Brakes Plus epic failure, what to do?

[thor999]

So I had good service earlier from a Brakes Plus, getting an alignment and oil change after new tires... went back to the same store w/ appointment today to get rear brakes serviced and parking brake adjusted (wasn't catching at all)... Upon inspection, they show me diff fluid collecting on the drum and axle, say it is the inner tube seals. So here is the quote:
labor: $150.00
parts: $32.68
Clean and adjust parking brake-includes center console removal
$49.99
2 qts Valvoline HP Syn 75w90 Gear Oil
$38.78
(for both sides combined)
So I agreed to the service and quote of 441.75 (w/ tax) questions! :
1) Did I get ripped?
OK fast forward: I got out of there at 5:39pm. Ran an errand, blocks away. Smelled diff fluid! Ran another errand, a mile away, smelled burning when I pulled into parking lot. My rear driver side wheel was smoking and burning hot to the touch. I immediately drove back to the Brakes Plus that had serviced my runner and they were closed. Luckily there was a Firestone a block down, still open, that put it up on a lift, determined both seals were destroyed and contaminating the new shoes, and (as that wheel was impossible to turn by hand on a lift) adjusted the brake on that wheel.
2) What do I do at this point? I am told the new seals and shoes are bad now, not to mention after charging me for that work they said I need new cables, and that will be 2 hours labor, I didn't really care for paying that part of the bill at the time...:frisky:

 

[White 4x4runner]

Drive it back down there with all these issues happening and start yelling and screaming at them in front of allot of customers. Make them give your money back and replace the problems. Then use that money and go to a credible mechanic say the firestone down the street you went to and have them check it. If they don't fix the issues File a complaint against them go to corporate with the complaint and go to the bbb.

 

[nissanh]

toyota's have self adjusting rear brakes. As you pull the park brake, the brake shoes will get adjusted to the required limit. Brake binding is normal if it is manually adjusted.

Most automatic trans owners never use the park brake, therefore the rear brake shoes will never get adjusted.

 

[Desert Fox]

If this was me, I would go to Brakes Plus and tell them to fix everything at their cost. No need to yell and cuss, be firm and focus on the facts.
If they don't then I would call the credit card company and dispute the transaction. Then I would file a dispute with the BBB. Then I would contact Brakes Plus upper management or owner and let them know the situation and ask them to repair everything at their cost.

Then I would never use Brakes Plus again.

I do most of my own work. When I run into something over my head, I use a qualified mechanic. There are a couple of FJ owners that I wheel with that are techs at Aspen Auto here in Colorado Springs and I use them.

Start networking with the people on the forum and find a good mechanic and stay away from Brakes Plus. Learn to do some of the simple things yourself or with help from a forum member. It takes longer to lift the 4Runner off the ground then it does to change out the brakes.

If you don't have tools or space to do the work, use your forum network to connect with someone that does and is willing to help.

Good luck, hopefully this works out in your favor and it is a lesson learned.

 

[Drcoffee]

Here's what will happen next. You'll take it back to BP and they will try again and fail again and give up. You'll go to Toyota because they will have the correct parts. Toyota will tell you the axle is bent nd want to replace the axles at a huge cost. In any event, you will empty your wallet in the next few weeks.

The problem is the seal/retainer fitment. Toyota reverse engineered the ABS brakes on the old axle setup and missed the mark for where the seal needs to make contact on the retainer. Then to compound the mistake, toyota reengineered the seal in 2003 which worsened the fitment further for the ABS setup. Here is the thread I wrote regarding the rear axle seals.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/114743-possible-solution-leaking-axle-seals.html

 

[BrianSD_42]

Toyota tried to tell me my axle was bent when the seals failed but I made them MIC it and it was still within specs.

Make them MIC it!

 

[BrianSD_42]

Btw, you just learned a serious life lesson. One that many of us have learned the hard way .... Don't let a brakes services shop (even Firestone) work on your truck. Take it to either a dealer or an independent mechanic who is Toyota certified and uses the Toyota service book (which costs $xxx per month btw).

 

[BlackCat914]

Drive it back down there with all these issues happening and start yelling and screaming at them in front of allot of customers. Make them give your money back and replace the problems. Then use that money and go to a credible mechanic say the firestone down the street you went to and have them check it. If they don't fix the issues File a complaint against them go to corporate with the complaint and go to the bbb.

that's the second worst advice ever given on this forum. Here's my take on it, and since I run the service dept of a luxury car dealership, I'd like to think I know what I'm talking about. Return to the place that did the repairs. Explain to them CALMLY what happened, that you want it fixed and verified before they return it to you, and see what they are willing to do for your inconvenience. Mistakes happen, people are only human. Yes, it might suck, but it happened.
When a customer comes back in hollering and screaming, I am MUCH LESS inclined to do anything above and beyond what needs to be done to remedy the situation. Not being a huge dick goes a long way in this business, both as a customer and as the service provider. just my .02 though.

 

[audiness]

Rear axle seals are a very common failure on the 3rd gen 4runner. It would have paid off to do some research on this forum first, it's better to be armed with information before blindly paying someone to work on your vehicle.

 

[thor999]

Thanks for the advice guys, yeah all I wanted was a working e-brake as I live in the foothills of Colorado and wanted to relieve some of the pressure on my trans from parking on hills. I'll talk to the store manager today and see what options they make available for me. Will also check into that MIC!
Edit: OK did some more research, read Dr. Coffee's thread, and have contemplated a few things, so I have a few more questions:
1) If I return to that Brakes Plus and they redo everything, I have a 6 month warranty; if at the end of that period no problems have arisen, is it safe to assume the problem is fixed?
2) I would much rather not go back, can I just dispute the charges and have the service performed by the dealer, or do I have to give them a "second chance"?
3) Can anyone recommend a good shop to do this in the Denver area?

 

[thor999]

OK got in touch w/ the shop manager, dropping it off tomorrow. I guess I will just monitor the diff fluid level and pull the wheels off once a week or so and check the ABS sensor for oil. I have 6 months to dispute the charges on my card and that is the extent of the warranty so (fingers crossed) we'll see! Wished I had known about this (common failure) earlier, I definitely would have paid more attention! :crybaby:

 

[Jon]

Dude, $150 is plenty for a Hanes manual and a nice set of Craftsman mechanics tools.

Understood, no not everyone is mechanically inclined or wants to get their hands dirty. But this is what happens. Sad

I'd get them to replace the seals and brakes with OEM Toyota stuff. There's got to be someone near you on this forum that knows their way around tools and is willing to help you. Good luck man.

 

[thor999]

Dude, $150 is plenty for a Hanes manual and a nice set of Craftsman mechanics tools.

Understood, no not everyone is mechanically inclined or wants to get their hands dirty. But this is what happens. Sad

I'd get them to replace the seals and brakes with OEM Toyota stuff. There's got to be someone near you on this forum that knows their way around tools and is willing to help you. Good luck man.

Lol the worst part is I have a manual, I have tools; sure I would need a seal puller and a few other gadgets but I have everything else I need! Unfortunately I live in an apt and the parking lot is also for 2 bars, 5 restaurants and various other tourist attractions where I live I was immediately concerned over the loss of diff fluid and submitted I guess... well lesson learned, and if they agree to knock 30% off the labor then I will only be out a few hundred, in theory at least! I've been researching all day, and know what to look for and how to get there now, so I'll just go to my bud's house once a week for the next 6 months and the second I see oil through the ABS sensor I will immediately go to the dealership and get an estimate, decline the charge, and do this myself. Want to hear the worst part? I was an engineer in the Navy! WTF is wrong with me??!?

 

[Desert Fox]

Lol the worst part is I have a manual, I have tools; sure I would need a seal puller and a few other gadgets but I have everything else I need! Unfortunately I live in an apt and the parking lot is also for 2 bars, 5 restaurants and various other tourist attractions where I live I was immediately concerned over the loss of diff fluid and submitted I guess... well lesson learned, and if they agree to knock 30% off the labor then I will only be out a few hundred, in theory at least! I've been researching all day, and know what to look for and how to get there now, so I'll just go to my bud's house once a week for the next 6 months and the second I see oil through the ABS sensor I will immediately go to the dealership and get an estimate, decline the charge, and do this myself. Want to hear the worst part? I was an engineer in the Navy! WTF is wrong with me??!?

We sure appreciated you boys giving a lift around the Pacific. eace:

 

[lilsid112]

that's the second worst advice ever given on this forum. Here's my take on it, and since I run the service dept of a luxury car dealership, I'd like to think I know what I'm talking about. Return to the place that did the repairs. Explain to them CALMLY what happened, that you want it fixed and verified before they return it to you, and see what they are willing to do for your inconvenience. Mistakes happen, people are only human. Yes, it might suck, but it happened.
When a customer comes back in hollering and screaming, I am MUCH LESS inclined to do anything above and beyond what needs to be done to remedy the situation. Not being a huge dick goes a long way in this business, both as a customer and as the service provider. just my .02 though.

By far the best advice thus far.

 

[thor999]

@ Desert Fox: remind me to tell you how I beat up 2 of ya in Gitmo some day! Lol I did but truth be told I was "steered" into USN for Nuclear program by a Marine recruiter, and to this day wished I had joined the Marines instead.

 

[RC57]

Before you try to do this yourself, or have someone else do it, read Drcoffee's link. The seal design is flawed, and even experienced mechanics are screwing up the seal replacement. The fix is relatively easy.

 

[Ol'Blue]

@ Desert Fox: remind me to tell you how I beat up 2 of ya in Gitmo some day! Lol I did but truth be told I was "steered" into USN for Nuclear program by a Marine recruiter, and to this day wished I had joined the Marines instead.

So what your saying is that you were to good on the ASVAB and he sent you to be a Nuke. WOW, Blue Falcon Recruiter. At least he would have sent you to be a Air Force Para Rescue or something like that. Them boys are smart cookies on paper anyhow and they get WAY BA toys too.

Blue

 

[thor999]

So what your saying is that you were to good on the ASVAB and he sent you to be a Nuke. WOW, Blue Falcon Recruiter. At least he would have sent you to be a Air Force Para Rescue or something like that. Them boys are smart cookies on paper anyhow and they get WAY BA toys too.

Blue

Yep, exactly. Scored 67 on my NFQT, one point above failure; Navy recruiter assured me everything would be fine :jaw: acc dropped and retained my stripes, 3 months later a MM on the Mighty Vern!!! FF-1068 '90 - decom