Re: IML: Brakes Second Chance

["Frederick Joslin" <fljoslin@xxxxxxxx>]

I had a somewhat similar situation in which I took a Suburban in for a noisy rear end re-build to a small local shop. Bob's Chevron in Spokane. About $900.

As far as I can tell all that they did was change the fluid. They did not use a gasket on the rear end and it began leaking immediately.

I changed the fluid my self aboput one week later and replaced it with the fluid that was originally in there before the rebuild (85/140W Redline) and the noise and clunk when shifting into gear were absolutely identical.  

I wanted my money back and went to the Better Business Bureau and also complained to the Atorney General of WA. The best that I could get was if I gave them some more money ($400-500) they would do it again. Duh! While the Suburban was in their shop I had them look at the front end. They said I needed a new axle quoted me a price to fix it. I chose to rebuild the front end myself and it actually needed one of the front bearings replaced and bushings and ball joints etc.  The cost for them to do this would have been 3-4 times what they quoted me for the axle. I certainly was not going to let these idiots ever touch my vehicle again.

    
The reason that I posted this non directly Imperial related diatribe is that I would move on. Get as far from Midas as soon as possible and tell every one you know about you wonderful experience there. (hence the reference to Bob's Chevron in Spokane). I spent a bunch of time and emotional energy on the issue above to no avail. Once they have your money it is gone. Do not give them any more!

 

Again good luck.    

----- Original Message -----
From: sosmi@xxxxxxxxxxx
To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: IML: Brakes Second Chance
Date: Thu, 18 Jan 2007 22:47:45 +0000

I've followed the exchanges on this brake situation, and if it were my problem, I would call the area manager for Midas, explain your dissatisfaction with the work performed on the vehicle, and that it was released to you as completed, and SAFE. (Which it was not) I would then ask them how to solve the problem, to YOUR satisfaction. Insist on their BRAKE SPECIALIST ,MANAGER, and an INDEPENDENT (your choice) mechanic, inspect the job, and make corrections.It seems  a substantial amount was spent, I would hold their feet to the coles, and get it done.Ya'll have a nice day, Dave.

 

-------------- Original message --------------
From: randalpark@xxxxxxx

> If you paid that much and the brakes don't work you got screwed. Have
> it taken to a good shop. That may take some research. Have it fixed
> right, pay them, and ask them for an explanation of what was wrong. You
> may be able to take their infoirmation back to the first shop for some
> negotiation and a possible partial refund.
>
> $846.00 would be about right for a complete job with all new/machined
> parts, and a car that stopped like new when you drove it. Sounds like
> you picked the wrong place. Sometimes if you need repair work on your
> Imperial, you can post to the IML for references in your area. Most of
> us have been through similar things before. This especially applies to
> front end alignments and other suspens ion wo rk.
>
> If you get nothing back, at least you learned where not to take your
> car. Don't drive it until you get the brakes fixed, and they are not
> the ones to fix them. Sorry.
>
> Paul W.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: mopar413@xxxxxxxxxxx
> To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Cc: richard.woolf@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> Sent: Thu, 18 Jan 2007 9:31 AM
> Subject: IML: Brakes
>
> It sounds to me like both parties got screwed. Brake job like shoes,
> wheel
> cycl, and drums turned should never cost more that $500.00 and that is
> high. I
> did the brakes on my 64 Imperieal myself and the shoes were less
> than
> $60..00 for front and rear. Now it has be a few years but still should
> be under
> $100.00 for shoes, and you can buy wheels cycl for about 30 t0 40
> dollar ea.
> >
>
> > -----O rigina l Message-----
> > From: mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > [mailto:mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of *MEG*
> > Sent: Thursday, January 18, 2007 11:36 AM
> > To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: IML: Am I getting screwed?
> >
> > If I wrote out all the details and the whole story it would take
> pages, so
> > here is the brief summary. I took my '63 Custom to get new brake
> shoes on
> > the front and the rear at Midas. They called me and said that I also
> needed
> > 4 new wheel/brake cylinders. I don't know anything about brakes
> really, so
> > when they told me I was leery. I mean, the car was stopping, granted
> it
> > sounded like hell, but it was still stopping...if all of my cylinders
> had
> > gone out would the car still stop? Whenever I went to pick her up
> last < BR>> > night I felt really uneasy about the whole situation, they just
> weren't
> > giving me the comforting feeling that they knew what they were doing
> or that
> > something was going on. They took her off the lift and had me test
> drive it
> > because the brakes seemed mushy to them. I was scared to death, she
> > wouldn't stop and we almost wrecked. I took her back and they came up
> with
> > some crap about while bleeding the brakes in old cars sometimes the
> valve in
> > the master cylinder will go out and that I needed a new master
> cylinder.
> > The master cylinder was fine whenever I took it in there. That, and
> I just
> > payed $846 for new shoes and the 4 wheel cylinders. I believe I was
> already
> > screwed on the price, but I just want the input, advice and insight
> any of
> > you may have . My b oss told me that there wasn't a valve that they are
> > speaking of. Please help anyway. I want to be prepared whenever the
> guy
> > calls me about Ms. Pearl today.
> > Megan
> >
> >
> >
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Fred Joslin