Brake service
Posted: July 15th, 2006 | Author: Jeff | Filed under: Car | 4 Comments »Bought some Axxis Ultimate brake pads (front and rear) for my ‘02 WRX. The stock rear pads are wearing thin (can hear squeak every now and then) and my front EBC green (decent pads) installed 2 years ago probably are getting there as well.
From reading the online reviews, the Axxis Ultimate pads makes for pretty good stopping ability and is cheaper than most aftermarket brake pads in its category (e.g., Hawk HPS). The only complaint I’ve come across is a lot of brake dust (non-asbestos) compared to other brands. Total with shipping for the pads came out to a little over $100. (Hawk HPS would’ve cost $150).
Originally, I was going to install these myself (i installed the EBC greens on the front brakes 2 years ago). It’s not that hard to do except when you screw up and it can be real mess. A few years ago, my friend and I worked on my brakes for my Honda and the next day I nearly wrecked my car (apparently, there was a leak somewhere; took it to a shop and mechanic said that the master cylinder needed to be replaced. hmm). So spending $200-300 dollars for brake service isn’t too bad. Plus I wanted to get my rotors resurfaced. Got a few quotes from my dealership and other shops and decided on Meineke (saved ~40 dollars by going there instead of dealership). Cost of labor: ~$211.
I’ll get my brake fluid replaced in a few months (included in the 60,000 maintenance) as well as fuel system, spark plugs then.
These are the people trying out in Vegas for the USMNT for the World Basketball Championship:
Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets); Gilbert Arenas (Washington Wizards); Shane Battier (Houston Rockets); Chauncey Billups (Detroit Pistons); Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors); Bruce Bowen (San Antonio Spurs); Elton Brand (Los Angeles Clippers); Kirk Hinrich (Chicago Bulls); Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic); LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers); Antawn Jamison (Washington Wizards); Joe Johnson (Atlanta Hawks); Shawn Marion (Phoenix Suns); Brad Miller (Sacramento Kings); Adam Morrison (Charlotte Bobcats/Gonzaga University); Chris Paul (New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets); Michael Redd (Milwaukee Bucks); Luke Ridnour (Seattle SuperSonics); Amaré Stoudemire (Phoenix Suns); and Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat).
Who is your 12 man roster for the u.s. national team? Who is your starting 5? I’ll come back with mine later.
12 man roster: Dwight Howard, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Chris Paul, Amare Stoudemire, Elton Brand, Gilbert Arenas, Chris Bosh, Chauncey Billups, Carmelo Anthony, Shawn Marion, Brad Miller.
Starting 5: Dwyane Wade (SG), LeBron James (SF), Dwight Howard (PF), Chris Bosh (C), Chauncey Billups (PG).
Note: I would pick Amare for C, but he’s coming off knee surgeries…
Actually I forgot to remove billups from consideration, his wife is pregnant so he’s not going. Stoudamire has already said he’s not going as well cuz of his knees. Micheal Redd has declined b/c he’s getting married. (IMO, the biggest loss of any one has declined.)
PG: Kirk Hinrich, Chris Paul, Gilbert Arenas
SG: Gilbert Arenas, Dwayne Wade, Joe Johnson, LBJ
SF: LBJ, Shane Battier, Shawn Marion
PF: Elton Brand, Chris Bosh, Shawn Marion
C: Dwight Howard, Brad Miller, Shawn Marion
My “crucial situation” 5:
PG: Kirk or Paul (whoever adjusts to international rules better. Kirk and Paul are easily the best ball distributers here, a very needed skillset on the national team. Coach K practically begged Hinrich to come to tryouts after Kirk turned them down back in February, Hinrich only recently accepted after being reinvited. Arenas is more of a combo guard but he can fill in spot minutes. Kirk is the better defender, just ask dwade, but I believe Pual to be the better shooter. In int’l play, the ball is one inch bigger so shooting deficiencies become more pronounced. In the end, I go with Paul if we need to score, and Kirk if we need some stops.)
SG: Dwade (I put him here tentatively b/c I’m unsure if he will be able to adjust to the way the game is called. Everyone flops uncontrollably in int’l play, see World Cup 2006. Plus Wade’s shooting is not exactly his strength. But again, he’s d wade so I gotta stick him here.)
SF: LBJ (The man can pass.)
PF: Elton Brand (GREAT midrange shot and good passer out of the post. Perfect for breaking down that pesky zone defense the int’l teams use so much. Deceptive standing reach.)
C: Dwight Howard (Rebounding wasn’t really the problem for the U.S. in the last Olympics, it was the lack of shooting and ball movement. But you still have to have the one big does the dirty stuff. Deceptive standing reach)
The reason I chose Joe Johnson is b/c he’s the closest player to a Micheal Redd/JJ Reddick that is still trying out. I chose Shane Battier b/c he doesn’t have to have the ball to have a positive impact on the game. It is a role Battier is already used to in the nba so there’s no adjustment on his part. I picked Brad Miller because he’s nifty passer and can take over the ball movement role out of the post when Elton is out of the game. That would then allow an more athletic player or young banger to move to the PF position (Marion, Bosh, Howard).
I forgot to say that I also worry about LBJ adjusting to int’l play, especially since his driving game is much more power driven than dwade.