I should have used this site BEFORE going to Just Brakes... Then I would have known their practices!
My car's brakes were squeaking, so I dropped off my car in the early morning for the $99 pads-and-shoes deal that they advertised - I'm new in Dallas, and thought they were my best option since I didn't know any local mechanics.
Mid-afternoon, I received a call saying that the car would need over $500 in repairs. The mechanic I talked too wouldn't give me too many specifics other than things like 'weak hoses, ' 'corroded rotors, ' 'dirty calipers' and such. He said it all in a tone that was like he was reading from a script.
However, I had had my car looked at by a mechanic I TRUSTED only about a month ago, before I moved, and he had only mentioned some wear on the pads. So I told the Just Brakes rep that I just wanted the pads and shoes replaced. He quoted me a new price, around $350, and said he wouldn't do any work unless I consented to at least that price. I told him just to put it back together and write me out a list of what was wrong, and I'd get a second opinion.
When I came back to get my car two hours later, the front right tire was completely flat! The mechanic vaguely mentioned something about how it was fine when they put it back on, and how 'slow leaks' can happen. These were 2-year-old tires that I'd checked one month ago and were filled when I came in. They finally agreed to fill up the tire, but accused me of 'cussing them out' and 'overreacting' when I simply asked to see a manager.
Five days later, and my tire is doing fine and has not lost any pressure. I'm not sure if the flat tire was due to incompetence or retaliation for turning them down, but I'm worried about what else they may have done to my brake system. I'm certainly doing my research before I take my car to another repair shop here!
0 comments