ripped off or not?

[Evo141n]

I've a volvo v50 with a sheared off bleed nipple on one of the rear callipers. While in for a service last week the garage said I needed a full brake fluid change. However looking under the car today the sheared nipple is still inplace!

I'm sure you cant do a full brake fuild change without removing and bleeding this rear calliper.
Or would the garage have a way. (I doubt it).

I'm looking to create merry hell down at the garage on Monday for ripping me off.
Unless some one can suggest that the garage could have done the work?

[stevieturbo]

Depends. They could change most of the fluid. Or it is possible they were able to remove the sheared nipple with an insertion type tool ( or hammer a torx etc into it ) which gave them access to do the change.

Although if they did this, and did not replace the nipple and didnt inform the customer, it would be very shoddy work.

But you'd certainly be right to question them about it.

[paintman]

If the nipple is in the same condition as you last saw it then I very much doubt it has been disturbed & I would be very surprised if a garage removed a sheared nipple & didn't replace it with a new one.
It's certainly going to be an interesting conversation.

[andyiley]

The closest they could get to it without either of the above would be to have the banjo/pipe fitting on the caliper slackened & tightened with each operation of the brake, but as per the suggestions above this is still jot a "full fluid change" so they should have told you this afterwards.

I would start by going in to ask the question if all went well with the job & get them to check with their "technician" if the answer is still yes show them a pic of the nipple & see what they then say.

If they did it as per the above the fluid will have gone everywhere, so there would still be some evidence of it.

BTW does the fluid in the reservoir look new?

[Crafty_]

I'd start by clarifying exactly what they mean by full fluid change. Ideally you want them to say they bleed them at every wheel, then you can ask how they managed it and go from there...

Whats odd is they didn't give you a call and tell you about the problem and offer to fix it / replace the caliper.
Maybe they didn't even see it and just bled the wheel nearest the master cylinder.

[Jefftav]

Could they have used a vacuum bleeder to draw fluid through at all the other wheel cylinders apart from the broken one and just forgotten to tell you? I'm sure they would be delighted to replace the broken bleed nipple but will charge for it so they may have taken the path of least resitance and left it alone. Does the fluid look clear and the MC & WC may have been cleaned to avoid debris getting in.

Before going for the full rant ask some questions about the process, why it was required and how they done the job and depending on the answers vent accordingly.

[theshrew]

They could of changed most of the fluid just not every last drop.

[theshrew]

They could of changed most of the fluid just not every last drop.

[mrmr96]

theshrew said:

They could of changed most of the fluid just not every last drop.

But the bit actually IN the callipers is arguably the most important bit. (As it's the bit most susceptible to boiling, as it gets hottest and hence needs changing.)

[Evo141n]

Garage say they disconected the brake pipe union from the caliper, then used a machine to bleed. Not 100% sure but they seem to say they revoved the old fuild from the caliper and replaced it before replacing the union? :/

[andyiley]

Well if that is what they are saying, then they are wrong as that is not possible with the bleed nipple in place.

[Crafty_]

Evo141n said:

Garage say they disconected the brake pipe union from the caliper, then used a machine to bleed. Not 100% sure but they seem to say they revoved the old fuild from the caliper and replaced it before replacing the union? :/

And how do they prevent air entering the system during disconnecting the pipe from the bleeder and putting it back on the caliper ?

Sounds like brown smelly stuff to me

[williredale]

My car was serviced today and I hada call to say the brake fluid needed changing. So with this thread in mind I asked how they do it. They needed all bleed nipples present and correct to do it with the machine. They were though so it set me back £39.

[stevieturbo]

Evo141n said:

Garage say they disconected the brake pipe union from the caliper, then used a machine to bleed. Not 100% sure but they seem to say they revoved the old fuild from the caliper and replaced it before replacing the union? :/

Full of mad dog sh.....

you get the idea.

[nsa]

Ripped off. Getting them to admit their error or negligence will take persistence.

[Mojocvh]

To cut a long story short.....recently purchased quattro had some issues rectified before [private] sale, however after a month or so car was put in for X2 replacement calipers/discs/pads. <bor>

The fluid came out "black" and was flushed and re-bled with 2 ltrs [yes] of new.

Brakes are not difficult to fathom or service, but there are certain benchmarks that have to be met.

Any suspect components have to be replaced, that a garage can pass off a service and leave a broken bleed nipple in a caliper is a fail straight off.

IMO

[Old Merc]

You could just say "look at that broken nipple" ? For a car to leave a garage after having a service and brake fluid change with a broken nipple is unforgivable.They may be so concerned and fit a new caliper or extract and fit a new nipple.???

[9xxNick]

Why not buy a brake fluid tester and see what result you get? They're not that expensive and can also be used to determine when you really need to have a brake fluid change done, thus saving money that way too. The tester will of course only tell you whether the fluid in the reservoir is uncontaminated unless you bleed some fluid from one of the calipers and test that as well.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Brake-Fluid-Tester/dp/B005...

Example of one above but you can get them in any car parts place.

[dblack1]

Evo141n said:

Garage say they disconected the brake pipe union from the caliper, then used a machine to bleed. Not 100% sure but they seem to say they revoved the old fuild from the caliper and replaced it before replacing the union? :/

They flat out lied to you, if they disconnected the caliper and didn't bleed at the nipple, you would have air in your caliper. If they screwed up and forgot to tell you about your broken bleeder valve, and lied to you later to cover it up, they still aren't worth a damn as a shop. I work in the auto service industry, and if I did that, I would expect to never see the customer again.