Shock absorber “blown”

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

....That service writer was just trying to make money off of a old lady.

Yup, but some will try it with everyone.

Had my 3000GT in for annual inspection. Guy calls, says it's going to fail, needs brakes, pads are done.

I said I'd be right over.

As loud as I could speak in the waiting room full of customers I politely asked the service writer if the tech had actually pulled a wheel and looked or if it was himself who was full of **** as I had just done a brake job over the weekend and wondered aloud how the pads could possibly show any discernible wear at all much less appear to be used up?

He mumbled a bit and had my car brought around.

[fastfredracing]

I worked part time for a big chain repair place. This was sop. The worst liars and cheaters were the best employees. They got awards, and bonuses etc. Made me sick.

[Aerkuld]

This is the reason a lot of us work on our own vehicles!

I replaced the front wheel bearings on one of the cars over the weekend. I considered taking it to a shop. Then I thought about the expense of doing that, not knowing which brand of shiddy Chinese bearings they'd used, and whether they used the right press tools to press the new bearings in, etc. I ended up doing the job myself using FAG bearings, knowing I'd used the proper diameter adapter on the press, and for a fraction of the cost of taking it to a shop. Much as I loathe spending one of my weekend days off working on the car, I just feel much better knowing it's done correctly.

[Icemaster]

Is the shock smiling? If so, there's your answer. Especially if theres...leakage.

[Steve Carlton]

When I was young, we put Gabriel Striders in our cars by ourselves and we liked it.

[Jrboulder]

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

When I was young, we put Gabriel Striders in our cars by ourselves and we liked it.

Was it uphill both ways to the western auto?

[fastfredracing]

Hi jacker air shocks . Every camaro in the school parking lot had em .

[Steve Carlton]

Originally Posted by Jrboulder

Was it uphill both ways to the western auto?

I think so. Snow was really deep, so hard to tell.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

That service writer was just trying to make money off of a old lady.

Similar thing happened to me. I bought a Chrysler mini van for my mom and I took care of the service and repairs. When it was near time far a timing belt (about 60k miles) I had it replaced. I was out of town when she had some kind of issue and took it in. The same place that changed the belt 10k miles before with my name on the service order told her she needed a timing belt, and it was “urgent” at 70k miles.
I raised holy hell with them and they were unapologetic. They contended that they were doing her a favor.

[fastfredracing]

This morning, I informed my customer that he had "blown" a shock absorber/strut.

[vash]

fun with metaphors..nothing else to see here.

my MTB bike rear shock EXPLODED this past week. had to get it BROUGHT BACK to life. took a less than a BENJAMIN. i still need to learn how to do it myself, so i dont get BENT OVER repeatedly when my FAT ASS (<---Not so much a metaphor) BLOWS then next one.

[wdfifteen]

Changed the shocks yesterday. 20 minute job, right?
The top nuts would turn about 5 rotations and lock up. I spent 30 minutes trying to get the first one off before I got out the angle grinder. Like an idiot I thought that must be an anomaly and surely the other one will just screw off. I sprayed it with penetrating oil, wire brushed the threads, three turns off, one turn back on, more oil and brushing, over and over. Nope. Angle grinder again. That 20 minute job turned into 2 hours.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Changed the shocks yesterday. 20 minute job, right?
The top nuts would turn about 5 rotations and lock up. I spent 30 minutes trying to get the first one off before I got out the angle grinder. Like an idiot I thought that must be an anomaly and surely the other one will just screw off. I sprayed it with penetrating oil, wire brushed the threads, three turns off, one turn back on, more oil and brushing, over and over. Nope. Angle grinder again. That 20 minute job turned into 2 hours.

I do most of the work on my cars, but one task I did not want to tackle was changing out the A-arm bushings on my El Camino. I took that to a shop and paid them to do it.

To remove the A-arms the shocks have to be removed so the shop had to R&R the same shocks. Whatever mechanic was supposed to torque down the nut on the top did not do it right, and the nut was cross-threaded.

Of course it had been over a year since they did it, so I was stuck with a sock that was not tight enough and the top of the shock would move in the mount and it could not be tightened. So I ordered new shocks, and had to cut the top of one shock off with a dremel.

[mepstein]

We have a great local shop that I feel is very honest and does a good job. They are always very busy because a lot of other people feel the same way. One day, I stopped down with a tire that was going flat. A big chunk of metal was sticking out of the sidewall so it was obvious it would need to be replaced. It was going to take a couple hours to get two new tires and I was in a hurry to go to an appt. Owner hands me his keys and tells me to stop by tomorrow for my car. Now I live 45 minutes away but guess where I still bring my car for service.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

This morning, I informed my customer that he had "blown" a shock absorber/strut.

Looks to me like it’s leaking.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

My MIL bought a new Mercedes at the local dealer. She would drive down the 90 miles from her place to spend the night with us, and "let" me take it to the dealership for the warranty work and service work. One time I left it, but the service order was written up in her name. Bertha is not the name of young women of today. They called me that afternoon and asked for Bertha, and I told them I was the one that brought it in and was her designated person to get the car serviced. The guy on the phone started reading the list of issues, and said the brakes and front struts were shot, and it was going to cost a few grand to fix. I told them do not touch the brakes, or any of that, just do the service for that interval.

When I got her car home I pulled the wheels and inspected the brakes and they had 80% of the pad. The struts were fine. She drove the car a total of 75,000 miles before selling it and getting a different vehicle. It still had those OEM brakes on it and the light for worn brakes still had not come on. That service writer was just trying to make money off of a old lady.

They'll do the same sheit with young girls and men too.

[Tervuren]

Originally Posted by mepstein

We have a great local shop that I feel is very honest and does a good job. They are always very busy because a lot of other people feel the same way. One day, I stopped down with a tire that was going flat. A big chunk of metal was sticking out of the sidewall so it was obvious it would need to be replaced. It was going to take a couple hours to get two new tires and I was in a hurry to go to an appt. Owner hands me his keys and tells me to stop by tomorrow for my car. Now I live 45 minutes away but guess where I still bring my car for service.

I wonder who's car he drove home that day.