Like the woman that I am, I've been driving with my brake light on for the last two weeks. I checked the brake fluid and all seemed ok. My mechanical background (LMAO) told me that the light being on was caused by snow, blocking a censor. My van only has 38,000 miles on it. The brakes were not making any grinding noise and they seemed to work fine so I figured everything was fine.
The red light on the dash kept nagging at me so I decided to take it to the (reputable) area tire shop. It took them over an hour just to get it in to check it. A smiling preppy looking guy (WTF is he doing here? He's not grease covered and smelling like rubber.) came in to tell me that I needed new brakes but that the rotors could be turned. He fed me some line about my brake pads being environmentally friendly and that was why they don't last as long. Whatever, you know I'm an idiot female who knows nothing about this crap so just put the new ones on and be done with it. Brakes are nice to have especially in the crappy weather we've been having.
Preppy guy told me they had to order the part so it would be a couple of hours before they could get them.
Great! It's not like I'm going anywhere with my tires off. I didn't bring a book or anything to entertain myself. The room was filled with freaky looking men that gawked at me but didn't speak to me.
Finally some crazy lady came in and told me her life story which I welcomed as I was on the verge of death by boredom. She even offered to take me to my house. I didn't take her up on it since I would have to get back somehow.
Four hours later with a bill costing half as much as I thought it would (rotors were ok), I drove away with my new brake job. The first time I hit them, I nearly smashed my innards from stopping so quickly.
I wonder if I got taken because I am a woman?
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Mechanical Me
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8 comments:
The doctor I work always lets people know he's a surgeon and they give him deals because y'know they may need surgery one day. You should of told him you were a vet AND told them the story of your dog and see what that woulda gotcha.
Stopping is a good thing, isn't it? That seems a little weird having to wait so long to get the job done. It also seems strange that the breaks needed to be done so soon but the pads are not all that great these days.
Maybe you got taken advantage of some but you know what, now you have a safe car again. Good for you.
Glad you did not die of boredom.
i got a brake job and rotors done along with an oil change right before christmas. ive had to put in oil twice, and the brakes suck. Tony drove my car this weekend and when a lady pulled out in front of us, he slammed on the brakes and saw how you have to go all the way down to the floor board. I'm taking it back this weekend.........cost 900.00, did i get taken too?
Possibly, but I wouldn't waste any time worrying about it. You were pleased that the cost was half of what you were quoted and your brakes work. Thank Gd, you weren't in a position where your life - or that of your children - depended on your brakes and they didn't meet the challenge. Rest easy and drive carefully.
*S*
Sign, and Sign Family safety. Is yours and our only concern here. Moving parts wear out, something about friction I think. Keep ON Truckin!
don't feel bad jenn, we've all been taken more than once.
tc
I hear you, my hubby needs brakes and we have no mula!!! thanks for the comment - good to hear since I think I can lose a few. you will get there, you are on the right track.
if they just turned the rotors (like they did) and didn't tell you they were too thin and had to be replaced, the likelihood is their service was on the up and up
and yes - the new brake pads do have a shorter lifespan for exactly that reason
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Disc Brakes
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rotor service
"turning" a brake rotor means that they grind the surface of the rotor on a lathe to make it smooth again
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