In Our Garage

Let's talk about my nuts and my bush!

Last month I wrote that some thieving scum had broken into Deux Smurf and had stolen a few bits and pieces. After making a list of what I remembered being in her cubby holes, I couldn’t shake the thought that there was something else was missing, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.

A few days later when I went out to inflate her tyres (slow punctures due a rusty rims) it dawned on me, “Where the ‘f*** were the locking wheel nut keys?”

Yes, the air was blue, and I’m fairly confident I invented some new swear word combinations. Not much of a consolation, I know, but I think my neighbours were impressed.

Annoyingly I had a couple of trips planned that weekend, so they had to be cancelled. Although I’ve never had a puncture whilst ‘laning before, it can be guaranteed that this would be the time I’d get a flat if I had ventured out without the ability to change the wheel.

Not only had her first UK owner fitted a locking wheel nut to each wheel, but he also replaced all the other normal nuts with spline sockets, which was another item I’d have to replace - great!

Despite being old, Deux Smurf is quite a quiet vehicle to drive - I don’t hear the rumbling of the mud terrains tyres, nor the whistle of the Thule roof bars, though being fair, neither of them are that noisy, even at motorway speeds. So it came as no surprise that, until I opened her windows for some fresh air, I hadn’t heard the newish stainless steel exhaust banging against her rear axle.

The cause? The rear rubber exhaust bush fell apart.

Shoddy Toyota workmanship!

I mean it ONLY lasted 26 years.

A quick repair was required, but due to the aforementioned robbery last month, I no longer keep any tools or anything useful inside anymore.

However I remembered I had a couple of Gear Ties from Niteize hidden away in the back. With a sturdy rubber exterior, a Gear Tie has a strong, bendable wire interior and is available in many colours and sizes.

After removing the old bush, which looked to be the original one, I lifted the exhaust towards the hook, and after a simple wrap-and-twist motion the Gear Tie now held the exhaust securely, and there it will stay until I remember to order a new bush....