Factory Service Techs....
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Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 258
From: Santa Clara, CA
Factory Service Techs....
My girlfriend owns a newer model Volkswagon Jetta; it recently started making some noise from the brakes.
She works the brakes pretty hard, there's no doubt, but nonetheless, she takes it to the lead service tech in a large dealer... I figure, okay, this guy knows his A$$ from his elbow and I feel comfortable letting this dude check out my girlfriends car.
He gives it his stamp of approval. "you see this kind of stuff on San Francisco brakes (aka really heavy braking) but it's just noise and there's nothing to worry about"
1 week later... Slight squeak has turned into a metallic grinding noise.
I check the front side of the rotor that the noise is coming from and it's perfect..... I think, wait, there's metal here on this caliper. WTF. I put my finger between the dust shield and the rotor and check to see what it feels like....
There is not a single flat surface on the rotor and the gouges are at least 1/4" deep.
Anyone think this is safe?
Should I hang the guy from his does and beat him over the head with the rotor after I pull it off?
While you may THINK you know everything, you insufferable ignorant ****, if it concerns someone's safety, you damn well double check that sh*t and you don't just do a light visual inspection.
And I drive in the car maybe once a week, I hadn't been in the car until it was like this but it hasn't been all that long.
She works the brakes pretty hard, there's no doubt, but nonetheless, she takes it to the lead service tech in a large dealer... I figure, okay, this guy knows his A$$ from his elbow and I feel comfortable letting this dude check out my girlfriends car.
He gives it his stamp of approval. "you see this kind of stuff on San Francisco brakes (aka really heavy braking) but it's just noise and there's nothing to worry about"
1 week later... Slight squeak has turned into a metallic grinding noise.
I check the front side of the rotor that the noise is coming from and it's perfect..... I think, wait, there's metal here on this caliper. WTF. I put my finger between the dust shield and the rotor and check to see what it feels like....
There is not a single flat surface on the rotor and the gouges are at least 1/4" deep.
Anyone think this is safe?
Should I hang the guy from his does and beat him over the head with the rotor after I pull it off?
While you may THINK you know everything, you insufferable ignorant ****, if it concerns someone's safety, you damn well double check that sh*t and you don't just do a light visual inspection.
And I drive in the car maybe once a week, I hadn't been in the car until it was like this but it hasn't been all that long.
Senior Member
SuperSport
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 834
From: Nooksack WA
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 258
From: Santa Clara, CA
And not only that, but the noise got progressively worse. Like I said, I wasn't in, nor around it for almost 2 weeks so that's where it went from the wear limit marker of the pads, to grinding the rotor.
I just feel that's something that a service tech should say.
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,611
From: Belgium, WI
caliper sliders probably crapped out and the inner pad takes the brunt of the braking. It doesnt take a rocket scientist, but he most likely only checked the outer pads and they were likely fine.
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,066
From: NYC
That sucks but its not surprising. (at least now you wont be surprised next time it happens). I had a similar problem on my astro van but just replaced the pads and rotors myself. At the very least dont take it back to the stealership for service.
I think you should (nonviolently) say something to the guy because next time it will be someone else's girlfriend, you gotta help the universe out to save her.
I think you should (nonviolently) say something to the guy because next time it will be someone else's girlfriend, you gotta help the universe out to save her.
Senior Member
SuperSport
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 530
From: Central Fl.
Documentation.
Every time you visit a dealer service dept (from now on) get a printout of what they found and the estimate for the repair. Takes five minutes.
When you climb the corporate hierarchy with your written complaints, you won't get blown off with lame dismissals. Especially with safety related items. My tuition was expensive, take me seriously and your's is cheap.
Every time you visit a dealer service dept (from now on) get a printout of what they found and the estimate for the repair. Takes five minutes.
When you climb the corporate hierarchy with your written complaints, you won't get blown off with lame dismissals. Especially with safety related items. My tuition was expensive, take me seriously and your's is cheap.
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,066
From: NYC
After a week of van wrenching I needed a tailpipe welded on. Tailpipe on amazon was only $18 so I bring it to them to weld on. I come to get the van and its clamped on with MY clamp! I politely ask them to actually weld it & they do. Happens forever, even if they know your a mechanic.
The way I explain it to civilians is like a vegas casino. All the employees can be (sorta) honest but the lavish casino is still built on YOUR DIME. Stealerships are designed to take as much cash from you as possible.
Sadly, once this happens you cant go back there. They WILL get you for it in the end...
The way I explain it to civilians is like a vegas casino. All the employees can be (sorta) honest but the lavish casino is still built on YOUR DIME. Stealerships are designed to take as much cash from you as possible.
Sadly, once this happens you cant go back there. They WILL get you for it in the end...
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 258
From: Santa Clara, CA
That sucks but its not surprising. (at least now you wont be surprised next time it happens). I had a similar problem on my astro van but just replaced the pads and rotors myself. At the very least dont take it back to the stealership for service.
I think you should (nonviolently) say something to the guy because next time it will be someone else's girlfriend, you gotta help the universe out to save her.
I think you should (nonviolently) say something to the guy because next time it will be someone else's girlfriend, you gotta help the universe out to save her.
I just ordered new rotors and pads for her and as well some nice shiny new torx head bits (what was holding me back before) and I've given her my car to drive for the time being. It's been...... 9 months since I've driven it, I only drive when it is raining hard enough for me not to see the house across the street, which is very seldom.
I should have just done it in the first place and justified it by saying my usual, "The man who has the most tools when he dies, wins."
It really just made me mad to think that if it had been someone who didn't know anything about cars, how long would it have been till it failed and killed someone?
Member
Squid
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 34
From: michigan
Very common misconception... I am an Automotive Technician as well but I choose to not work in a stealership... Simply put stealership techs are not always the sharpest tools in the shed. Nor does that even make them good at their job.
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Sep 12, 2010 10:27 AM
