On the 3rd of October whilst driving in Geelong, VIC, noticed a scraping noise coming from (seemingly) the rear passenger-side wheel. Upon pulling over found excessive heat at the left-rear hub (vehicle being an '86 FJ62 Landcruiser).
Called RACV and had a service vehicle appear in the next 20mins or so. The wheel was removed and I was told that my brakes were shot.
I asked whether they'd get me the 70km's
home (Colac), and was told he thought so.
He put the wheel back on the car (then removed it and screwed in the drum-retaining screw that I pointed out was still sitting on the ground).
This still left a shoe-retaining spring cup-washer on the ground but I was told this was not necessary.
He got me to do a lap of the car-park that I'd pulled into and had a listen to the (still) scraping noise.
Pronounced me OK.
As soon as I got on the highway the scraping noise disappeared, but still took it easy. Luckily.
15kms short of
home felt a wobble like a tyre had rolled off a rim. Rolled to the side of the road and found my rear-left wheel sitting on the hub.
5 studs with no wheel-nuts, one sheared.
This occurred on a sweeping right-hand curve, crossing train-lines.
At 80 km's I'm buggered how the wheel didn't come completely loose and the vehicle roll.
Anyway.
Call RACV again, for a truck this time, and within a few hours the vehicle's in the dirveway.
It then takes 3 days for an inspector to
check out the damage.
He admits fault immediately, and organises repair at the local RACV agent (who happen to be the local Toyota dealership). And refuses to cover $18 in taxi-fares incurred in the last few days.
But has trouble finding a chrome replacement wheel, and can only find a black sunraysia. On about the fourth time that this was repeated, I told him that a black wheel was not acceptable.
OK, they'll have a chrome wheel within two days.
I mention that I don't like the idea of going two days without a spare, and am told that "it'll be allright"
I say it won't.
He agrees to have my spare tyre put on the black wheel until they come up with the chromie.
They take her away to replace the sheared studs/inspect damage. Report is that they fixed the studs, my brakes still had "a good 10,000kms" in them, but the wheel-bearing was stuffed.
Well and truly.
I pay for a wheel-bearing and they install.
Next day feel the corresponding hub and it's hot.
Back to Toyota(RACV) and speak to the mechanic as I drop it off.
"Did you fix the brakes" he asks.
I reply with the obvious, and wait and watch as he takes the wheel and drum off. Sure enough the shoes are screwed, but only on the outside edge, indicating that the damage was due to bearing wear/collapse.
Also apart from the (still) missing shoe spring retaining cup-washer, another clip was gone, and the hand-brake adjusting arm was mangled.
I pay for shoes and missing/broken parts ($120 odd to have them installed).
Car's going again but there's still about a 1.5mm deep groove worn in my rear-left hub where the rim had "run" on it when the last stud failed, so I contact RACV again.
"No worries, we'll just run some sand-paper over it and give it a paint" is the reply.
I point out that you don't fix a 1.5mm groove by removing 1.5mm of metal around it to make it even.
So he arranges for the car to go to Toyota again for an inspection.
By this time I know the mechanic so give him a ring, and am told that he's been instructed to dress the hub.
Rang RACV again (BTW this has been handled by one RACV representative named "Kieth" at their claims dept.) and left a message.
Getting no reply.
Eventually contacted Kieth again on the 11/11/05 and he told me he'd call within a few days.
This started on 03/10/05.
It's now 02/01/06.
Still waiting for my replacement wheel.
Still got cosmetic damage to the car.
Still out of pocket for parts/labour.
Still angry that such a shoddy diagnosis was performed that led to this.
Still angry with RACV's continuing attitude.
Still waiting for an apology.
Been RACV members for years.
Funnily enough, all our insurance is with the RACV too.
Definitely be taking my business elsewhere in the coming year.
Ed