Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (October 2007, week 3)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Wed, 17 Oct 2007 23:55:55 EDT
Reply-To:     JordanVw@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         JordanVw@AOL.COM
Subject:      Re: JUST BRAKES franchise warning!
Comments: To: mrpolak@YAHOO.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

like my dad always told me...you want something done right? do it yourself..

not to mention i'd never take any vehicle to a place called "just brakes"... your just asking to get just ripped off.. :<(

chris

In a message dated 10/17/07 2:04:13 PM Eastern Daylight Time, mrpolak@YAHOO.COM writes:

> > I just wanted to pass this on to you as a word of caution when dealing with > JUST BRAKES franchise, or any other "mechanic" for that matter. > > Like a genius I left my parking brake up for one last time and overheated my > rear brakes. The brake pedal went to the floor, but I still could stop. I > did not have the time to replace the rear brakes on my Vanagon, so I decided > to take my vehicle to JUST BRAKES... because they are "experts"... right? > > So, I get a call from them telling me it will take $1000 to fix the problem. > Allegedly my rear drums were worn beyond spec (out by .02 inches) and my > master cylinder was shot because it was dry or leaking or bypassing (They said > it was one of the three, but hey did not know which). > > What they did not know is that 1) the rear drums only have about 10K miles > on them 2) I inspected the rear brakes a week before taking it in and 3) > master cylinder was low because the parking brake lever that's attached to the > brake shoe came off causing the brake cylinder to expand and 4) I know more > about Vanagons, or VWs for that matter, than they do. > > I came in to talk to them to find out the logic behind their thinking and > realized that I could not reason with them. They mis-measured the rear drums, > totally missed the broken parking brake, diagnosed the master cylinder based > on a wild assumption, broke the reverse lock-out on my shifter and left > greasy hand prints all over hubcaps and body of the van. Yeah, I was just a little > miffed -- Too miffed to deal with them > > So, I picked the camper and replaced my brakes the next day in my driveway > despite Neighborhood Home Owner's Association's by-laws. Advanced Auto Parts > delivered the brake shoes on Sunday morning and I bought the proper tools to > work on drum brakes. The job took 1.5 hours which included meticulously > adjusting the parking brake. The master cylinder is just fine and the rear drums > are fine. > > $75 later I wonder how many people JUST BRAKES ripped off who didn't know > any better? At least one I work with, and probably hundreds more... > > Thanks to the Vanagon List for the wealth of knowledge I acquired over the > years - it sure makes owning a Westfalia easier! > > And... I'd be very careful dealing with franchise auto shops! > > Chris S. > > P.S. Better Business Bureau complaint to follow. >

************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.