd feel to it?

Thanks,

Athony

Mine had odd kinks to it. It no longer had a nice smooth curve to it.

Gary

No,it looked normal.

What a great outlook on life you have.... Hope there's no young lady unfortunate enough to call you "Dad".

Buddy of mine cut the hose folded and wired it and came home with 3 wheel brakes slowly. Dave