The need to Bull

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Wed Dec 10, 08 9:01 am

Why do professional mechanics feel the need to bull you even when you have demonstrated you know what you are talking about?

Had the tracking checked and adjusted on the Grand Cherokee the other week at a large and popular Kwik Fit in Newcastle. I asked them to check it and center the steering wheel.

They said that "the tracking is correct but not lined up with the rear wheels" so they adjusted it and wanted £30.

Not sure exactly what they were talking about but worth it for the steering to be centered I thought so left it at that.
Only the steering was exactly the same. Still not centered and it felt no different.

The next day a set of shock absorbers arrived for it so I thought I would fit them and have a go centering the steering wheel myself and tried to adjust the tie rods.
The shocks went on no bother. But one of the tie rods was rusted solid. Couldn't shift it at all. I thought that odd considering it was supposed to have been adjusted the day before.

So I took it back yesterday for its MOT and to have the tracking looked at again. I told them I was not happy because I paid to have the steering wheel centered and I couldn't see how they could have adjusted the tracking at all.

When I went back to collect it they said "You have had new shocks fitted!"

I said yes I fitted them after the last visit.

"Well", the manager said, "That's what has done it. When you fit new shocks it changes all the front geometry and that is why they have had to adjust the tracking again".

But he said that they had put some heat on the rods, adjusted them, and centered the steering. No extra cost.

On the way home I noticed a slight difference. But the steering wheel is still not centered.

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Wed Dec 10, 08 9:03 am

Oh. Also I have no idea how it passed its MOT. The turn signal relay packed in on my way and was still not working when i drove it home after it passed the MOT.

latil · Post by **latil** » Wed Dec 10, 08 9:53 am

They will never change.
http://www.ciao.co.uk/Reviews/Kwik_Fit_ ... 8/Start/15

Trigger_Andy · Post by **Trigger_Andy** » Wed Dec 10, 08 10:07 am

I thought everyone knew not to take there car to Kwik Fit? Taking your car there your really taking you life in your own hands! They are the Gipsy's of the car world looking for any chance to bugger you over!

The last time my Old Man went there for a Lub change he put a wee paint dab on the Oil Filter and when he collected, guess what...................

latil · Post by **latil** » Wed Dec 10, 08 10:29 am

http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/transport-autom ... reviews/1/

Adam · Post by **Adam** » Wed Dec 10, 08 10:50 am

A friend of mine was an MOT tester at a fast fit place that got taken over by Kwik-Fit. He resigned because he was put under pressure by his new manager to recommend unnecessary work to customers.

Having said that, I've used my local Kwik-Fit to fit and balance tyres and wheels that I've supplied, and they've always been very obliging, considering they're not making much profit out of me.

andyrob · Post by **andyrob** » Wed Dec 10, 08 10:51 am

dave
ne tyres @ the silverlink have got a right good 4 wheel laser machine with a good operator (young craig) thats the place to take it

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Wed Dec 10, 08 11:04 am

andyrob wrote:dave
ne tyres @ the silverlink have got a right good 4 wheel laser machine with a good operator (young craig) thats the place to take it

Thanks for that Andy.

Dave999 · Post by **Dave999** » Wed Dec 10, 08 12:50 pm

Bloke at work (i think, unless it was one of you lot told me) took his in to a local garage, failed its MOT on warped damaged disks which they said had caused a worn steering rack.

so he paid the necessary to get the job done (it wasn't cheap) disks and rack

took a peak about 3 weeks later and notice new boots but he couldn't fathom how the bolts that hold the rack on could have corroded so much

took it back about 3 months later to get the brakes looked at again (not happy with their operation).

after the work this time they commented that the steering rack was worn and needed replacing

so he took in his guarantee

and waited while they replaced it

anyone else find that every modern car they own of 3-4 years old always fails on excessively scored disks.....

advisory
advisory
advisory
fail excessively scored front NS disk
fail excessively scored Front OS disk

3 out of the last 4 I've taken for MOT have and the 4th they commented that they'd need replacing soon as both pad and disk were OK but thin.

whats going on???? Modern brake pads a magnet for grit or made of diamonds. is there a European directive on making disks out of cheese. never have this problem on the charger and its the thing that lived in the dusty dusty gritty environs of Australia suffering both flood and hell fire.... and gets driven across fields, camp sites etc that are either dust bowel or mud bath. never had the issue with my vans or beetles either and they were all daily driven.

well odd.....i'm going to write to watchdog

is it any wonder i binge drink

Dave

latil · Post by **latil** » Wed Dec 10, 08 1:10 pm

Dave999,that's why pads were made from asbestos. None of the new materials come anywhere near in performance and are so hard they grind your discs away very quickly.

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Wed Dec 10, 08 1:17 pm

Every car I have taken for an MOT in the last 15 years has either had an advisory on rusty brake pipes or has failed for them.

This is just surface rust for Gods sake!

I painted the lines on the Challenger (even though they are what i would call rusty) and they pass every time.

The last Jeep I had failed on brake lines so I just buffed them up with a mop on the angle grinder. Then it passed. I don't see how removing the rust (and metal with polishing) can make the pipes actually safer to use?

Dave999 · Post by **Dave999** » Wed Dec 10, 08 1:35 pm

its just silly

now asbestos pads

when did they kill them off

must have been years ago. i.e longer than it would take to wear out a couple of sets of asbestos pads i must have been running modern pads in most all of my cars in the last 10 surely

Dave