ragtopfury
Well-Known Member
So some of you may have seen my post about picking up a $1000 Dakota as the family driver's ed vehicle a couple of months ago. It s an '03, 4x4, club cab with 127k miles on the clock. I haven't taken the time to go over the whole underside yet, figuring I would when he actually starts getting drive time on the road. Looks like it is at the top of the list now, when we get back form vacation in July.
I've been taking Josh to empty school parking lots on occasion, as he is getting closer to getting his learner's permit. He is doing well. I have him drive the loop around the building, in and out and around the curb islands, stop before entering "travel lanes", signal use, the whole works. Turns are not jery any more and pedal control is smooth now.
Almost all of you do NOT know that Josh has been helping with the lawn for 2 and a half years on a $90 used riding mower with very sloppy steering and no brakes to speak of unless going up hill. Let's just say that mower proved it's worth in teaching avasive maneuvers, just as I had hoped it would.
4th time around the middle school building last evening, Josh is rolling to the one stop that I always have him make before entering a left parking section. There is a short area that continues straight, as well. He gets to the point where he should stop and says "I'm not stopping. The brake just went to the floor". Having plenty of room for error, I simply observed. He did well. He stayed calm, rather than turning into simulated on-coming and/or occupied space. He put it in neutral, pumped the brake a few times and slowly coasted towards the open area/grass off to the right. We were only going 10 mph, so we didn't roll far and never touched the grass. Coasted to a stop and he put it in park and just looked at me. Well done.
So I told him to get out and find what happened. Left front brake hose has (had) a section of steel line that blew thru. We called his big brother and had him bring us a small pair of vise grips and some brake fluid. I pinched the rubber line closed before the blown steel part, topped off the fluid and drove it home. Pulls to the righ when braking now - LOLOLOLOL DUH!!
In the end, Josh handled it well and later said he guesses he could have applied the parking brake, as well. Good boy! And Jake said it felt good to come rescue me for a change, as I have rescued him a few times. LOL
I've been taking Josh to empty school parking lots on occasion, as he is getting closer to getting his learner's permit. He is doing well. I have him drive the loop around the building, in and out and around the curb islands, stop before entering "travel lanes", signal use, the whole works. Turns are not jery any more and pedal control is smooth now.
Almost all of you do NOT know that Josh has been helping with the lawn for 2 and a half years on a $90 used riding mower with very sloppy steering and no brakes to speak of unless going up hill. Let's just say that mower proved it's worth in teaching avasive maneuvers, just as I had hoped it would.
4th time around the middle school building last evening, Josh is rolling to the one stop that I always have him make before entering a left parking section. There is a short area that continues straight, as well. He gets to the point where he should stop and says "I'm not stopping. The brake just went to the floor". Having plenty of room for error, I simply observed. He did well. He stayed calm, rather than turning into simulated on-coming and/or occupied space. He put it in neutral, pumped the brake a few times and slowly coasted towards the open area/grass off to the right. We were only going 10 mph, so we didn't roll far and never touched the grass. Coasted to a stop and he put it in park and just looked at me. Well done.
So I told him to get out and find what happened. Left front brake hose has (had) a section of steel line that blew thru. We called his big brother and had him bring us a small pair of vise grips and some brake fluid. I pinched the rubber line closed before the blown steel part, topped off the fluid and drove it home. Pulls to the righ when braking now - LOLOLOLOL DUH!!
In the end, Josh handled it well and later said he guesses he could have applied the parking brake, as well. Good boy! And Jake said it felt good to come rescue me for a change, as I have rescued him a few times. LOL
" I haven't taken the time to go over the whole underside yet, figuring I would when he actually starts getting drive time on the road."
