I've waited a LONG time to report this ripoff - simply because I wanted to see if ANYTHING I was told at Just Brakes #31 would EVER come true.
Some time ago, I went to the Just Brakes #31 in Dallas, TX because one set of my brakes were starting to chirp with the wear indicators. I figured I'd give their $99 per axle deal a try.
What happened was a nightmare. After I arrived first thing in the morning, I was told I had to leave the car... That the brakes were badly damaged and had been incorrectly assembled at the factory and would require a lot of work, and some "tricky rigging of parts to make them functional again." I was also told that I would need new rotors - the cost was so high that I simply did not have the money.
I was told that the rotors were too thin to turn, and were also badly warped, so I had no choice but to change them. Since I did not have the money, and I refused new rotors, I was told they would try to turn them to "improve them enough to stop the grabbing."
That was all news to me! My brakes had always been functional - in fact, they'd been as exceptional as my car, a 1999 Olds Alero Coupe (one of the first off the line), AND I had NEVER had a single problem with the brakes, and certainly not any "grabbing" that the "technician found when he test drove the car."
The truth is, the car had only been serviced by the original dealership that had acquired the car, to my specifications, and sold it to me brand new with barely 3 miles on the odometer. I had just moved to Dallas permanently, and had not looked for a service department, when I decided to try Just Brakes. It made sense since brakes are the "only thing they do."
I finally got my car back and a mind-blowing bill for nearly $700 for one axle and all these supposedly "new" parts used to "try to rebuild" my brake system to "something functional." I still had my "old, factory original badly warped, paper thin rotors" on my car.
I was told that I'd be back very soon, if I was lucky enough to not end up in a fatal accident, and that I was going to need more than $1,800 worth of work on my brake system.
I then began taking my car to Steakley Chevrolet, which is now Bankston Chevrolet, on Northwest Highway. I discussed my car's service history with Jason and began using their service department for my car's care. Jason remains my service manager still today.
When it came time to do the other axle's brakes, I told Jason of my Just Brakes experience and my concerns for what would need to be done and the cost.
What I was told amazed me! And yet, it did not surprise me in today's world.
Calls to my original dealership's service department revealed no issues with my brake system. The car had thoroughly been checked from top to bottom before I ever took possession, and regularly checked when brought in for oil change and regularly scheduled maintenance.
My new service department did replace my brakes on the one axle and check the other that Just Brakes #31 had done.
I was informed that all the brake system, front and rear, was fully functional and properly installed. I was also told that the original factory parts were still in place throughout the brake system, with the exception of the brake pads.
Furthermore, I was told that not only was there no need for $1,800 worth of brake system repairs like Just Brakes #31 had informed me, but that my rotors were fine and could easily be turned whenever necessary - that they were not "paper thin and badly warped and in need of immediate replacement" like Just Brakes #31 had informed me.
BOTTOM LINE - Just Brakes #31 ripped me off big time... The very first time I needed any brake pads... Which was not only apparently all that I needed, but according to people I have trusted for a number of years now, that was literally all I got for my nearly $700!
So how long ago was that? How long have my rotors lasted? That was 2001 and we're now at more than 172,000 miles... On my 1999 Alero... And the original rotors. Apparently, if you take care of your car on a regular basis and don't abuse the brakes, those rotors last a long time - certainly longer than one brake pads' worth of mileage!
Tex
Dallas, Texas
U.S.A.
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