Two years ago, my Dad brought his 1995 Ford F-250 with 118,000 into Just Brakes located at 10604 Fuqua Street. The power brakes had failed due to a broken vacuum pump. While he was there, they recommended that a majority of his brake system be replaced. He agreed to the work due to the mileage and the fact that the truck was used when he bought it and the previous maintenance was unknown. The total bill for the repairs was a little over $700. This included new front rotors, brake calipers, brake pads and a vacuum pump.
Two years later and 30,000 miles, the vacuum pump they replaced failed, causing the power brake system to fail due to no vacuum. I called the store that performed the work and was told they offered a 50,000 mile, unlimited time warranty. I was told if they replaced the vacuum pump the first time, it would be covered and they would replace it under the pre-rated warranty. I dropped the truck off on a Monday afternoon and was told they would look at it in the morning.
The next morning they called my Dad and told him that he would need to have his front calipers, rotors, and brake pads replaced again, along with vacuum pump.
There was absolutely nothing wrong with the brake system when I brought the truck in, it was only the vacuum pump that had failed. They determined that before I had left the day before. Two days before, I had a new set of tires installed on the truck and had visually inspected the brake system myself, and everything was fine. The brake pads were wearing normal, and the rotors were still in excellent shape. After I got the truck back from Just Brakes, I inspected the brake system again. There was no evidence of the problems that Just Brakes claimed to find.
Being a mechanic with over 15 years experience, I believe I am qualified to tell a good brake system from a brake system with a problem. Especially a brake system that would require as much work as was being recommended.
Just Brakes did not SCAM me. Fortunately for me, I knew what was wrong when I brought it in. The only reason I brought it to them was due to the warranty, which by the way, is a prorated warranty. They still wanted almost $200 to repair a part that was only $216 at the time of the original repair. Using my calculation, I should have only been charged $130.00 to replace a $216 part with 3/5ths of the warranty used.
In my opinion, Just Brakes had no intention of honoring the warranty they tout. They knew two things would happen. Either we would authorize a $650 bill for unneeded repairs, or we would simply refuse the work and have the truck repaired elsewhere. Either way, they come out ahead.
For those interested, the vacuum pump was replaced in my garage for a cost of $108.23 and 1 hour of labor. That hour included the drive to the auto parts retailer.
As a side note. I was not impressed with the store or the personnel that worked there. When I went to pick up the truck, the manager of the store was asleep in the front seat of his truck, in plain view of the waiting room. The waiting room was a complete mess, and the work shop was completely empty. With the way they treat customers, I can see why.
My advise to others would be to find a reputable repair shop in town. A repair shop does not to be a specialized brake shop to repair brakes. Any quality mechanic can troubleshoot and repair a brake problem.
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