Advice Please, car fixed but worse than before!

[The Riddler]

Hi all,

Some of you may remember from such threads as 'Wheel bearing gone faulty after 3 weeks' and 'If its not my wheel bearing, what is it?'

Well the story is as follows:

March 6th - Purchase car knowing it needed osf wheel bearing.

March 13th - osf Wheel bearing fitted by independant garage (A).

By March 27th the wheel bearing failure symptoms return on osf wheel.

Take car back to garage twice (booked in with them) they claim no record of booking. I get pissed off with them, decide to take it elsewhere, in the mean time kept using the car.

April 17th - osf Wheel bearing totally fails, repaired by my local friendly garage (B). When i collected the car he mentioned the calliper bolts had being cross threaded when it was rebuilt by garage A. The failure also damaged the hub. I got replacement bearing FOC from my more than friendly parts supplier. But, I stomached the £115 cost for labour and the actual hub.

This morning, went for a quick drive to collect something from the mail office, driving towards a queue of traffic at some light i apply the brakes. A loud bang follows, then alot of grinding noises, followed by the osf wheel locking up. I stop in more than plenty of time, so no actual accident. Get out and look, it appears the calliper has come off its mountings (snapped bolts perhaps?) limped the car home and back tucked up, it is undrivable. It appears to have scored the inner face of the alloy, brake disc isnt looking too clever, and I can imagine either the calliper, or whatever it bolts to are pretty much fked.

So the question is, do i have any recourse from the original garage? I still have the 'faulty' wheel bearing they fitted, its showing signs of impact damage, Garage B say this was more than likely caused by incorrect fitting.

Any and all advice is needed, thanks for reading. I know its a long and possibly boring story, but i work nights so cant check back while later so have tried including everything factual which may effect the answer.

Thanks again.

[Deluded]

Who's to say that the second garage didn't cross thread the bolts and ruin the caliper? They may just be passing the blame on their shoddy repair?

I doubt you will get very far as it will be each garages word against the others as to who did what to the car. Also, surely, if the second garage noticed the threaded bolts, they should have warned you and fixed it?

Edited by Deluded on Tuesday 27th April 08:03

[The Riddler]

Would the fact that a task such as simple as changing a wheel bearing resulted in failure not be strong enough evidence for whatever happens?

To be honest, it has just come at a time when I really cannot afford it. I was prepared to stomach the cost for the hub and fitting, but then this goes wrong, I can probably manage to get the car running and braking right, but as for a new wheel?

Garage B did notice and mention it, but how often does a cross threaded bolt refitted actually fail in that way?

Edited by The Riddler on Tuesday 27th April 08:05

[Deluded]

There is no doubt that the first garage did something they shouldn't have. Whether that be fitting a second hand bearing or just re greasing and refitting your old one etc. is something for you to find out.

The problem I can see is that you took it to a second garage who then told you other stuff was broken and then the car destroyed itself.

Who's to say that the second garage didn't cause more damage which resulted in the caliper to come off. I doubt either garage will admit to threading the bolts.

[The Riddler]

All parts fitted have being brand new. Having come from the motor trade I have good relationships with a few parts suppliers, and a good relationship with garage B.

I used garage A as a reccomendation from one of my parts suppliers.

I can see where your coming from, Looks like something else I will just have to swallow up.

ETA - I will speak to garage A at some point later on, Garage B is closed for the week as he's bogged off to egypt.

Edited by The Riddler on Tuesday 27th April 08:16

[Mroad]

Garage B were the last to work on the car and they have left it in an unsafe condition.
To replace the hub/bearing etc. they would have had to remove the caliper. The caliper then falls off. Garage B's fault.
Garage B informed you the caliper bolts were crossed threaded, did they tell you what they did to rectify it? i.e. new bolts were fitted? The mounting point (if not part of the new hub) was changed, tapped & helicoiled?
If they have just whacked the old cross threaded bolt or even a new bolt back in the damaged hole then that really is unacceptable and is asking for trouble.
What exactly did garage B tell you?

How bad is the alloy? Light scoring would be fine, deep gouges obviously not!

[The Riddler]

Right now i'm a bit more awake I shall explain a bit more.

The parts place i used reccomended garage A as he also owns a taxi company, and gets a good rate from them, and never had a problem with them. He has caught wind of this now and is not happy.

I have spoke to garage A who have basically said - Well, what do you expect us to do?

I also spoke to garage B who have offered to get the car recovered to investigate, they also wrote a report for me about the state of the wheel bearing and other components they found were damaged.

I'll try get some pics later, could do with advice on if i need a new wheel or not.

[The Riddler]

Right here are a few pics. Will I need a new wheel?







The reason I'm so pissed off about it is I knew the car needed the osf doing when I bought it, and paid my money to have it done, was quoted £35 labour and £15 for the part. £50, fixed.

Its now cost me another £115 last week having the wheel bearing put right, and stands to cost me alot more, the car needs recovering, plus whatever work, and (IMO) a new wheel, seen as they were a brand new set I bought just after i bought the car.