Another mechanics are F!#*ed thread

[Cheap6]

Sorry people, please indulge me with a rant.

I hate allowing other people work on my car. Here's an example of why.

I had some work done on my car today by one franchise of a suspension retailer/workshop that shall remain nameless other than to say that a toro rosso features prominently in their branding.

The work to be done was:

1)Fit all new rear suspension bushes.
2)Fit new front strut inserts.
3)Fit one new front wheel bearing.
4)Replace one front strut housing/stub axle.
5)Carry out a wheel alignment.

All parts supplied by me.

Pretty basic I would have thought.

Task 1) was ****ed up by pressing in the front bushes on the rear lower control arm without using a support on the open side of the "U". The result: two chewed up control arms. Neither of the bushes were properly aligned either. The bushes are twisted at ride height, meaning that they have been tightened with the axle hanging.

Task 2)/3)/4) was ****ed by leaving one of the brake hoses twisted ie. the brake caliper will have to come off again to fix it and it is dangerous to drive.

Also, and this really ****es me off, they "found" extra work that "needs" doing:

"The steering rack is leaking and needs to be replaced." Yes, it's leaking. FROM THE LOW PRESSURE UNION INTO THE RACK TOWER. The 'O' rings to fix it are sitting in the console of the car right now. $8 vs $625 for the rack. (Know it's the 'O' ring because I caused the leak when I moved the union to fit extractors).

"The driver's side tie rod end needs replacing." Well, it didn't when I had that tie rod end off to replace the castor rod on Sunday.

"The strut bearings need replacing." Considering that they were replaced <10K km ago, I don't think so.

They also overcharged, in my view, although I wouldn't mind that if the job was done properly. Needless to say, i won't be going back but I'm not sure if I can be bothered to even make an angry phone call.

[commsirac]

That is woeful Cheap6. I think the no bull shop in question likes to only deal with people who are mechanically not inclined........and those that are should take their cars somewhere else.

[1991_Vn2nV]

You serious? Like..No bull?

[jet_pilot]

that's mechanic's for you i had a certain tyre power outlet quated me $1500 for new front end bushes and tie rod end's adusting the hanbrake and new windscreen plus a couple of bulb's!!!!!! windscreen done for $200 paid $100 for bushes tie rod ends and globe's and did it all myself hmmm $1500 or $300..... when getting a rwc dont just take the car in and get it all done get a quate so you know what need's to be done first

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

Who says the person/s that did the job are qualified? As long as there is a suitably trained person that works there, the actual person doing the job doesn't need to be qualified. The problem is, with most suspension places, a mechanic is over qualified to work there. They will not pay premium rates to a trained technician when they can employ anybody that can pick up a spanner.

[Cheap6]

Thanks for the empathy guys. I feel better now. I normally do everything myself but don't have access to a press atm, to do the bushes, at least they would have the right equipment and I figured that they might as well do the lot, if I have to give up the car for the day/find time. Now I have to do half of it anyway, and buy new rear control arms, and still find someone (else!) to swap the bushes.

(I am not assuming that all of the franchisees of the brand in question are this poor. That wouldn't be fair.)

This is not the first time I've experienced something like this either. I had a tie rod end replaced (on a different car) some time ago which I gave to another workshop to do only because I didn't have a grease gun and it was cheaper to pay someone else's labour than to buy one. I got the car back and, cynically, checked the grease nipple: dry. WTF? I pointed this out to the guy on the service counter and he told me that they don't have a grease gun. Again: WTF? They didn't say anything, they were just going to let me drive around with the tie rod end dry until it failed. They eventually had to borrow a grease gun from the workshop across the road

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

The tie rod end would have been pre packed with grease when it was made so I doubt you would have been driving around with it dry. Most ball joints and tie rod ends now don't even have grease nipples.

[V85000i]

The tie rod end would have been pre packed with grease when it was made so I doubt you would have been driving around with it dry. Most ball joints and tie rod ends now don't even have grease nipples.

you can still get ball joint's/tie rod ends with grease nipples, i always specifficaly ask for ones with grease nipples otherwise you just get the crap ones,

also i took my car to get an split in my muffler welded, then my car started playing up, and after a day of two wouldn't go, turn out my computer is stuffed, why? the drop kicks didn't disconnect the battery terminals, they claim they put a surge protector on the battery terminals, but as far as i'm concerned if there is even the tiniest bit of voltage flowing through the car, a powerful boot can follow the wires to the computer. you must fully disable the power circuit by disconnecting the battery terminals.

a lot of mechanics the days are all maybe's and could be's and i dunnos,

[Cheap6]

The tie rod end would have been pre packed with grease when it was made so I doubt you would have been driving around with it dry. Most ball joints and tie rod ends now don't even have grease nipples.

Actually, no. The grease nipple was left separate (not screwed in) in the package with no grease in the joint.

Yes, most (damn near all) are sealed these days but there are still older vehicles around and (light) trucks, 4WD's etc. that have the non-sealed type. Then there's steering boxes...

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

you can still get ball joint's/tie rod ends with grease nipples, i always specifficaly ask for ones with grease nipples otherwise you just get the crap ones,

also i took my car to get an split in my muffler welded, then my car started playing up, and after a day of two wouldn't go, turn out my computer is stuffed, why? the drop kicks didn't disconnect the battery terminals, they claim they put a surge protector on the battery terminals, but as far as i'm concerned if there is even the tiniest bit of voltage flowing through the car, a powerful boot can follow the wires to the computer. you must fully disable the power circuit by disconnecting the battery terminals.

a lot of mechanics the days are all maybe's and could be's and i dunnos,

By this reasoning, you would also need to disconnect every earth on the car too as these would transfer voltage. 17 years of welding exhausts without disconnecting the battery and I've never stuffed a computer. The only thing that has gone wrong was blowing the glow plug diode on a Diahatsu Rocky. I would say it was coincidence that your ECU packed it in.

[Hillerus]

By this reasoning, you would also need to disconnect every earth on the car too as these would transfer voltage. 17 years of welding exhausts without disconnecting the battery and I've never stuffed a computer. The only thing that has gone wrong was blowing the glow plug diode on a Diahatsu Rocky. I would say it was coincidence that your ECU packed it in.

I have to agree with this. Spot on Not_An_Abba_Fan.

[V85000i]

the auto electrician who fixed it said that is most likely what done it, and he also said tradeschools now teach tradespeople to remove the computer completely when welding on a car,

[maginoodle]

ive never disconnected a battery when welding on a car, except when the weld is near the batt. Never had a prob. Was always told to keep the welders earth lead close to the weld to stp current running where you dont need it.

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

A lot of things are taught to ensure no damage is done. It removes any risk. It is good and safe practice to take all precautions, but sometimes they are over cautious. Sometimes by following all steps recommended in a repair manual, it will turn a 20 minute job into a two hour job.

[Cobez]

You serious? Like..No bull?

hahaha interesting way of putting it


Honestly you can tell us, no bull?

[vlv8vic]

knew a bloke that worked for them. Slack illiterate turd would spend most of his day on the dunny to avoid doing any real work.

[commsirac]

(I am not assuming that all of the franchisees of the brand in question are this poor. That wouldn't be fair.)

Perhaps not, but it leaves us all with the doubt in our minds that any of their outfits could be exactly the same. And that is fair enough, if the "no bull" name is worth anything, the outfit should be more rigorous in stamping out rogue operators amongst them. If franchisees choose to stay with them and they dont uphold standards, that is their problem and should expect that bad service in one outlet will affect their livelihood. The good franchisees should either get out, or do something to see standards are high elsewhere.

[Cobez]

The only problem with "no bull pty ltd", is when they fitted their very well known brand of sports suspension, the guy test driving it, stacked my car while testing driving it.

I don't think they have ever seen someone go so insanely beserk in their entire life. More for the fact i was so freakin amped to get my car back all lowered after driving it at standard ride height for 6 months, and the improved handling from the strut brace and the suspension kit.

Then i rock up and the first thing i hear from the guy's mouth is: "Coby, come this way, we have a slight problem".

I felt my face grow red hot and got an really bad feeling, then he took me through the worshop and out the back to where they keep the cars. There was my VP, with the rear bar smashed in completely, my tail lights and garnish broken, my boot bent in etc etc.

I was dead silent for about 1 minute and the guy was looking at me waiting for me to explode. And explode i did. The guy put it in reverse instead of drive and hit something, when the original story was someone rear ended him.

So i went to our family friend who owns and runs a panel beater in vermont, who specialises in prestige work on mainly saab's, BMW's, mercedes, ferrari's, porsches etc etc, therefore he is mega expensive, and i said: "Mate, i know this is a little different from the cars you usually work on, but blah blah blah can you fix it". So he decided to go the full hack, chassis alignment, new garnish, new tail lights from the most expensive place he could find, a VN SS Group A rear bar from his mate who works for a company in WA that makes fibreglass kits (including postage too) instead of the VP senator one that was on there, new everything and every little bit and piece that he decided that it should have.

Basically, he charged "no bull pty ltd" insurance company through the nose for what needed to be done, plus pedders knocked $500 off the suspension kit for the trouble. So when i get my 24mm rear sway bar, adjustable panhard bar, and full bush kit fitted early january, i'm thinking no bull, can go lick a bull's rear end.

[Bax]

Mechanics definitely are f*cked.

Lets just say it's taken 13 months for my project to be close to running. One mechanic had it for 6 months and all he did was spray some degreaser on the gearbox to clean it up. He charged 400 dollars - which I was happy to pay just to have my car back. The new mechanics have taken 7 months, and around 4500 parts and labour (at last check) which by now would have to have risen. But at least it's going to be roadworthy in a week or two.

[Hillerus]

Mechanics definitely are f*cked.

No, just the mechanics you have dealt with.

[Bax]

Well, out of every mechanic or someone to do with cars in this town, exhausts, electrics, mechanical, panel, each and every one has failed with one thing or another. Not bad odds really. Out of around 20.

I think I need to start my own shop.

[Hillerus]

Where are you in QLD? I might be able to help with finding a decent workshop for you.

[Bax]

Rockhampton. Any help is all good, I've got mates working at various places but most of them are after hours jobs that don't suit me.

[Hillerus]

Sorry mate, cant help with anything up north. Shame you arent in Brissy, as I know quite a few of the workshops down this way.

[vr_owner]

You serious? Like..No bull?

dude that was awesome