Failed Brakes at Shop

[57j2olds]

Hello-

Asking for opinions.

I dropped my 2001 off at local shop to get a quote on cracked flexplate. When I dropped it off the brakes were perfect!

After I got the quote for the flexplate that gave me a heart attack I told the guy thanks but no thanks.

I went to pick the car up that night. I put it in drive and my foot went all the way to the floor. No brakes at all.

The next day after I called they put it back on the lift and told me I had a broken brake line. I told them it was fine when I dropped it off, however they did not care. They said they could replace it for $400.

Again, I had great brakes when I dropped it off.

I had to have it towed to a friends where its up on a hoist right now. I'm soaking the brake line for a couple days before trying to remove it.

Moving it 10 feet from lot to hoist at repair shop broke my brake line????

[nos4blood70]

Which part of the brake line broke exactly?

[95naSTA]

I doubt they sabotaged your brake line. It was likely rusted to the point where it was ready to burst. At that point it doesn't take much to rupture. Its normal for a 20 year old car in PA and I'm sure its the same where you are.

[57j2olds]

Which part of the brake line broke exactly?

The steel line going from the driver rear over to the passenger rear.

[57j2olds]

I doubt they sabotaged your brake line. It was likely rusted to the point where it was ready to burst. At that point it doesn't take much to rupture. Its normal for a 20 year old car in PA and I'm sure its the same where you are.

I agree. I'm in MI.

It's just weird.

[camopaint0707]

This happens all the time with repair shops. People go in for something and another thing breaks. 99% of repair shops are never gonna intentionally damage your car to make a buck. Plus, if they knew it was broken before giving it back, or they noticed, they "SHOULD" tell you.

[KM AXer]

Happened to me Sunday.
Went to drive a Mazda pickup that had sat for a while. Blew out the line which runs from the engine compartment to the rear axle's flexible hse connection.
Weakened due to rust, it let go right by the rear fitting.

Best advice: find one at the local auto parts store which is a good length and has the correct fittings and flares. Just take the old one in as a sample. Install yourself, bleed the system.

$400 is outrageous.

[57j2olds]

Finally finished the brake line yesterday. Lots of rust....bending....flaring...tightening.....bleeding...freezing...swearing.

At the end of the day, I have brakes again (oh yeah, had to replace battery after 10 years).

Now off to the trans shop to fix the cracked flex plate.

My buddy in the barn (He let me use his hoist) kept saying, "I don't get why you are putting so much time and money into this thing". Heck, $40 for a new brake line. $160 for a battery......$800 for the flex plate.

What's that? One month new car payment with insurance?

Thanks guys.

[95naSTA]

Hel ya. Good to hear the brakes are back.

[nos4blood70]

Finally finished the brake line yesterday. Lots of rust....bending....flaring...tightening.....bleeding...freezing...swearing.

At the end of the day, I have brakes again (oh yeah, had to replace battery after 10 years).

Now off to the trans shop to fix the cracked flex plate.

My buddy in the barn (He let me use his hoist) kept saying, "I don't get why you are putting so much time and money into this thing". Heck, $40 for a new brake line. $160 for a battery......$800 for the flex plate.

What's that? One month new car payment with insurance?

Thanks guys.

Exactly. Better to put a little bit of blood sweat and tears into it with a little bit of money than to get into a new car! Not everyone has the luxury or ability to do this kind of thing on their own.

[Sirius]

Indeed. If you have the ability (skills, equipment, and place to do it) maintaining your old car is money in you pocket compared to a payment or a $35k+ replacement. So was the flex plate itself $800, , or was that parts & labor?

[57j2olds]

Indeed. If you have the ability (skills, equipment, and place to do it) maintaining your old car is money in you pocket compared to a payment or a $35k+ replacement. So was the flex plate itself $800, , or was that parts & labor?

Flex plate is only like $35. Labor is 750.

I'm going to have them change axle seals while its out......I think.

However now we are to get 15" of snow so I need to wait until next week...ugh

[57j2olds]

Back on the road again.

They found:

-Cracked flex plate
-Destroyed front motor mount
-Leaking oil pressure switch

Anyway, thanks for all your input on this old car.

[95naSTA]

Glad it's back in action.

[zombie112]

I doubt they sabotaged your brake line. It was likely rusted to the point where it was ready to burst. At that point it doesn't take much to rupture. Its normal for a 20 year old car in PA and I'm sure its the same where you are.

This - Similar thing happened to me, I got an alignment after changing out a tie rod end, and after the alignment going over bumps with the rear end felt horrible and jerky. Turns out the air ride shocks decided to give out at some point in the process. Firestone probably didn't even notice, other than the camber being pretty far out in the rear.