Why do some mechanics try and blag you?
Discussion
One of my rear tyres (RWD car) got two punctures yesterday when coming home so got it repaired immediately.
Got on the motorway today and discovered that when I got to 65-70mph I could feel the whole car shuddering. A quick check around to make sure nothing was untoward which left me with the conclusion that when the mechanic did the repair he hasn't balanced the wheel again.
So, took it back to the garage 30 minutes ago and explained it to the two blokes who were in. One immediately says, "Oh, you wouldn't feel an unbalanced wheel on the rear of a rear wheel drive car", followed by him looking at me like I was an idiot.
The other quite helpfully said, "Hmm, strange, it is odd to be able to feel it but I'll take it off and check it for you". Happy days, at least one is being helpful.
Whilst the helpful one is checking it the first one is stood there still going on about how there is no way I would feel the unbalanced tyre and that the lad who replaced it is very knowledgable, it must just be me etc etc. I mentioned I could feel the car shuddering and that it could be felt if you rested your hand on the gear lever as well at 70mph but again my observations were met with a look of, "Yeah, what ever."
Anyway, Mr Helpful after checking it says, "It's out by 65 grams. I'll sort it and put it back on."
Que a quick glance at Mr Unhelpful who doesn't say anything then turns around and walks off whilst his mate is sorting out the weights on it.
Why do some mechanics feel the need to try and blag you when it's obvious you are telling them something isn't right and that you may actually know what's wrong?
I've had it with other places as well where they try and tell you something that you know is either a lie or not right and it does make me wonder how many people some places manage to screw money out of.
Got on the motorway today and discovered that when I got to 65-70mph I could feel the whole car shuddering. A quick check around to make sure nothing was untoward which left me with the conclusion that when the mechanic did the repair he hasn't balanced the wheel again.
So, took it back to the garage 30 minutes ago and explained it to the two blokes who were in. One immediately says, "Oh, you wouldn't feel an unbalanced wheel on the rear of a rear wheel drive car", followed by him looking at me like I was an idiot.
The other quite helpfully said, "Hmm, strange, it is odd to be able to feel it but I'll take it off and check it for you". Happy days, at least one is being helpful.
Whilst the helpful one is checking it the first one is stood there still going on about how there is no way I would feel the unbalanced tyre and that the lad who replaced it is very knowledgable, it must just be me etc etc. I mentioned I could feel the car shuddering and that it could be felt if you rested your hand on the gear lever as well at 70mph but again my observations were met with a look of, "Yeah, what ever."
Anyway, Mr Helpful after checking it says, "It's out by 65 grams. I'll sort it and put it back on."
Que a quick glance at Mr Unhelpful who doesn't say anything then turns around and walks off whilst his mate is sorting out the weights on it.
Why do some mechanics feel the need to try and blag you when it's obvious you are telling them something isn't right and that you may actually know what's wrong?
I've had it with other places as well where they try and tell you something that you know is either a lie or not right and it does make me wonder how many people some places manage to screw money out of.
king idiot "can't feel an unbalanced wheel on a RWD car"! Oldandslow said:
I'm no tyre fitter but isn't 65grams massively off.
Yeah... Presumably he re-fitted the tyre literally 180 degrees out from where it was when it was last balanced i.e. the weights were pretty much exactly opposite where they were supposed to be.marking the valve location on the tyre would've been a better idea, or better still- re-balance the tyre from scratch.
Oldandslow said:
I'm no tyre fitter but isn't 65grams massively off.
Yes!I had my wheels refurbed and, to cut a long story short, after assuming the well established refurb outfit would know how to balance a wheel (my Dad taught me in about 3 mins when I was a kid), the tyre fitters at a loca tyre place checked the wheels...they had 220g of weights on! something stupid like 100g one side, 120 the other.
The guys we're peeing themselves. Newly refurbed wheels duly scared by poorly fitted weights. No surprise that said refurb outlet has now been closed.
Infuriating - simple job to get right but one which resulted in me driving a boneshaker on a 300+ mile journey the weekend it came back with new wheels. Tools.
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