just had some new wheels and tires put on. mount/balance/alignment... asked the guy to check the torque on my pitman nut as i had just put on a new ps gear box and dss and only had a 12" pipe wrench to try to generate 186 ft #'s of torque. i had cranked it on there pretty hard but figured they could get it tighter. so anyway, after driving it for a while, something just didn't feel right. so i get under it and the two bolts mounting the dss to the frame on the drivers (ps side!) are not freaking there! the dss along with my anti-sway bar are just hanging by the other two bolts on the passenger side. so i check my pitman nut and it's barely finger tight!!!! if my pitman arm had come loose i'd probably be dead right now. i'm so mad at this guy i don't even know how to approach him. i feel like i shold sue them or something. this was one of those big chain places by the way. and on top of that he talked me out of buying the american racing wheels i had wanted and i ended up with some cheap/cheesy look-alikes with plastic center caps for $80 less.

 

Any "mechanic" that works on my truck has me looking over his shoulder the whole time.
You should always double-check the work that's performed before leaving the shop to make sure it's done correctly and to your satisfaction.
Go back and CALMLY speak to the manager about your findings.

As for the wheels, If you want wheels A, and get "talked into" wheels B, YOU still made the choice.
Don't blame the salesman, he's just doing his job.

 

talk to the manager and ream his <edit>
tell them you are going to talk to some legal people.
also if you told the service writer/mechanic to do the work or asking him to do the work and he said yes,did he write it down on paper.if he did i would have the truck towed to the place and have them foot the bill of the tow and the work on the truck.maybe get the rim you were looking at for the same price as the ones on your truck now.

or just use the alter route molotov cocktail right thru the window and smile when doing it.

Warning for use of symbols to bypass the work filter

 

definately true. and i didn't mean to generalize like that. i know there are some good honest mechanics out there, i just haven't found one yet

 

Thats why i'm the only mechanic that touchs my truck.

 

i asked them when i was picking it up if he had done the work, to which he said yes and that there were no problems and everything went fine, which is probably why i drove off w/o taking a thorough look at everything. i did look over my steering components and i'm surprised i didn't notice that those bolts were missing, but b/t the other bolts and the dss bearing it hadn't shifted position any, so it wasn't obvious. i just hope no damage had been done to my new gear box

 

his job? he basically lied to me. said the wheels were just as good and i wouldn't notice the difference. that's manipulative and dishonest if you ask me.

don't worry, i'm not the molatov type. it's just disappointing and frustrating.

 

Yea just what a mechanic wants some guy hanging over their sholder wearing them out about things they think they know about. Not saying your one of them but i have had those types before. Me personally ill let anyone hang just as long a they want to shoot the crap and talk trucks but you start telling me how to do my job and its to the waiting room you go!!


Dont group us all together i treat everyones truck and car like i was working on my own

 

I would refer you to the following post and notice where the "I's" are.

arroyojim, I know you're frustrated, angry and hopefully a little scared by know. Tackling a steering problem without the correct tools is at the least difficult and in this case dangerous. Unfortunately, the fact that the shop where you got your wheels failed to inspect and correct your work is immaterial. It was your work and if they would have touched it the liability for it probably would have become theirs. I do, however, agree that they should have told you they would not, did not, inspect the areas you requested them to. Auto zone offers a tool loaner program at many of their stores which may help in the future. I'm sorry if this sounds like a slam but when you work on your own vehicle you also have to accept the liability that goes along with it.

 

[QUOTE=Totallyrad;1137997]
it's understandable that it would appear that it was actually my work that was falling apart, but please take my word that this was not the case. i am not a pro and for that very reason i am extremely careful and meticulous esp when working with something like steering or brakes. i am absolutely 100% certain that those bolts were in place and tight when i was done putting the thing together. i don't know how tight the pitman nut was (it was as tight as i could get it. i'm not a gorilla, but i know how to create some leverage), but i know it was tighter than it was when he was done with it. really the point is that the morning after he had done the work, i specifically asked him if he had tightened the pitman nut b/c i was worried i hadn't gotten it tight enough and HE SAID HE HAD TIGHTENED IT. either he didn't do it or he didn't tighten it enough or there is a problem witht the nut itself.

 

I totally agree. Naturally, for me, I work faster and do a better job if the customer is not breathing down my neck. Its like any other job, MOST people will do a better job if you give them some space to work with.

My name is on the work I do, be it an inframe rebuild, or just a simple 5 minute job, I take pride in what I do.

 

Sounds like you might want to pick a more reputible shop where you feel comfortable bringing your vehicle to. If you feel like youre getting screwed at the shop youre at, then its time to find a better shop.

 

I'm not one to tell the mech how to do his job, or get in his way while he's doing it.
I'm just not a "Hand the keys to the service writer and sit in the waiting room" kinda guy.
I turned wrenches for a living for quite a few years before crossing into my current profession.
I know my way around a toolbox.

 

lemme guess you wanted American Racing and he talked you into Unique wheel?

 

Why? Why you ask? Because technicians are tired of getting the Oscar Meyer from the manufacturers while doing warranty work. Doing things for free like using the manufacturers service information to find schematics, wire diagrams so he can fix the pile in his stall. Also the tech is told by a rep that you "don't get paid for thinking", or getting parts from the parts department or to fill out all of your paperwork, test drive the pile after the repair, all of this is part of the techs job to fix said pile in his stall....one which he did not design or build and would not own, but the above is not considered "work". Your hands physically touching the vehicle is considered "work", funny why do people ask me if I am at "work" then?

Then your dealer does there best to slip Mr. Meyer your way, while the General is sneaking around your flanks. Warranty repairs seem to be going up, rising costs, cheaper materials...etc, warranty repair times are going down. The big two are in the dumper so it's easier to cut the techs times to save money than to fight the Union.....we can't do anything about it besides find a new job....and they'll have some zombie they have brainwashed into the $100,000 a year hipe to replace us. So in the shop we get along, it is real competitive, you hurry to get the next job so maybe you can make 40 hours this week. There is favoritism, buddy system that goes on, feed this tech and let this other tech be Mr. Warranty, which is most everyone who is not on the buddy system or related to someone important.

Why are techs _____________ you ask? Probably cause their tired of getting the bi-product out of the south bound end of a north bound heffer. This was not directed at you fellas, just the best way I can explain it.

oh yeah, I'm going back to heavy equipment!!