Brake job gone wild.

[bambam]

Some body gave me this car. It was the kind I always wanted. A humpback Seville. Designed after royalty from Europe(Rolls Royce). By the time I got it, it was a refugee from the wrecking yard. Too messed up to be parted out, ready for the crusher, and I got it. Two or three thousand dollars later, looking much the same, maybe running a little better. I turn my attention to the sorry braking condition of (we will call her Rosy for the roses etched into her glass) Rosey. Her brakes were bad. First we replaced the pads, shoes, and rotors where needed. Then it's the Master cylinder. The power booster and the master cylinder. After taking it to a shop for repairs, they say the brakes are bad, they suspect the Power booster. So we switch out the Power booster and the Master Cylinder again. The Master Cylinder was leaking out the back, through the plunger. So we blow the lines because of no pressure from the Master cylinder. We now have some braking. We take it to another shop, that turns us down because the Master cylinder is a "remanufacter." The mechanic says it won't last 6 months, because when they honed it out, they did not put in larger "O" rings, which will cause it to blow prematurely. So I find a brand new Master cylinder. We put it on. The shop bleeds the brakes and declares that the "new" caliper's in the rear are both blown and leaking. They need to be replaced. Good thing they are under warranty, and I have my receipt.
When I went to return the Master cylinder, I had the Master cylinder, the receipt, but no box. The guy said I was trying to cheat him our of $35.00 for the stupid Master cylinder. He would not give me my money back. This is pending.

All of the parts that I purchased had rock bottom prices and were remanufactured when applicable.

Warranty or not the parts failed prematurely. I should have gotten years, not months our of these parts.

Top of the line is too expensive, but you have to pay and work on the cheap parts over and over again, costing money in lost time and wages. Look for prices in the middle ground, maybe the loss won't be so great.

I hope you enjoyed this thread. For me, the saga continues.

Bambam

[Dave Severson]

A problem throughout the reman industry.... Find a parts store who uses a good rebuilder and will stand behind the warranty. As far as returning parts not in the original box, many parts stores have that as policy....most times there rebuilder will not credit them for cores not in the original box.

As far as reman parts in general, you usually get what you pay for. The lowest price is not always the best part. I used to have a sign in the shop that said it best, "I won't argue with a man who sells his product for less, he obviously knows what it's worth".

[Bob Parmenter]

While we're on old sayings............................"The bitter taste of poor quality lasts far longer than the sweet taste of a low price."

Somehow this is a lesson each generation insists on learning the hard way.

[techinspector1]

Yep, good fresh oats are one price, oats that have been processed through the horse are another price.