I was only doing 10mph, honest

[timwilky]

Are you lot out there the fathers of mechanically inept kids. Well I admit it. I have just had to fit a new wheel brake cylinder to the daughters car to get it through the MOT. all of £8 of costs and she moaned.

Now the son has presented his van. He hit the kerb at 10 mph. but.

The wheel is severly damaged and beyond repair. The lower suspension arm is bent by about 5mm. But the ball joint it is bent by about 50mm. He claims all this happened at about 10mph. I think there is a zero missing. So all in all it has cost him £59 to get his van back on the road. Apparantly dad labour costs are £0.00/hour.

He now tells me a local garage had quoted him £325 to repair the damage. Considering he refuses to pay his board and lodging I wonder if I will see anything to cover my costs.

Now the top is a new replacement. As you can see, the ball joint is in line with the two mounting holes, the lower is David's original, the 3 inch section has been bent by about 50mm. That must have taken some force. I just hope the wheel, ball joint, and suspension arm took the brunt before the chassis leg.

Show 'im the ruddy door!!!!!

all that damage from 10mph? uh huh, riiiiiiight.

Originally Posted by timwilky

Are you lot out there the fathers of mechanically inept kids. Well I admit it. I have just had to fit a new wheel brake cylinder to the daughters car to get it through the MOT. all of £8 of costs and she moaned.

Now the son has presented his van. He hit the kerb at 10 mph. I need to get piccies. but.

The wheel is severly damaged and beyond repair. The lower suspension arm is bent by about 5mm. But the ball joint it is bent by about 50mm. He claims all this happened at about 10mph. I think there is a zero missing. So all in all it has cost him £59 to get his van back on the road. Apparantly dad labour costs are £0.00/hour.

He now tells me a local garage had quoted him £325 to repair the damage. Considering he refuses to pay his board and lodging I wonder if I will see anything to cover my costs.

it angers me this as im sure it does u too tim,

My dad does everything hre can for me, to the point wher ei have run out of fingers to count on the times he has helped me out of a sticky sittuation, not through my own fault but through the way ife goes.

I always try to say thnaks as best i can, normally bottle of wine etc etc, i live to far away for meals out, but i try.

Just recently he has saved me in excess of £5000 by doing work to my house labout free, as a son i cannot repay him unless i could find 5k but he doesnt want it??
so i paid for him to have a meal out as he spent a week away from his mrs and a couple of boxes of wine.. what else can i doo?

Im sorry to see hes ungreatfull, not all younguns are!!

and 10... hmm yeah right!

me thinks someone is telling porkies!!

Just start making his food portions smaller and only half iron his clothes - that works quite well!

[timwilky]

TBH, the cost is just me having a moan about mummies little soldier.

My concern is just how fast he is driving. I bollock him on a regular basis but in one ear and out the other.

This damage was to the offside suspension, so he has lost it big time to cross a road and hit the kerb.

OK it is all his damage, but what if there had been anyone on the other lane at the same time. I just know that he will not have learnt his lesson.


I have after my drop at the weekend. I now know I will change the way I ride when roads are greasy (until next time)

[Stu]

Does he mean sideways speed at impact ? - that would probably do that damage IMHO

did same when i was 19 in my nissan sunny coupe but nearside rear going too fast on a left turn. i too was doing a steady 10 mph (+60). arnt dad's great!

[SoulKiss]

Simple really.

I am guessing that just refusing to repair it is out the question (I am assuming you will get grief from your other half)

However, sit her down and tell her what you posted last - that this kind of damage didn't happen at 10mph.

Then sit him down and ask him to explain exactly how it happened. Remember he may not have lost it, he could have done it in a carpark or something.

If he gives you a load of lies, ask him why, when he doesn't have the respect for you to tell you the truth, why you should fix his car for free?

So charge him a token amount as the lesson. - say £50 for labour.

Might work, might not, but this kind of thing is one of the 3 reasons I dont want kids

David

(ok to save anyone asking)

Reason 1: I would get locked up for how I controlled my kids :P
Reason 2: Less spare cash for toys/bike bits
Reason 3: Other half doesn't mind the risk to her hubby from biking, but not to the father of her kids

oh yeah -

Reason 4: The wife doesnt want them either

Originally Posted by Stu

Does he mean sideways speed at impact ? - that would probably do that damage IMHO

It's all about vectors!