I saw some reports on Just Breaks and thought I would add my own from my experience.

I took my car to the dealership for a 60,000 mile inspection and everything checked out okay except they said the break pads were slightly worn and should be replaced in the next month or so, from my experience the last time I had the pads replaced the dealership charged $200, so I figures I would go to just breaks for the $99 special.

I took my car to Just Breaks that same day and told them to check the breaks and call me with an estimate on replacing the pads etc. (They had a long wait, so I walked home, about 2 miles).

I called a few hours later and was told on the phone We are sorry, we do breaks and some alignment and axel work, but we can't repair the damage caused by your accident, you will need to go to a body shop. I told them I think they had the wrong car and they confirmed it was my car and proceeded to tell me I brought it in because I was in an accident and needed it repaired.

I walked back and said I wanted to see what was going on, they showed me the work order and under where I wrote that I wanted to be called with a break job estimate, some one else had written customer was in accident and wants an analysis of damage. I told them I never wrote that and they said that no one there would have written it, that it had to have been me. I asked them what was going on and they said that it looked like I broke the anti sway bar and scraped up the rear bumper and must have driven over a median or something. They also mentioned I needed new CV boots and they could not let me drive out of there without them because I would be a road hazard and the axel could fall off. I walked behind their counter myself and took my keys and they yelled at me, but did nothing.

I took my car to a friends body shop and he looked at the anti sway bar and scrape and his diagnosis was that they put my car on the lift incorrectly and the weight of the car was put on the anti sway bar which broke as the car was being lifted causing it to fall off the lift which scraped the bumper. He welded the bar back together, but it was going to cost $250 for a new bumper so I had to let that one go.

I hired an attorney and they said there is really nothing I can do, that what the company did was illegal, but to go to small claims court over it would take more time and energy than it was worth. Also there is no way to prove that I didn't run over a median or something while driving from the dealership where everything was fine to Breaks Plus. So only Breaks Plus and myself know the truth.

Michael

Bloomington, Indiana
U.S.A.

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7 Updates & Rebuttals

Joe

Colorado Springs,
Colorado,
U.S.A.

I agree! you lashed out at the only person

#2Consumer Comment

Thu, July 21, 2005

I have been following alot of the Brake store complaints on here. I honestly think Robert is attempting to help you with more information in case you do decide to pursue this in small-claims (which you should, its cheap and will possibly save another person like you from getting ripped). But during your BS charged rage you lashed out at the only person who actually gave you advice (typical).

Robert

Jacksonville,
Florida,
U.S.A.

Here you go Michael... I am an ASE Master Tech with 25 years experience in ALL aspects of automotive and truck repair.

#3Consumer Comment

Wed, July 06, 2005

I am also a welder, the one every shop in the area comes to to repair their vehicles and heavy equipment. Your original post does not say you filed. It says you talked to an attroney and he said it would be a waste of time...for him. Attorneys are not used in small claims court. Go file. You said it was the sway bar. I told you simply to get a new one since ALL sway bars are spring steel and cannot be used when welded, just as any spring is useless afterward. For those who don't know, axles(not halfshafts) are also made from spring steel. I did not insult you in any way untill you shot one across at me. You get what you give. I own a NAPA Autocare Center, not a Just Brakes franchise. Down here, they had to change their name to Value Brakes...same lousy group of idiots. What was broken is more than likely a "track" bar, or a stiffening rod. They are made from mild steel and CAN be welded with no ill effects. Either way, if they broke it, file the claim. It's not that hard to win in court. Most courts are not friendly to auto repair businesses and if you can get a couple of mechanics to swear in court that they know the vehicle and it was fine prior to Just Brakes getting ahold of it, you will likely win. Good luck, even if you don't like the messenger.

Michael

Bloomington,
Indiana,
U.S.A.

Robert works for brakes plus, way to much time on your hands if your looking up complains about companies and trying to discredit the people filing them.

#4Author of original report

Tue, July 05, 2005

Robert, you obviously have way to much time on your hands if your looking up complains about companies and trying to discredit the people filing them. If you have any advice on how to get Brakes Plus to pay for the repair then you are posting to the right place. Otherwise you are a complete a*s and have no business posting here. Unless your work for Brakes Plus and this is some underhanded way of pumping your company. If that's the case you need to be honest and say who you are. I for one am no mechanic and I don't know much about cars. All I know is the bar appear to be attached to the shock towers and the dealer said it could be welded and the body shop said it could be welded, which they did, and the car works now and there is no bar dragging on the ground. How do I know you know what you're talking about? I trust a friend and the dealership where I bought the car more than some buffoon who decides they should offer advice by insulting me. Are you an expert of welding? Do you repair cars? If you do you should say so, but I trust the people who actually fixed my car more than some a*s who I have never heard of. I mention that I tried to file suit and wasn't able to. Maybe you should have read that before saying I should file. If you can offer any advice on starting a class action suite against breaks plus or something else than you are positing in the right place. Other wise you are wasting our time. Hopefully rippoff report will remove your posts because they violate posting rules. You got to love assholes who attack the character of people who are asking for help.

Robert

Jacksonville,
Florida,
U.S.A.

WHAT? ALL sway bars are made from spring-steel. Welding it does NOT fix it.

#5Consumer Comment

Tue, July 05, 2005

You sir, are oblivious at best. It does not matter what type of car it is. I merely stated a FACT. You will of course, choose to ignore it. ALL sway bars are made from spring-steel. Welding it does NOT fix it. Whoever you talked to is neither a competent mechanic, nor a WELDER. You took your car somewhere and they broke it. FINE! I get that. Now, go file a claim against them and make sure the BROKEN sway bar is included. The reason you did not post make, year, model is on you. I have yet to figure out how anyone can expect help without those 3 things being included. You say the "sway bar" connected to the left and right "shock towers". Funny stuff. Sway bars do NOT attach to shock towers, they attach to the lower control arms or the axle housing itself, depending upon which system your car has. In effect, you do not have a broken sway bar, or you do not know what it is. That brings us back to the "competent mechanic" part of this missive.

Michael

Bloomington,
Indiana,
U.S.A.

Prior Rebuttal useless and violates the rules

#6Author of original report

Mon, July 04, 2005

What does that have to do with Brakes Plus breaking the car? That's what the complaint is about. I didn't even mention what kind of car it was, or which axel, so how do you know what that particular anti-sway bar was made from. It was a solid steel bar connecting the rear right and left shock towers. Welding it did fix the car and was the correct way to fix it according to the dealership and my friend who works at a body shop. Please follow the rules when posting a rebuttal no trivial or meaningless comments.

Robert

Jacksonville,
Florida,
U.S.A.

Buy a new sway bar

#7Consumer Comment

Sat, July 02, 2005

Sway bars are made from spring-steel. Welding it did nothing. It is no longer a sway bar. It is just a piece of metal that rides along for nothing. Welding spring steel crystalizes the metal and weakens it. Since the bar no longer has the spring tension in it, it is useless.

Michael

Bloomington,
Indiana,
U.S.A.

Brakes Plus, not Just Brakes

#8Consumer Comment

Fri, July 01, 2005

Sorry, I confused the names. This is about Brakes Plus, not Just Brakes. The location of the Brakes Plus store is: Tech Center East (At Arapahoe Rd. & Dayton - E. of I-25) 6620 S. Dayton St. 303-649-9100 I am sorry for the confusion.

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