What would you guys do?

[tipptruck1]

so last week I had a new set or tires put on my car. and I was going to do a aliment also. They got the tires on and called me out and said I needed a new wheel bearing. I was going to do it myself. Then my grandma said she owuld pay for it to get done. So far I would have been better doing it my self.

I was heading out to door county to see family and was goiing to stop at my grandmothers place for the night. I get ready to turn off the main highway and turn on a side road. Then all of a sudden It feels like I lost a wheel then it felt like I lost the other wheel.

So I get out my right front wheel is pointing north and south. Call a family member and a tow to get it to his house intill we can fix it. After we got it to his house to tow driver asked if I had any work done to it latley. Iam like yea last week I had to get a new wheel bearing. He like there at fault. Now I dont pound my car a lot And I have never seen what happend to me ever in my life.  What caused this was the lower pinch bolt came out from the ball joint and the control arm.

Right now I have pictures of ever thing that was wrecked. So far it seems the cv boot is torn so bad I have to replace that before I head home. I also had to buy a ball joint just to get the bolt. So a little 200 doller job is going to be like a grand plus. IAm sure there will be more when I drive it and get ever thing fixed.

But Iam going after the company that did for at least every penny I have spent to get this fixed. I might go after more because Iam that mad at them. If the refuse to accept fault i have the tow truck comanys number on it. I will also not be scared to go to the big wigs and send them a nice letter with all the pictures and bills.

I guess iam lucky this happened when I was going like 5 mph and 5 miles from a familys members place. SO I had a merry christmas.  It will still be at the shop initll after new years.

[Bassn Blvd]

That really sucks,  I hope everything works out for the best.

Here is some advice.  Have someone else write the letter for you.

[BUCKEYEone]

It sounds like those who did the work on the car are at fault.  Have you contacted them yet?  You would be surprised how quickly they are usually willing to get your vehicle to their shop and get it fixed for you.  Don't jump in their A$$ess right off the bat, give them the chance to reimburse you for what you had to buy and to fix the remainder themselves.  No shop wants to have their name associated with bad work, they would much rather fix it and let you walk away a happy customer in the end!

[Redlinerobert]

That really sucks, I hope everything works out for the best.

Here is some advice. Have someone else write the letter for you.

Agreed 1000% percent.  Spell check is your friend. 

[tipptruck1]

Well I havent called the place yet. I will not intill I get it fixed. Becasue  if I call them before its fixed there will be a lot of swearing. I will never take my care to the place every agian. Iam 100 miles from home so it has to be fixed before I leave for home. I know my english is not that great. But for 18 years of my 24 years on life I talked to people to there faces. Its harder for me to get my fingers moving to what I want my brain to say.

[grimlin]

I feel your pain.....I have absolutely no trust in auto mechanics here...I've been through 3 similar stories in my 6 years of living here in MI.

My last problem I paid a place $300 in work and labor just to fix a simple radiator leak.They never fixed it(started leaking 2 days later again).I called them back up and told them the problem they told me to bring it in again.They actually wanted to charge me another $250.I told them to go *expletive* .I actually had to take it to a local guy i know to fix it.It cost me another $150....but it actually got fixed.

Car mechanics around here are really,really shady....Been hearing a few stories of people getting over charged for work that never got done on the car. :-/

[CanalStalkin]

There are alot of mechanics that see needy people coming from a mile out. Me and my mom took a trip about 200 miles from home and when we got there, a spring in the back brake drum popped off and was making a horrible noise. I thought the rear wheel bearing went bad. The guy we went to visit recommended a Les Schwab down the street. The dude looked it over and checked both brakes and replaced the part all for 20 bucks. Blew my mind. Best bet is to buy the Haynes manual for your car. People would be amazed how much of it they can do themselves with a basic tool kit and a driveway

[Sam]

Thank goodness you were not on the interstate barrelling down the road at 70 MPH.

You will run into a problem with both the repair shop and its insurance carrier so be ready to go to court.

Take photos and memorialize everything in writing so you can refer to it to refresh your memory, both weeks before the work and accident and everything that occurred after the accident.

Get a folder and keep all receipts.

Photocopy everything you give to others and keep the originals for yourself.

Good luck. 

[Catt]

If you contracted this shop to change only the wheel bearing and they did not remove any of the part of lower ball joint then I doubt they can be held responsible.

[George Welcome]

Front end parts such as ball joints, tie rod ends, etc., have nothing to do with changing tires, or wheel bearings. I think you might be barking at the wrong tree.

[moby bass]

I don't know the company you took your car to or their reputation, but my suspicious nature wonders if they could have sabotaged the car.  Just thinking out loud here. I had a nationally known car care company, years ago, try to sell me new ball joints and tie rod when I took my car in for a front end alignment. He also checked all the brakes as a part of a "safety inspection".  What he was looking for was something else to fix.  I don't know who he thought

he was kidding when he grabbed the tie rod while the car was on the lift and wiggled it back and forth to show me how "loose" it was.  I told him to just align the front end, then I stood there and watched him do it.  Makes me wonder why garages have signs saying

"due to insurance regulations, customers must remain in waiting room". 

[Fishing Doug]

wow. As others have mentioned, make use of spell check/grammer check.

You should come out smelling like roses. People win court cases all the time simply because they are 'mad at them'.

[quanjig]

Ouch, not a good situation. As Buckeye said, don't go in guns a blazin'!! Carefully recount the repairs that were done and the problems that followed. Ask if any of the work that was done could have resulted in the damage that occured, knowing full well that in all likleyhood something was missed by the tech. Calm should win out in this case. I know that you really want to "let someone have it", but you cannot let emotion get the best of the situation.

[NewAngler]

I would call the grammer police.

[tipptruck1]

George for them to remove the wheel bearing they would have to remove the steering knuckle in my car. So thats why the balljoint came off the lower control arm. Iam sure they just wrenched down the pinch bolt with a impact gun. I have every thing right now. I have pictures on a camera. I have copys of every thing I have had to buy. Iam ready for them.

[Grey Wolf]

Well I havent called the place yet. I will not intill I get it fixed. Becasue if I call them before its fixed there will be a lot of swearing. I will never take my care to the place every agian. Iam 100 miles from home so it has to be fixed before I leave for home. I know my english is not that great. But for 18 years of my 24 years on life I talked to people to there faces. Its harder for me to get my fingers moving to what I want my brain to say.

All you have to do is click the Check Spelling and it will help you out.

[Steve P.]

Tipptruck, what kind of vehicle do you have? Many vehicles require removal of the spindle to press the wheel bearing out like you said. Ball joint/s and outer tie rod end would have to be seperated from the spindle in order to remove it from the vehicle.

Although there are unethical techs out there, the MUCH bigger problem is incompetent techs who don't know what they're doing. There is a difference between the two, although it's also possible for a tech to be both! ;D

I can also assure everyone that a LOT of situations where people think they are being ripped off is actually their own lack of knowledge when it comes to vehicles in general. It is a FACT that when you start taking apart any mechanical device, hidden problems that weren't initially seen can pop up. Anyone who's taken apart a fishing reel can relate to what I'm saying.

Tiptruck, you're going to repair it somewhere else and send the original shop the bill? That's the wrong way to go about it. Let us know how it turns out. :

Steve P. ASE certified auto tech(1992-2008)retired

[Steve P.]

I forgot one thing. Don't ever mouth off to a guy who is about to work on your car. That's like sending food back at a restaurant!! ;D

A skilled technician knows ways to sabatoge your vehicle where it is impossible to trace it back to them. They can do things that won't show up for months or even a year. Be nice, cowboy :-X

[Glenn]

Glad people are able to help you out here.  Sorry about the grammar police.  I know some people can be a little harsh about that here.

[Dan:]

I would call the grammer police.

Yeah, and then call the spelling police to report NewAngler's misspelling of the word "grammar"   ;D

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muphry%27s_law

[CanalStalkin]

Glad people are able to help you out here. Sorry about the grammar police. I know some people can be a little harsh about that here.

Seriously.