So the kid and I were up on the Icefields Parkway yesterday backcountry skiing and digging a ton of avalanche hazard assessment pits. She's scheduled for her professional level exam one year from now, and is working hard on getting ready.
We get back to Banff, and the Highlander is making the most HORRIBLE squealing and grinding noise. It abates a bit when the brakes are pressed, so I'm sure it's in the brakes.
I stop to see what's up, cant find anything. The wheels are cold, so probably not a stuck brake. I decide to head to the kid's house to have a better look. The noise is gone as we drive away, yay.
I drive her to Sunshine this morning for work, and all is well until I'm just about to turn off the access road onto the highway. The noise is not only back, but far worse. UGH. I pull over, can't find anything, try rocking back and forth and varying brake pressure, nothing works.
I get into town, and google "Banff Auto Repairs" as I have no tools, no real place to work on it (her parking is on the on street and it's steep) and so I need a shop to see what's up. I find "Banff Service" and call them. It's 8:01AM and they open at 8:00. A woman's voice answers, and I explain what's going on, that I'm from Edmonton, and could they fit me in today? She asks if I can come down right away. I do. She's very knowledgeable, figures something is up with the brakes, tells me she'll have a tech bring it in right away.
A little later she brings me out a wedge-shaped rock that had really got itself stuck between the disc and backing plate. They took all four wheels off to make sure everything was sorted, had a general look at the car to make sure I'd be good to go home, took it for a test drive, and declared it all solid. They saw the worn bushings in the rear suspension, figured they'll easily last until spring when I can do them myself, and pronounced the old girl good to go.
Before 10AM, I'm driving back to the kid's place. The bill was $66 including taxes and everything. SIXTY SIX BUCKS. You read it right.
It's a family business, looks a bit rough from the outside, and they sure won me over today.