Brake shoes problem @ pepboys

fenderpicks · #1 07-12-2012, 06:50 AM

Hey everyone, so i changed out my OWN front disc brakes on my 04 Ford ranger last friday.

I have no experience with Drums i took my ranger to a local Pepboys to get the shoes changed, my appointment was for 12pm.

The mechanic didnt take off the stock drums and shoes until it was 5pm, he was struggling for the entire 5 hours.

i personally bought my own shoes from Advance auto, by Wagner thermo quiet, mechanic (Jeff) THEN realized the shoes has too much padding and the drum wouldnt fit, so i bought pepboys house brand brake shoes and they fit.

So finally Jeff is done wit everything, lowered the truck from the lift, i drove it around the parking lot and i realize the brakes is not doing its job, the pedal was SPONGY.

I told them i will go home and bleed it, if that doesnt take care of it i will bring it back.

So i got home and did a brake fluid flush with ATE Super Blue, i used motive brake bleeder and 2 man method, IM CERTAIN THERE ARE NO AIR IN THE LINES, But the pedal is still soft and spongy.

Now as im typing this im at Pepboys, they are blaming that it was like this prior me bringing it in.

The truth is the truck was perfectly fine before JEFF performed anything on the truck, and now they are trying to blame me for the problem.

Im just writing this as a reference and maybe you guys could give me some advice, if anything i WILL pursue this to the justice with lawyer and attorney.

PS: Truck has roughly 70k miles, i bought it used, performed a front disc brake job and brake fluid flush myself on july 6, 2012.
Only reason i wanted the shoes changed was because i do not know if previous owner abused the brakes before and i figure it will not be that hard of a job for a MECHANIC.

Lou 1 · #2 07-12-2012, 07:39 AM

Check for any leaking brake fluid--if none and fluid is still showing full--You could try backing up several times across like a large parking lot or long driveway/non-traveled road---drum brakes adjust when backing and stopping. Do little quick stops--not heavy stopping, but little quick stops--see if you hear them adjusting. Did they give you an opinion why they thought they were spongy? It may have nothing to do with what they did---because changing rear shoes that were still ok and in tact (not blown apart in the drum) shouldn't really affect a spongy pedal. I would've thought like you to try bleeding the brakes. Are you leaking brake fluid anywhere? I think unless you specifically asked them to fix the spongy brakes and not to only change the shoes you won't have much luck holding them accountable for the spongy brakes????

OhioMike · #3 07-12-2012, 01:04 PM

Obviously, it is very frustrating when a "professional" shop can't fix a problem, and it is unprofessional also for the customer to be called a liar. It is possible that maybe something else is going on mechanical wise eventhough you took steps to remedy the situation that Pepboys seemed to cause. Getting a lawyer and "fighting-it" over a brake-job is probably a waste of time because more direct evidence needs to indicate that a brake job "caused serious damage" vs. the mechanic was inept and couldn't figure it out. I've heard negative things about Pepboys, and there aren't any in my area. Anyway, I would go somewhere else or have a friend, family member, etc. look it over. Maybe something was over-looked. Go luck.

killj0y · #4 07-12-2012, 08:22 PM

I would fight it with the manager and corporate, you paid for a job and it was done improperly, either they fix it, or give you a refund simple as that. Threaten BBB and shouting their bad business along with safety concerns. Say you'll talk to local car clubs, the paper, Angie's list etc, and they don't fully follow through. A manager doesn't have time to deal with fallout like that.

OhioMike · #5 07-12-2012, 09:01 PM

Quote:

would fight it with the manager and corporate, you paid for a job and it was done improperly, either they fix it, or give you a refund simple as that. Threaten BBB and shouting their bad business along with safety concerns. Say you'll talk to local car clubs, the paper, Angie's list etc, and they don't fully follow through. A manager doesn't have time to deal with fallout like that

Normally I would agree, and if I were done with the shop for good then yes threaten to let everyone know. However, there are two (maybe three) professionals I wouldn't want to irritate. The first is the person who made my food at a restaurant, so if my food is terrible, I would leave and go elsewhere because I wouldn't know if "the cook messed with something". I feel that the same holds true for mechanics. I would definitely let them know, "Hey, I came in here for X, nothing was ever mentioned about spongy brakes, and now after your work, something is wrong". I would definitely be careful what I said because if the argument gets too heated, how would you know if he/she (to be politically correct) didn't mess with something under the hood?

tacho19871987 · #6 07-12-2012, 09:19 PM

It must have a leak somewhere, or a loose fitting. Tell em to fix it or you'll kick their ass!!!

GO GO POWER RANGER!!!

Lou 1 · #7 07-13-2012, 11:41 AM

Because you don't know what is actually wrong or if its due to work done when they did the shoes, I think its hard to argue for a refund. I'd take it to a different unrelated company and not tell the new company of the issues with the first--ask them to diagnose the spongy brakes and ask for a written estimate of repairs. If what they find directly relates to changing the shoes, I'd take this written estimate of work to the first shop. This might also be less embarrassing if you're wrong--like if the second company says well we found a collasped or ruptured brake line or something else unrelated to the shoes. Having solid proof I would think would give you a better chance of getting a refund. Brakes can be very frustrating--sometimes fixing one thing will put more pressure on another area and blow out something else. Unless they put the brakes back together incorrectly and the shoes are not going in and out right and the cylinders are leaking, there isn't much related to changing shoes that will cause a spongy pedal. Thats usually air in the lines, a leak, cylinder issues, collapsed or broken line...

Andy D · #8 07-14-2012, 04:38 AM

I always remove both drums first thing. Then I work on one side at a time. That way, I have a reference. Ive been dealing with drum brakes for fifty yrs , but not often enough to get really good with them. The rears may need to be adjusted more. If that isn't it, look underneath for leaks and just for grins put a wrench on any fittings that were opened. Drum brakes aren't rocket science to work on. There are just a lot of little parts.