Lifting a 911 with such bad form

[wes_r]

Brought the car to a local tire shop to get a new set of shoes and this happened.





Young tech thought the outside of the under body was good place to lift with blocks of wood on each side. As you can see, he also partially crushed the oil cooler line.



I saw the damage while the car was still on the lift and said something to the tech. Another tech overheard and I watched him alert the manager. Except the manager didn't even flinch, wince, or walk over to check out what had happened.

Calmly and curiously, I waited to see if the manager would notice me observing the whole thing and say something. Nope. After a minute or so, I spoke up -- "We need to address those bent rocker panels." He feigned surprise and finally walked over to inspect the damage. What was even more disappointing was that he never once apologized to me or showed any concern that his employee damaged a customer's car.

He did eventually offer to fix it if I took it to the body shop next door (which happens to be reputable). I decided I had put up with enough shenanigans and this was a great problem for my insurance company to solve.

[quattrorunner]

Welcome to the club.
Bummer it's bent. Hope it sorts out favorably.

[BFT3.2]

Uggh.. that hurts. Unless it's a P-Car shop I wont even let them lift it unless Im standing right there telling them where NOT to lift from. They usually role their eyes at first until I show them the oil lines, rocker panels etc. and then they go "oh.. yeah, that would be bad to lift there". Hope everything gets taken care of properly.

[dos531]

Yeah that sucks. I take my jack pad and show them how to use it. They just do one side at a time.

[Flieger]

I bring them the wheels alone (well, with the old tires on).

[wes_r]

Thanks everyone. It's at a Porsche specialty body shop right now. $2500 later and all will be well again. Thankfully insurance is picking up the tab on this one.

[tirwin]

When I bought my car I had 4 dents in the floor pan. I can only assume it was something similar.

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by Flieger

I bring them the wheels alone (well, with the old tires on).

This is what I do. A long time ago one of my cars got damaged and I had to eat the cost because the mechanic claimed it was like that when it came in.

[DRACO A5OG]

Originally Posted by dos531

Yeah that sucks. I take my jack pad and show them how to use it. They just do one side at a time.

Ditto, Americas Tire is very good about it, just did it today.

[Quickstep192]

I recently posted asking if it was safe to drive to the tire place with my old tires. Many guys suggested avoiding the risk by taking the wheels. Thanks for providing the final impetus to take the wheels off the car instead of taking the car. I hope everything works out for you.

[OffCamber00]

Originally Posted by Flieger

I bring them the wheels alone (well, with the old tires on).

+2 No one lifts my car but me.

[Cairo94507]

I would never trust the $10 hour monkeys working in these non-performance oriented shops. They don't care at all. I had just had the wheels on my DD refinished and powder coated. I took the car in to have the wheels balanced and rotated. I told them wheels were newly refinished and perfect and they agreed they were. I asked them to be careful and not damage them. They laughed at me. They damaged all 4 wheels, chips and scratches. I had their manager look at them and requested his insurance carrier info. They promptly issued a check for $890 - the refinishing costs. The only way they learn is to hold them accountable.

[Quicksilver]

I never take my car to get tires mounted. I take them four loose wheels. I don't trust the lifting, I certainly don't trust the air wrench, and they won't use antiseize on the nuts.

Put the car on jack stands or a different set of wheels and haul them over.

[T77911S]

i ALWAYS watch if someone else is lifting my car. i have had to correct them too.

[SoCalSK8r]

I went to a local tire place owned by a PCA member. I still watched what they did and they would have messed my car up if I wasn't there to instruct them. The stupid thing was that the owner was standing there with his thumb up his butt.

Next time wheels are coming off and I'm trucking em over myself.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Jose_JGC]

Originally Posted by Flieger

I bring them the wheels alone (well, with the old tires on).

+1. So they don't damage the body, the Fuchs or the lug nuts. I have learned the hard way that only me or Porsche specialized professionals shall work on my car.
Jose

[joe payne]

I brought my car to a shop one day because my valve stem had a crack and was leaking air.
I told the owner the situation and the next thing I knew I had two or three guys running to my car with jacks. As they started to position them in all the wrong places I quickly said no way! I just thanked him and said lift only. He said no lift. I said bye bye!

[DRACO A5OG]

Oh yeah, the other thing is I bring my own Torque Wrench. Re-torque when I get home.

Never ever let them use the power tool to put the lugs on.

I also put my own center caps on they never place them correctly per PAG. Tip of crest to filler stem

[Bleedsblue]

Originally Posted by Flieger

I bring them the wheels alone (well, with the old tires on).

This is what I do with the 911. Although, I have taken it to Discount Tire, and as always I'm happy with their service. After dropping it off they called me to see if I had a jack pad (I forgot to leave it w/ them), and then they found one in the shop and did the car one side at a time. They're careful and I've yet to find a mark on any wheels from their guys.

It is a franchise, however, so results may vary by location.

[JAR0023]

Originally Posted by Flieger

I bring them the wheels alone (well, with the old tires on).

This, but I do keep a jack pad in the car for emergencies. -J