Car repair issues

[lokiju]

What would you suggest be done at this point?


I had a brake job done on Monday, new pads front and back and resurface front and back and now the car pulls (more drifts) to the right when accelerating, I took it back to the mechanic and he took it for a test drive and swears up and down that nothing he did could have caused this. I asked "could anything you have done caused this?" and his response was "do you have proof of that?" which was pretty rude IMO.

Now this drift was without a doubt NOT there prior to getting the brakes done but I have no way of proving this and on top of it the shop I got it done at doesn't even have the ability to do an alignment even if they admitted they caused the issue.

I went and got the tires rotated and speed balanced today hoping that would help but it did nothing but get rid of a vibration in the steering wheel.

I'm really at a loss now as to what else I can do to get this fvck to fix his screw up.

Any suggestions?

Cliffs:
Brake job done
Now car drifts to the right
Mechanic won't fix it even though it's clear he was the cause of it
Now I'm screwed and will have to pay for a $70 alignment.

 

[giantpinkbunnyhead]

Is this a chain brake shop or a mom&pop outfit?

You could:

Speak to the owner/manager, assuming this is not the mechanic

File a complaint with the BBB. While they have no LEGAL authority they are actually quite helpful and can make a good first step in a situation like this.

Get a second opinion from another garage on the cause.

 

[Heisenberg]

Make/model/year/miles?

 

[bernse]

If its rear drums, its quite possible that the adjuster is too far out causing them to be partially engaged.. but it should pull all the time, not just when accelerating.

 

[deadlyapp]

If it's pulling slightly, it may be that the brake pads are rubbing on that side, which would cause it to pull slightly. Make sure that the mechanic completely bled and redid the brake fluid.

If not, ask him to redo that side to check.

 

[radioouman]

If he didn't lube the caliper pins, you might have a caliper sticking.
Bernse is correct about rear drums.
If tire pressure is off, that will definately cause a drift.

 

[lokiju]

Originally posted by: giantpinkbunnyhead
Is this a chain brake shop or a mom&pop outfit?

You could:

Speak to the owner/manager, assuming this is not the mechanic

File a complaint with the BBB. While they have no LEGAL authority they are actually quite helpful and can make a good first step in a situation like this.

Get a second opinion from another garage on the cause.

This IS a mom & pop shop, and the mechanic is the owner, I've been using him for years now and have never had an issue in the past.

 

[Killercavecow]

If he only did a straight brake job, the only thing that could cause the drift is that there is a pad touching on the side that the car drifts to, thus causing drag, hence the drift. If this is the case, then the brake pad material will eventually wear away and then there will be no pull. If you want to test things out for yourself, jack the car up in neutral, and spin the tire with your hand and listen.

Can you audibly detect the brake pad dragging on the rotor? Does the tire spin free and clear? Then...grasp the tire with one hand on the top and one hand on the bottom. Push the tire back and forth alternating top and bottom pressue..like you were trying to rock it, is there play? If there is play in there, that could mean a wheel bearing is loose.

These are just a few tests. Honestly though, if he only did a straight break job and did not mess with your tie rods and such, a brake job should do very little to cause the drift.

 

[lokiju]

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
Make/model/year/miles?

hyundai/elantra/2003/about 50k

 

[DougK62]

If it was fine before then they definitely screwed something up. They need to fix something. I hope you're ready to play hard ball.

 

[lokiju]

Originally posted by: bernse
If its rear drums, its quite possible that the adjuster is too far out causing them to be partially engaged.. but it should pull all the time, not just when accelerating.

Yea, I thought about this but it does not happen when braking or coasting so I don't think it's from a brake grabbing IMO.

 

[skimple]

Call them and tell them that you are going to take it to another repair shop to get looked at. If the other repair shop determines that the brakes are causing the problem, you'll expect him to fix it for free.

In most cases, they will offer to "look" at the car again just to avoid having you go aomewhere else.

 

[bernse]

Originally posted by: DougK62
If it was fine before then they definitely screwed something up. They need to fix something. I hope you're ready to play hard ball.

Not necessarily - coincidences do happen.

When I used to work in a shop, we had a guy come in to get his thermostat replaced. The tech did it, and then had an irate customer come in the next day because his car was sputtering and running worth a crap. Because "it was running fine" before it got worked on, the shop musta been responsible, right?

It was a clogged fuel filter... but the customer was CERTAIN it was us.

I'd also second recomending jacking up the wheels and spinning them by hand. See if they grab, and you should also be able to hear anything funky at the same time. Also, as mentioned do check the tire pressures. Sometimes the most simplist things can be the cure.

 

[Squisher]

After driving it for a while without doing much stopping touch the drums and rotors and see if you feel one hotter than the rest.

 

[bctbct]

did they resurface the caliphers? if not probably the thicker pads are rubbing.

 

[funboy6942]

Originally posted by: lokiju

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
Make/model/year/miles?

hyundai/elantra/2003/about 50k

Have you tried the Hyundai 10year 100K warranty and take it to the dealership? If it does it under accel it doesnt sound like a brake issue but a sterring/drivetrain issue. If it was the brakes doing what you say giving it gas wouldnt effect it and should be doing it all the time. I cant think of anything else that brakes would cause it but putting it on the lift wrong and bending a sterring part or lower controll arm would.

 

[Zenmervolt]

If the pull is there only while accelerating, there's not much that could have easily been caused by the brake job. If it were a sticking caliper, the pull would be most noticeable when coasting, not accelerating.

ZV

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: bernse

Originally posted by: DougK62
If it was fine before then they definitely screwed something up. They need to fix something. I hope you're ready to play hard ball.

Not necessarily - coincidences do happen.

When I used to work in a shop, we had a guy come in to get his thermostat replaced. The tech did it, and then had an irate customer come in the next day because his car was sputtering and running worth a crap. Because "it was running fine" before it got worked on, the shop musta been responsible, right?

It was a clogged fuel filter... but the customer was CERTAIN it was us.

I'd also second recomending jacking up the wheels and spinning them by hand. See if they grab, and you should also be able to hear anything funky at the same time. Also, as mentioned do check the tire pressures. Sometimes the most simplist things can be the cure.

Ahh yes, the classic, "You changed my oil last week and now my brake light burnt out, what'd you do to my car?" Those are the customers who need to be tazered.

ZV

 

[bernse]

Originally posted by: bctbct
did they resurface the caliphers? if not probably the thicker pads are rubbing.

 

[lightpants]

Originally posted by: bernse

Originally posted by: bctbct
did they resurface the caliphers? if not probably the thicker pads are rubbing.

:Q

 

[Thegonagle]

Check your tire pressures.

EDIT: Ask if they adjusted the pressure in your tires. If so, that's what they "did" to your car that could cause this. Otherwise, it's probably an unrelated issue.

ZV, do you have your tazer? All I have is an asp...

EDIT for question number 2: Did they rotate the tires? That could also cause this.

And for Christ's sake, always, always, always, if you have a fvcking car question, post the year, make, model, and miles. Does it matter? YES! (Kind of like it matters what brand motherboard, video card, and processor in your computer.) I know you did this, OP, but not before others had to ask.

 

[j00fek]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: bernse

Originally posted by: DougK62
If it was fine before then they definitely screwed something up. They need to fix something. I hope you're ready to play hard ball.

Not necessarily - coincidences do happen.

When I used to work in a shop, we had a guy come in to get his thermostat replaced. The tech did it, and then had an irate customer come in the next day because his car was sputtering and running worth a crap. Because "it was running fine" before it got worked on, the shop musta been responsible, right?

It was a clogged fuel filter... but the customer was CERTAIN it was us.

I'd also second recomending jacking up the wheels and spinning them by hand. See if they grab, and you should also be able to hear anything funky at the same time. Also, as mentioned do check the tire pressures. Sometimes the most simplist things can be the cure.

Ahh yes, the classic, "You changed my oil last week and now my brake light burnt out, what'd you do to my car?" Those are the customers who need to be tazered.

ZV

:thumbsup:

 

[bernse]

Update?