Suspension Replacement Experience From Very Well Known Workshop

[mickr33]

Well here we go...

Very well known suspension specialist lets just say in Thomastown was where I had complete suspension replaced. Business has been there for around 20-25 years so I'm thinking yeah should be top knotch as many others have raved about this place in the past. Went there so they could inspect the vehicle on the hoist and quote. All good, needs this that and the other, no problem. So booked the car in for two weeks time. Arrive at 8 am sharp as requested. Will only be 1 day. So no phone call by 4 so I call. Um coilovers haven't arrived yet so it should be tomorrow. Ok I can live with that, these things happen. So turned up after work next day to pick the car up. Yeah all good he says and we lowered it the 15mm extra you wanted. Great I'm thinking UNTIL the words oh yeah I had to roll the front guards so it wouldn't rub. I said you what? Rolled the front guards. At this point I'm thinking OMG. So at this stage I've gone to inspect the car and gone straight for the guards. Oh low and behold the paint has cracked. I turn to him and ask the very simple question. Before you felt the need to take it apon yourself to roll the guards why, WHY on earth did you not call me first. Blank faced he says I thought I was doing the right thing. Not even a sorry came from his mouth. So he says what do you want me to do. Um I'd like it fixed thanks. He says I don't know any panel beaters. I said we'll in the 20 odd years you've been here you don't know any panel shops? So having said that I left the car and walked approx 5 k in hail to the train station without even an offer of a lift or anything by the workshop. 7 days later picked the car up and I was on my way. Even after there boasting of how good they are at alignments and hardly anyone can do a good alignment how come the cars steering wheel is way of in a straight position and pulls to the left? Even one of the items on the receipt that said was fixed has not been touched. I honestly wanted a good experience from this place and I'm appalled. Did I pay top dollar for my experience. You bet I did. Wouldn't have fazed me if I had received the service to go with the price. So now I have to find another place to get a correct wheel alignment done. I was a little paranoid leaving my car with anyone, but now I'm just super paranoid. Thanks for reading......

[niZmO_Man]

Moral of the story? Every shop is dodgy unless proven otherwise. I've spent $300+ on "wheel alignments" to know better. Imagine all that money spent instead on tools and teaching yourself how to work on your car (something as basic as swapping struts and rolling your guards).

Bad luck mate

[skylinecouple]

Ab-so-bloody-lutely !! DON'T trust anybody. ALL mechanics or anybody in the auto industry cannot be trusted. Stand there, watch them, all day if necessary. Remember, most of these guys were talking in class when they were at school or drawing cars in their school books. If they were smart they'd be vets or doctors.

Ok, so maybe I'm over exaggerating, but you get the drift. Save your money, buy tools. Is there anything more satisfying than doing some work on your car and it turns out way better than any mechanic could have done yet didn't cost you $900 or $3,000 or heaven forbid $10,000 ?