Need some civil advise - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Nate · #1 05-09-2008, 03:14 PM

I'm just seeking some civil help, over some property that was damaged after it was stolen, and has since been recovered.
About two months ago, I was parting out my '90 tracker in the school auto shop. I stripped it to the core, everything of value was off the vehicle. I was working on the truck, and had removed the lockouts. I cleaned them up, degreased them (I was going to sell them, dont want the post office dogs to go nuts over them...) I had to leave for a class. I left the 4wd lockouts in the truck, under the seat, and returned after the class, and lunch (about 3 hours)
When I came back, I was missing my hubs. I found my hubs on the theifs vehicle, and they were returned to me (and theft charges were issued)
The theif got some in school detention, I got my hubs back.

Yesterday I put the hubs on my truck, because I was GOING to go mudding this weekend after drill. I had the stock geo hubs on my current vehicle, these were the chrome warn ones. I like them because they turn easier, and they seem to "lock" better. They look cool too, cant discount that.

So I grease them up, and put them on my truck. I left them in 2wd. All is good, they go on nice, bla bla bla, picture perfect install.

Drive a few miles, and notice a dragging, and it pulls to the left. I immediatly suspected the hubs, it just occured to me that the theif ran them on his vehicle dry. Pull into a parking lot, left it in nutral, and rolled it around. The drivers side axle moves with the wheel (locked in)

The hubs are still in 2wd. I go home, and try to remove them. Pass side comes off easy, drivers side is STUCK!!! It will not budge off the axle, it's on there really tight.

To me, that means that the bushing on the inside of the lockout failed, and being that it was run for god knows how long dry on the theifs vehicle, it's the falt of the theif.

New hubs (warn, chrome) costs $184.99 from Oreilly auto parts, $173.16 from ebay, and I CANNOT find any used hubs that are the same chrome warn ones.
A junkyard axle costs $45, a reman costs 59.99.

I have a feeling that I'm going to have to cut the axle off in order to remove it.

What should I do? The school cop says it's not criminal damage, because he cant prove the theif intended to damage them (they were on his personal vehicle, and would have damaged the theifs property if they failed)
He said I should take it up to a civil court, but I leave for AIT sometime in July... The filing fee is like $85, and it will take till june...

I'm going to talk to someone at the courthouse about a civil lawsuit, but I'm thinking for $245 in parts, and then some for labor, I should just call his mom or whoever and explain the situation. I dont know them at all, or who lives there or whatever, but the kids a real idiot, and someone raised him to be like that...

What should I do???

~Nate