So, new plugs and wires, new air filter, new PVC valve. The drums came off so easy I was amazed. Changeing the shoes was another matter. Took me hours as I had never done that before and I had to figure it out as I went, then fight the springs and clips. You guys are good for something after all I just didn't have the strength to deal with those springs. Anyway, with a little help from the guy in the next stall the shoes were done and I also replaced both brake cylinders as one of them was leaking. The front pads still had about 3/4 thickness so I am taking the new ones back.
I did not get to change the fluids, the brakes took me so long I ran out of time. Nor did I mess with the valve cover/gasket.
Anyway, I am home and seriously thinking about a second glass of wine. I am sore, very tired but pleased with what was accomplished. And I have sent the Firestone main office a 'nasty gram' to complain about the horrible inspection I was giving with all the false information.
good on ya for jumping into it and also for giving sh*t where sh*t is deserved. i hate feeling like i can't trust a lot of "professionals" but time and again the vast majority prove themselves to be anything but. i think it's important to call them on their BS in the hope that they will either realize what lousy humans they are, or at the very least, stop ripping people off because they don't like getting caught.
yes, the springs can be tough on the shoes. that's great that the front pads are still good.
when you say you didn't get to the fluids, are you also referring to the brake fluid? not sure if you're driving it in between repairs but it's absolutely crucial to bleed the brakes after you have opened the lines up, which you would have done to replace the brake cylinders.
Unfortunately you have to know something about your car to know if you are getting ripped off. I did the front and rear brakes on my daughter's CRX before she went off to collage. While she was in school the pedal went mushy 4 months later, so she took it to a local chain in Texas (where she is going to school) since I was 2000 miles away. They said the drum rear brakes had to be replaced for $900. My suspicion was the master, it was the only thing that was not new and it only takes about 30 min to change it, new ones are only about $45 from Autozone. I have been doing drum brakes since I was 14 years old, my first three cars had 4 wheel drum brakes (and I hate them all!), so while it was possible that I messed them up, I really doubt it. Since list member Danzo was available I had him check out her brakes (and my daughter had met him when we drove through the Dallas area 3 months before). He found the rear brakes just fine, like new. And replaced her master for a very reasonable price with an Autozone master cylinder (for much much lower than the chain wanted) and she was on her way.
My daughter was very angry that a large reputable chain would treat her nicely yet openly lie to her about her brakes. I doubt the state would do anything since she was not actually out any money, but she wanted to stop such dishonesty. This is just par for the course, especially in larger cities. There is just no substitute for knowing your car, and even better, doing your own work.
BTW, I had drum brakes, they are always a PIA to change. That was true on my 1949 Willies, my '58 Volvo, my '61 Porsche, and the rears on all the current cars we own now (including the Tercel4wd).
Oh, by fluids I meant the transmission and differential. The brakes were bled and adjusted and the brake fluid topped off. The engine oil and filter were were done too.
This afternoon I sanded the rust spots and put Naval Jelly on them. Then rinsed and eventually covered them with primer. It will stay like that until I can find matching paint...no hurry, the piggy bank is squeeling right now. The paint on the car is just OK anyway. The roof and hood look kinda bad but the verticle surfaces are not horrible. The aluminum window frames don't have a lot of black paint on them anymore, that is another thing on the 'to do' list. She is definately a work in progress, but we will get there.
the black stuff on the window frames and gutter is possibly the hugest PITA to scrape off. take your time with it. i think archinstl had some special method for cleaning up his, use the search feature to try and find it or send him a private message (PM).
post pics! if you haven't already, i can't remember.
Since you didn't spend any money at firerock, you likely won't be viewed as a customer, just get lip service. You nastygram is probably buried with a ton of others too. Large chains have reduced auto repair to a commodity. Hardly anyone wants to pay for skills anymore. Especially the big chains that have plenty lawyers and accountants telling them to cut every corner possible. Labor is one of those corners. Unfortunately this low paid labor has no choice but to push hard in order to get paid adequately. Hopefully after you've been oversold, the car actually get fixed! Certainly not condoning it, but it happens. I did time with the Mc D's of auto repair. All I can say is quantity is more prevalent than quality. If you screw 100's of people but only a couple squeal, that's still lots of money in the bank. Also, who do you think invented oil changes for cheaper than you can do them yourself? Car(victim) count is up though...
Lately I have really seen the sales pitch "fix it or die" increase. Are things that tough or are these shops practices catching up to them? Some seem awfully desperate. Cars break often enough to have to invent repairs. Only helps and hurts me at the same time...
I just got an e-mail from Firestone/Bridgestone. They told me they were forwarding my post to the Divisional Office so they could contact me personally. That ought to be entertaining. It just occured to me that perhaps I should call the BBB and see what they have to say about Firestone. That could add to my supposed upcoming discussion with Firestoned.
Update on my complaint to Firestone. I had a nice chat with one of the Divisional Vice Pres guys. He was nice and offered me a free re-check at another Firestone Dealer with some possible repairs thrown in. I told him I hadn't complained in order to get free work done and since they didn't know how to remove rear drums I was hesitant to take my car to Firestone anymore. He told me the offer would remain on the table and he was going to request my inspection paperwork be sent to him from the store I went to in order to look into the situation.
I think their thing about the drums was to avoid getting started taking off what looked to be rusted on...not recently removed drums...where they could have done some damage they'd have been responsible for. Not saying these kinds of places always do things straight up...so who knows? I don't cause I do my own work.
Give a boy a gun-give a biatch a cell phone-and pretty soon you almost got yourself a police state.
Orwell said: War is peace! Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength...
takza wrote:I think their thing about the drums was to avoid getting started taking off what looked to be rusted on...not recently removed drums...where they could have done some damage they'd have been responsible for. Not saying these kinds of places always do things straight up...so who knows? I don't cause I do my own work.
If they had said they didn't WANT to take the drums off I would have been OK with it. But they flat out lied and said they "couldn't get them off" AND ALL the brake stuff needed replacing. Along with telling me the Tie Rods were shot and the front tires were nearly bald. Lies. I get mad all over again thinking about it. They would have happily taken my money if I had told them to go ahead and sort everything out for me and I probably would have driven out of there with the tie rods and front brakes unchanged....who knows. They certainly didn't need any attention.
I just didn't have the strength to deal with those springs. Anyway, with a little help from the guy in the next stall the shoes were done and I also replaced both brake cylinders as one of them was leaking. The front pads still had about 3/4 thickness so I am taking the new ones back.
