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Brake Job

| A Day in the Life of a Scrapper
  1. #1
    Copper Head started this thread.
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    Brake Job

    My wife with out my consent took car for an oil change , next thing you know she was talked into a brake job back brakes and rotors new fluid and a bolt for the front caliper (front brakes not done) $600 bucks
    I was like WHAT . $80 for cleaning and lube for caliper $66 to install brakes also -
    Brake pads $177 .
    On and ON
    I said I want the old parts to scrap he gave them to me
    the old rotors were still fine especially for the rear and the pads still as thick as the metal plate .
    So i started to complain
    I say $80 bucks to lube the caliper ?? He says look it took 45 min with a grinder to clean the metal
    My answer was classic I said look I Scrap metal I use a grinder each day what your talking about is 5 min work
    if you give me 45 min with a grinder I'll cut a rotor in half for you - Don't bull **** me . He was silent I said this is a bunch of c***
    it's unnecessary work and a scam cause my wife only came in for a oil change
    I said heck back brakes hardly ever go any way .
    Any way some money is coming back not sure how much

    Last edited by Copper Head; 08-17-2013 at 07:13 PM.

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  3. #2
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    All I have to say is that I wish you luck

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    30 years and nothing has changed. I bought an '83 Camaro brand new. At 5,000 miles, I took it in for service. Was told it needed something in the suspension - I forget what. I said "BS". He then convinced my wife I was putting her and the kids' lives in danger and the car wouldn't make another 50 miles. I still wouldn't get what he wanted. Listened to her *****ing for the next two and 50,000 miles years till she decided I knew what I was talking about. Quit driving the car after another seven years and never did get it done.
    People may laugh at me, but that's ok. I laugh all the way to the bank.

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    Yeah, those mechanics can really push people to buy things they don't need. The best one I've seen was while getting a oil change at a national chain. They always tell me I need something. Was sitting waiting one day, and this woman wanted to buy new tires. She told him she only wanted the two back tires. He went on a 30 minute long rant about how this will be unsafe, and she will die in a crash. Salesman goes in the back I tell the woman it's fine to get just the two, and that they're trying to up sell her. She bought 4 tires. Same guys who want to clean the corrosion off my batteries terminals for $25! lol

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    Quote Originally Posted by scrapping View Post
    Same guys who want to clean the corrosion off my batteries terminals for $25! lol
    With a "special" type of corrosion cleaner (Coca-Cola) I'm sure.
    Made in China, Recycled in the Republic of Texas!

    "When the mind fails, brute force prevails" - CTSSolutions

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    Coca-cola is too expensive. I'd bet that special cleanser is baking soda.

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    Yeah, I use coke. Even worse offered to "install" a new air filter for $15! I was born at night, but not last night.

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    Quote Originally Posted by scrapping View Post
    Yeah, I use coke. Even worse offered to "install" a new air filter for $15! I was born at night, but not last night.
    yep thats the kicker

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    Quote Originally Posted by Copper Head View Post
    My wife with out my consent took car
    isn't there some kinda law agin that by now? I mean like, shouldn't there be? Doesn't anybody know a woman will most likely be taken advantage of in most any circumstance(especially in auto repairs?) I recall reading long ago, two men, working for a well known auto magazine, drove a new car all over the country, to all 48 contiguous states, just looking for trouble. They pulled into most every city just looking for a scam, and please remember, this was a long time ago(do you possibly believe it could be constantly getting better somehow?). In each town they came to, I believe it was near 500 places they stopped at, in about as many towns, they would unhook a plug wire, put in a blown fuse, or possibly do nothing at all to a perfectly good new automobile
    and stop in at the next "proven" shop, dealership, etc., etc., and ask for help in determining the problem. This was two grown men!

    They concluded of the 500(ish) places they visited, all across our outstanding land, about 2(yes, two) honestly said, "it was only a loose plug wire", or a "we don't find anything wrong with it".(period)

    The other 498(ish) places gave stories(along with their outlandish bills totaling into the Thousands) of it being anything else but what it really was ; )

    I, personally, believe the two honest ones, are still sleeping very well at night : )
    Last edited by Bear; 08-19-2013 at 03:30 AM.

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  13. #10
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    Another story.. Awhile back the o'lady dropped her little Mazda pickup off for her free tire rotation. An hour later the shop called nearlly frantic! "That passenger side king pins are so bad, my technician (tire buster) is afraid to drive it out of the shop. We need to fix it immediately!"
    She handed the phone to me . After he, somewhat reluctantly, repeated the story to me. I told him to tell his "tech" to grow a set. Or leave it set on the rack 'n I'll have my o'lady drive it off.
    Took it right home n jacked it up 'n had a quick look. There was 'some' slop/wear, but certainly nothing dangerous. Another 20k and was still holding together fine when we scrapped it.
    "Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me, I want people to know WHY I look this way. I've traveled a long way, and all of those roads weren't paved"-Will Rogers

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  15. #11
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    When I did take my car to the oil change place, they always wanted to charge me some outlandish price for doing an engine flush, I said no and that the next time I brought it in I would dump a qt of trans fluid in the engine then drive it over to them and they would unknowingly do an engine flush for me. Then told them that I was an ASE certified mechanic and to stop trying to sell me crap I don't need. After that they never tried to upsale me again.
    My fortune cookie said:
    You discover treasures where others see nothing unusual.

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    Quote Originally Posted by brandon View Post
    When I did take my car to the oil change place, they always wanted to charge me some outlandish price for doing an engine flush, I said no and that the next time I brought it in I would dump a qt of trans fluid in the engine then drive it over to them and they would unknowingly do an engine flush for me. Then told them that I was an ASE certified mechanic and to stop trying to sell me crap I don't need. After that they never tried to upsale me again.
    Aren't engine flushes one of the worst things you can do to your car?

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    No, if you have a lot of carbon build up inside your engine an engine flush will help clean it out. I have seen pushrods bent, lifters and cams worn out and valves stuck just because carbon was keeping the components from moving.

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    I used to do all my own work, getting hard now, even harder since scrapping and ebay took over the garage. LOL

    My dad had a Ford ranger, remember taking it to his favorite mechanic and being told the engine was shot. No power, fouled plugs...yadda yadda.

    I suspected the fuel pump but in 0 degree temps I didn't want to mess with it.

    I called bull$%*# and limped it home, it died pulling in the driveway, coasted the rest of the way in.

    Pulled the dipstick and it was above where it normally was and all I smelled was gas. After one fuel pump, and oil change, new plugs, frozen hands and a lot of sentence enhancers while working on it in the freezing temps in a snow covered driveway...it lived again until the tranny finally went years later.

    A year earlier he took it somewhere for tires, and suddenly the starter took 4 or 5 tries to engage...he got it home, and I found all 3 bolts loosened on the starter.

    If your a woman or disabled look out some days.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Curbside shopper View Post
    I used to do all my own work,
    I am a believer in that one man. I've used a shop, well, it could be counted on my fingers, on too many vehicles to list, maybe no more than a half a dozen times in my life, the last two being simple tire rotations(i just didn't have the time haha ; ) and I have regretted it EVERY time. Anymore, I will MAKE the time, to do it myself, and I'll know when I'm done, that it's been done about as well as it'll get

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    I have been "slowly" teaching my wife how to do simple vehicle maintenance and how to check over certain parts for wear or damage. The best answer is knowledge teach your family how to work on vehicles. Been that way in my family for a long time everyone knows the basics there is no need for brake jobs to cost more than the brakes and maybe an hour if your all discombobulated. Might need to invest in some tools but tools always pay for themselves in the long run. Yeah there are crooked garages out there that can see them coming a mile away and if that's what they see as success or profit well someone once said you reap what you sow.
    There ain't nothing wrong with an honest days work. Anyone who says otherwise is a fool.- Old Man

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  24. #17
    Copper Head started this thread.
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    It was Mineike , To day I felt pissed when I saw in advance auto a special 5 qt Havilion synthetic 5-20 with filter $19.99
    I made a friend there and told him the story . He confirmed that it is to bad they have to charge so much for parts cause they get the parts for a huge discount .
    also its all about commission .
    I showed him the parts and he agreed that since back brakes only get 30% of the brunt during stopping .They still were ok ,He also said please don't quote me Mineike is a big customer for us.
    I have done many brake jobs and just as important scrapped many a rotor mine are fine.

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    I decided that the the price for a oil change was a bit much.
    So next time I felt sick I took the day off & changed the oil in my car.

    Got a filter & oil pack.

    I didn't have a oil tray, so I used a old oil container with its side cut out. Pity it was thicker than the clearance under the engine.
    After a few false starts I got the plug out & most of the oil into the container, which was over flowing because the engine has more than 4 litres of oil in it.
    Then I spilt more distorting the container getting it out from under the engine. So theres oil flowing down my arms to my elbows & the gravel as well.

    I couldn't get the filter off, so I did something I'd heard, stab a screwdrive thru the filter & unwind it.
    Then I found I had the wrong filter. Since the cars got no oil in it. It took a 15 min walk to get the right filter.

    Back & after putting the filter on, I full it up with oil.
    The oil doesn't register on the dipstick, so another 15 min walk to get another oil pack.

    Pour another litre & a bit in there & I see it on the dipstick. Sweet.

    Now I have a oil change, a overflowing dirty oil container (that stayed knocking around the boot for months till I found a recycler....)
    A dirrty cut open container & a leaking oil filter as well as a newish container containing 2 1/2 litres oil. I have also lost a days wages.
    -------------

    Fast forward 1 year. I see a 'Oil & filter change $30' sign at a oil changers & relise thats what I paid for one oil pack & the filter.........

    So I take it in. Drive it onto the hoist & watch as the guy undoes the plug with the catcher under it.
    He wanders over & picks out a filter, screws that on, wanders over to another thing with a hose on it & unscrews the rocker cover cap & sits the hose connection into it.
    He then screws the oil plug back in & switches the oil valve so it fills it up.

    Job done.
    --------

    So, to do it myself I need >
    A whole day without pay (or income tax too) 3 hours on my back on gravel & dog sh!t under a car with oil running down my arms. Several skinned knuckles & elbows.
    2 oil packs & two different oil filters & 1 1/2 hours walking up & downhill.
    A messy oil container full of oil in my boot untill I find a recyclers & a 2nd oil container 1/2 full of oil. A really messy oil filter as well.
    Some other guy who didn't get paid for 15 mins for what I took all day to do.
    --------

    The morel of my story?

    DIP**** (Do It Properly, Saves Hassle & Time.)

    ###############

    Update (sic) I find out that if you stab a screwdriver thru a oil filter, it drops most of the filtered out contaminates back into the engine.
    That the dipstick was not the correct one & was 1 inch too short....
    Last edited by eesakiwi; 08-19-2013 at 10:48 PM.

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    some small amount of mechanical knowledge/inclination would certainly be helpful yep ; )

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    I take my car to the same oil change place every time, an oil change is about $23. The first time the guy had a list of about 10 things and I told him I was in a hurry and would get right back to him. The next time I told him I was broke and besides the car had almost 200,000 miles on it. The next time he didn't try too hard to upsell. The next time he came in the lobby saw who it was, looked at his clipboard grinned and said your car is ready...now he doesn't even try.

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