[Shotimes] Re: Tire mounting experience at Wal-Mart...bushing experience at Ford

[cmichaelo@optonline.net]

The thing is that even the worst places can have qualified mechanics.  It's unlikely but could happen.

Conversely, even the best places can have unqualified mechanics. It's unlikely but could happen.

I used to take my car to the dealership where I bought my SHO. They were basically the "local" SHO outlet and had several mechanics that were SHO knowlegable.

But over the years I noticed huge differences in the quality of their repairs and their skills.  

One repair in particular left me in disbelief.  

I had a problem with an "exploding" front tension strut bushing. Specifically, the front right inner LCA bushing.

I did this twice. I brought my car in with the bushing nearly totally cracked open.

The mechanic then simply replaced the bushing (these were PU bushings btw). But by the time I came home (1/2hour drive), the bushing had already exploded again.

After the second repair, and the third exploded bushing, I decided to do the repair myself.

What I found was disturbing. Removing the exploded bushing revealed a significant accumulation of rust on the tension strut. So much rust in fact that a new bushing could NOT be pushed onto the strut without punching it in place.

Obviously, this rust caused the bushing to expand radially, which it is not designed to do. My theory of the exploding failure is that during driving, when the bushing is subjected to both axial forces in addition to the constant radial force, that the two forces in combination would present so much stress on the bushing and cause it to break apart.

I grinded the rust away and restored the strut rod to its original condition. I then rust primed and painted it.  No rust now for 5 years.

When I confronted the dealership with the problem I of course had to deal with the service reprensentatives. I literally hit a wall of "protection" against their mechanics. The SRs claimed their mechanics were the best around and that they were tired of my complaints and that they would appreciate if I take my business elsewhere.  NO KIDDING.

Since that incident, no mechanic has touched my car.

Sorry for going off on a tangent....

Michael
94MTX,green,BOS+,Koni/Intrax,Baer,Corbeau
SHO items for sale: http://hometown.aol.com/cmichaelo/for_sale.html

----- Original Message -----
From: Rick Glass <rick@pitroadproducts.com>
Date: Saturday, November 27, 2004 1:30 am
Subject: [Shotimes] Re: Tire mounting experience at Wal-Mart

> Tire mounting experience at Wal-MartWow, I guess I'll be taking 
> mine to Wally
> World next time, I hope that's company wide training and not just 
> a regional
> fluke.
> 
> 
> Rick Glass
>   Nashville, TN
>   SESHOC
> '99 Silver 61k (still adding up)
>   Flowmaster 40's
>   no "pre-muff"/resonator
>   WELDED (Kirk's 432nd, 8-31-04)
> 
>  ----- Original Message -----
>  From: Paul L Fisher
>  To: v8sho@v8sho.com ; shotimes@autox.team.net
>  Sent: Friday, November 26, 2004 11:07 AM
>  Subject: Tire mounting experience at Wal-Mart
> 
> 
>  Just had to pass it on. A very good experience. They used a real 
> torquewrench, torqued to the factory recommended setting. Balance 
> was good even to
> 80+ MPH. All for $11 per tire including lifetime rotation and balance.
> 
> 
>  Paul L Fisher
> 
>  Visit my website: http://www.paul-fisher.com
> 
>  SHOClub Member: http://www.shoclub.com
> 
>  Amsoil dealer: http://www.paul-fisher.com/oil
> _______________________________________________
> Shotimes mailing list
> Shotimes@autox.team.net
> http://www.team.net/mailman/listinfo/shotimes