Be Clear About Your Car Repairs
By Charles on Mar 20, 2011 with Comments 0
Some mechanics would like nothing more than an ignorant customer. As you use brake repairs, it is important that you research the subject before hand and get prepared for all the small tricks that are going to be played on you. You need to look at the brake pads as they are going to be removed from your vehicle. It is not unknown for the mechanic to take your old brake pads and then recycle them onto another poor customer. At the same time your “new” brake pads may be very old indeed. It is important that you are visible when the mechanic is working so that they do not feel the freedom to manipulate things. In any case the supervisory role has always been attached to the responsible drivers who do not want to pay through the roof for brake repairs.
Discreetly watch all the repairs on your vehicle
There is no need to be aggressive if you are effective in supervising the use of the vehicle. Do not allow the car mechanic to replace things that are perfectly fine. They only do this in order to get more money from you. Ladies are particularly vulnerable since some people take a misogynistic assumption that ladies do not know much about cars. Of course this is nonsense and you need to ensure that you are not being exploited. The national brake shops are not as bad as some of their reputations might suggest. It all depends on the attitude you take when you walk into the shop. There are some specialist shops that are just interested in brake repairs. You should go for these because the chances are that they fully understand all the processes that are required. They will also have a good reputation to protect. You need to consult with friends and family when it comes to selecting the garage that is going to work on your car. Do not just follow your instincts because they tend to be horribly wrong.
The national chain stores tend to have minimum standards. Be wary of franchise arrangements because the local shop may not live up to the exacting standards that you expect in this sort of work. If something goes wrong with the process of brake repairs, you need to use the complaints’ procedure. One of the areas that are full of contention is the question as to whether you need lifetime brake pads. The number of rotors that you will be using as well as the expected shelf life for the vehicle will be relevant factors as you make the selection. Make sure that you have a consistent basis on which you are going to select these items. Do not be persuaded by rosy pictures about your vehicle. At the same time you should not buy new pads for an old banger that is likely to die a natural death within a few months.
Does your mechanic have to use specific tools?
Under normal circumstances the brake repairs should be undertaken with the correct tools. For example you need to ensure that your mechanic uses a torque wrench as well as torque sticks when they are working with impact guns. From the above analysis, it is clear that the driver has to take some time to study the braking system in the car. They cannot rely on the brake repairs to do all the work. You have to know why the car breaks down and the methods that you can use to keep it running for a long time.
Filed Under: Car Tuning • Guides/DIY