Re: Tech writer = office manager?

Subject: Re: Tech writer = office manager?
From: "Jan Cohen" <familyforever -at- mindspring -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Thu, 3 Apr 2003 18:42:51 -0500


As far back as I can remember (I started changing my own brake pads about
1972), brake pads always came sans documentation of any sort, with the
exception of maybe a guarantee of some kind. That's why there was a
Chilton's, and that's why there still is. Of course, once you've changed a
few sets of pads or shoes, you became adept enough at the task to perform it
without technical assistance.

Which brings a story to mind:

I was rear-ended in my trusty Hyundai last December by somebody who
apparently intended to change their front brake pads later than sooner.
Stopped to make a left-turn into a strip mall parking lot, I looked up into
my rear view mirror to see this somewhat decrepid looking commercial step
van bearing down on me at a rather high rate of speed. All of a sudden,
boom, the lurch, the whiplash, then quiet. I got out of my car to view the
damage, which really wasn't all that much, and the brake fluid leaking from
the van's right front wheel cylinder.

He didn't want to file a police report, but I knew better, especially as he
was pulling into the same parking lot to hook up with some of his friends at
a bar at the same strip mall. I called 911 and requested assistance. Since
noone was hurt, the police took about an hour to get there.

Meanwhile, Joe "later than sooner" Schmuck, decides it's time to change his
front brake pads (sans documentation). Starts telling me about the wife and
four kids he has to feed, his back-due mortgage, his dying aunt from Kansas.
Myself, I kinda take things like this in stride (that's why there's
insurance), and tell him not to worry too much about it. He changes his
pads, cleans the brake fluid off as best he could, and with his van still up
on the jack, the cops show up.

You know, the cops let him get back on the road with that death trap?
Didn't even fine him.

Me, I make enough money today to let the garage handle what's needed, before
it's really needed, during regular inspections.

And I do know that existing auto repair technical manuals (like the
Chilton's) explicity point out what to look for when it comes to leaking
brake cylinders and the like.

I have to wonder about that winning lotto ticket I let get away...

Then, I'm not like that.

Jan Cohen


> At 05:33 PM 4/3/2003 -0500, Dick Margulis wrote:
> Gene, it has been a long time since I took a brake apart; but my
> recollection is that the brake pads came in a box with a part number and
> not much else; the shop manual came from a publisher of shop manuals
> (Chilton IIRC) and covered all components of a given car. It did not come
> from the parts company.



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References:
Re: Tech writer = office manager?: From: Gene Kim-Eng
Re: Tech writer = office manager?: From: Gene Kim-Eng

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