I tried to remove bolts on an exhaust flange on the xB, to replace a gasket
...didn't come out, but I kinda expected that
So I get to go to the exhaust shop tomorrow, and probably pay $200~ to have the flange cut out, and a flex pipe welded in
Yay
Oh, and I found the major clunk from the rear wheel, the Raybestos Element3 pads are rattling around severely in the pad bracket
So I warrantied them, and I'll cough up the $10 for the OEM Toyota fitting kit
Maybe they'll stop screeching so badly once they're tight fitting
I also ordered quick struts for the front (both pissing oil) and the rear shocks (thought that was the clunk)
All original suspension @287k, I suppose it was time
I need to prepare the xB for daily use, because my sister has been without a car since she crashed the Milan 1 month ago, and Uber/Lyft is adding up
Oh, and I went to the body shop, Project Milan is totalled
They want $6500~ to repair it, no subframe or unibody damage has been found
$3500+ in parts, because the salvage yards aren't exactly flooded with 2010/2011 Milans, and many parts are discontinued from Ford
I'll go back and forth with State Farm, try and hype up the value, then I'll bring the body shop the money and they'll begin
I also might front her the money to expedite the work, and return it to savings when the check comes
She will make up the difference from what insurance pays to what the body shop requires to make it whole again
I'm still quite disappointed in her, this being the second car she's totalled in ~18 months
But our lives/jobs in our area pretty much demand a car, and I'm not gonna see her fall behind on spite
Nor would I wash my hands of the matter and see her fall into a god awful BHPH lot
Maybe being without a car/driving the xB will teach her some humility, that I can't perpetually pull first class yet cheap cars out of thin air
Maybe as reparations/exchange for not having to pay a rental car bill, she'll pay for some remedial work on the xB
An in house rental if you will