Just Brakes

[dwaynefu]

I took my wife's 03 Honda Accord to Just Brakes yesterday to get brakes looked at. Upon their inspection, they told me that the car needed to have the calipers rebuilt. I'm thinking no way. The car only has 30K miles on it. Then they run of a whole list of bulls**t and the bill comes up to $850.00. So I told them to just put it back together when they inform me that the 99.88 is already being spent for taking the rotors apart. But I thought that was a free visual inspection. So I called another store and asked what does the free inspection cover and they inform me that the taking apart of the rotors is included. When I put the dude from the other store on the phone with the guy from the store that I was at, he promptly tells me there is no charge for the inspection.

 

So then I take the Honda to the dealership, i walked away paying only $150.00 for a rear brake job because nothing was wrong with the front brakes. The calipers didn't need to be rebuilt nor any of the other bulls**t they were feeding me. So a warning to all watch out for these thieves. I then found this website this morning....

 

http://badbusinessbureau.com/results.asp?q...s&submit=Search

 

Beware of these leeches!!!!!!!

[lowflyer]

BTW, Just Brakes are being indited by the NYC State Attorny's Office for Deceptive Practices and had to file a public appology for this sort of scam. In Florida, they are also under investigation. Stay away from those scammers at all costs.

 

And incidently, there is no way that those guys had the rotor apart. On Honda Accords, the rotors are "Trapped," meaning that they are pressed onto the hub assembly and requires a press to remove and install them. Accord brake jobs are done with an On-Car Brake Lathe ONLY. So unless some monkey took the time to carefully press them out, they couldn't have had it off the car. They were probably just going to do a "Pad Swap," clean the calipers and charge you the $850.00.

 

Next time, unless the car is vibrating under braking, swap the pads yourself and save the $150.00.

[DJinCO]

What is really sad is that a co-worker came to me yesterday and told me about his conversation about his 01 Tahoe that was at Just Brakes. He rushed over and told me that I needed to get my Tahoe checked because Just Brakes told him that the pistons on the calipers stick and ruin the brakes on all Tahoes, Subs, and Silverados. He said he was told that there was a TSB out, but the dealer only puts a mud flap on (This according to Just Brakes).

 

He needed rotors, pads, shims, calipers and emergency brake shoes - $899

 

I showed him this thread this morning.

 

Cheers, Doug

[prideclaw]

I've never heard of Just Brakes, but I'll be sure to avoid them and to tell everyone else to do the same.

[jhm]

It's not only "just brakes" that pulls this crap. I guarantee any franchise repair shop will try something similar with their advertised specials. I had a 65 Mustang that needed some exhaust work to get thru inspection. Before I brought it into MIDAS brakes and mufflers, I checked out what was needed. The hangers were like new. When the gave me the bill it said all hangers had to be replaced.big $$. I went out and crawled under the car and they were the same ones that came in. When I told the mgr he called the mechanic and blasted him for faking the bill. I told him, dont give me this bs, he wouldnt have faked it if you hadn't told him to! My rule is never go to a franchise for anything.

[rdnkcpa]

I have an old 1989 full size Mercury station wagon that I use as a beater. Took it to Jiffy Lube to get its annual oil change. They were gung ho to sell me a transmission flush, turned them down. I went to pay for the oil change, the girl behind the counter was going over what services were performed and she got to lubing the chasis and she said the chasis is sealed. I promptly told her it has 11 zerks and it needed to be greased. She yells out into the shop, the tech says, it was his mistake on the paperwork and the chasis was lubed. I get home get under it and I could tell the zerks were not touched. I called Jiffy Lube corporate told them I did not appreciate paying for services that were not done. Just makes you mad when somebody tries to pull that stuff. Another story, my buddy took his Honda Accord into the dealer for its 15,000 mile service and the Honda dealer told him he needed new plugs and wires. So its not just the franchise service places that you have to watch out for.

[SlamminL5s]

i've never heard of them either... but anyways why dont you just do ur pads ur self... its much easier and doesnt cost as much !

[PELICAN]

Thanks for the news I was going to go by a just brakes store here to see how much it would cost to get my brakes done.

[Mule]

Sort of like the 4Wheel Parts thread. Very dependant on who runs the shop. The Just Brakes here in Colorado Springs do great work and are inexpensive. It is a franchise, so the owner will dictate a large percentage of how it operates and treats customers.

 

The owner here personally drove my truck, made adjustments, and didn't charge anything.

[Rudy]

Just Brakes in Texas are the same, thats what gives the good mechanics a bad name.

 

 

Rudy