I bought a set of part worn tyres off of Dan Harper on here at our last track-day to stick on the Monte, I packed everything up this morning and went off to a garage to get them swapped over, went in and asked if they would do it they said yes, I said is that including balancing ect he said it was, took all l the wheels and tyre out of the car and placed each on the ground along with their corresponding tyres, they got returned to the back of the car after fitting and I checked the rims and they were good, no scratches or anything, a bit of excess goop but so what? As I put the third one in the boot I thought something looked odd, looked in the back of the wheel and there were no new weights on. So I watched as he fitted the last tyre and sure enough, tyre popped on, a bit of pressure let out then rolled straight over to me. I asked him, is that balanced? He said no, why? Did you want them balancing? To which I said "well yes, I asked if that was including balancing and the guy said it was so I want them doing."

 

Seriously, who the f*** gets tyres changed and doesn't want them balanced? Especially on something that will be going fast. Maybe you could get away with it on a little city car that'll never exceed 30 MPH in its life but seriously? WTF is wrong with these people? Good job I was keeping a bit of an eye on things.

 

And VASStech put my car in the hands of a different mechanic last time it went in as well, my 550Nm(410lb.ft) impact wrench (albeit not fully charged, but still had most of its charge left and had only undone 2 or 3 sets o wheels) couldn't take the nuts off, including lock nuts. I've already gone through a set of lock nuts because of over tightening (although that was probably me that did that before I got an torque wrench) So I'm going to let them know that if it comes out with over tightened wheels again they'll never see it.

 

That's 2 garages that have lost my custom now and one that is coming close. 

 

Rant over.

Welcome to the real world mate. I take my wheels and tyres to a mate in Richmond because he's good with wheels. I also use the local place near me if I need to, but they're a little more expensive these days.

It is bizarre, even the couple of local garages I trust have left me feeling a little skeptical lately and meant I'm turning back to home mechanics again.

Recently I needed new discs and pads all round, and I had an odd noise from the front right when braking. Frankly I couldn't be bothered to battle with the weather and doing the car in the road myself so I just booked it in. 2 hours after drop off I get a phone call,

'What made you think the brakes need doing?'

'The discs are too rusty for me and getting a bit thin, I have an odd noise from the front I want to rule out and my handbrake is **** despite adjustment.'

'There is nothing wrong with your brakes. Save your money.'

'What about the noise and the handbrake?'

'I'll have a look.'

Picked the car up, he reiterated the lack of issues. Stuff this I thought, I want new brakes. Got some Pagid, did the overhaul myself and found very tired sliders, a seized rear o/s slider pin (explains the handbrake). So one full overhaul, a new slider pin, and a fully adjusted handbrake later I have no issues, no noise, and a set of brakes I now have confidence in.

I appreciate they tried to save me money, but gave me the impression they'd done an inspection and nothing was wrong. Evidently there was, and they lost business in the end. Will still go there for my tyres as I trust them with that. But won't try them for much else.

Welcome to the real world mate. I take my wheels and tyres to a mate in Richmond because he's good with wheels. I also use the local place near me if I need to, but they're a little more expensive these days.

Where in Richmond do you go to? Just my dad's going to want two winters putting on his winter wheels at some point soon.

And do you mean Halls? Because they lost our business way back in 2005 when he f***** my dads Audi 80 and my dads bosses BMW by red-lining them with a full bottle of some additive in a nearly empty tank of diesel, both cars went in around the same time and both came out panting all the time and shaking. Diesel specialist couldn't find the problem either said it might need a new turbo and even that might not be the problem.

That's when my dad traded it in for his first Skoda, 03 Octavia and my mums 52 Fabia.

Yep, Halls are okay for tyres, but a little expensive. I usually go to SG Petch up on the trading estate in Richmond. My mate up there is a genuine bloke.

Yep, Halls are okay for tyres, but a little expensive. I usually go to SG Petch up on the trading estate in Richmond. My mate up there is a genuine bloke.

Thanks Rusty, I'll see about giving them a try for the winters. Either way I'll need two tyres sticking on the VRS wheels at some point to as the perished ones are currently only fit for keeping the car stood and I don't know how long that will last.

Always take my lockers off, to many monkeys let loose with an air gun

Not found a place I'm 100% happy with yet.

 

So many back street places seem to think balancing the 'rears' (like they are going to stay on the rear and not be rotated) is optional. Charge random prices, don't do jobs when you give them all day etc.

 

Did think I'd found a place but last time they doubled their price for fitting/balancing (okok, it was £5 > £10 a wheel). Mind you they were rather awkward and when all the weights came off (yes, that set...) they did them again for free. Such a shame I had to witness the guy grappling with a wiper arm when a puller could have done the job without risking damage to the customers car, and that they are well out of the way :(

 

Also, on a similar subject, I got some steels coated once only to find one came back as a Nissan wheel when it went in as a Toyota wheel. They completely denied responsibility but there was no other way for it to happen, someone must have 3 wheels on their Nissan as the Toyota bore is smaller.

Not found a place I'm 100% happy with yet.

 

So many back street places seem to think balancing the 'rears' (like they are going to stay on the rear and not be rotated) is optional. Charge random prices, don't do jobs when you give them all day etc.

 

Did think I'd found a place but last time they doubled their price for fitting/balancing (okok, it was £5 > £10 a wheel). Mind you they were rather awkward and when all the weights came off (yes, that set...) they did them again for free. Such a shame I had to witness the guy grappling with a wiper arm when a puller could have done the job without risking damage to the customers car, and that they are well out of the way :(

 

Also, on a similar subject, I got some steels coated once only to find one came back as a Nissan wheel when it went in as a Toyota wheel. They completely denied responsibility but there was no other way for it to happen, someone must have 3 wheels on their Nissan as the Toyota bore is smaller.

That was quite funny that though, every single weight on all four wheels  

I think we all need to move to one area and all the Brisky crew be together and start our own garage.

My local scrapyard has the best tyre fitters around my area, and they're cheap too.

 

 

Seriously, who the f*** gets tyres changed and doesn't want them balanced? Especially on something that will be going fast. .

 

But your car doesn't go that fast does it? Unless it's performing dangerous overtakes on public roads. But then you 'don't care' about stuff like that.

It's cambelt time next year...and I don't know who to trust anymore

But your car doesn't go that fast does it? Unless it's performing dangerous overtakes on public roads. But then you 'don't care' about stuff like that.

Sorry Lee, could you remind me where you got this information from?

Sorry Lee, could you remind me where you got this information from?

Goes very nicely round Croft Circuit though, doesn't it.

Sorry Lee, could you remind me where you got this information from?

it was conveyed to me by a couple or three drivers who know how to read a road.

it was conveyed to me by a couple or three drivers who know how to read a road.

By that do you mean a couple of ****s that don't know how to drive in a convoy and end up losing all but one car? You mean them ones Lee? Because you f you do then yeah, maybe I made a stupid overtake but if I didn't I'd have been stuck in Milton Keyns on my own not knowing where everyone was or how to get to where we were going. If you and a certain other person would kindly remove your heads from your rectal cavity that would be nice, otherwise keep them there and see if I give two hoots.

Anyway Rusty, it might not be the best but it is fun and surprises a lot of others out there that's for sure.

My baby toes are tingling...

They sense some tension....

By that do you mean a couple of ****s that don't know how to drive in a convoy and end up losing all but one car? You mean them ones Lee? Because you f you do then yeah, maybe I made a stupid overtake but if I didn't I'd have been stuck in Milton Keyns on my own not knowing where everyone was or how to get to where we were going. If you and a certain other person would kindly remove your heads from your rectal cavity that would be nice, otherwise keep them there and see if I give two hoots.

Anyway Rusty, it might not be the best but it is fun and surprises a lot of others out there that's for sure.

Don't blame you, who on earth wants to be stuck in Milton Keynes?

Fearing being left behind a convoy as you don't know where you are doesn't seem like a very good excuse for executing a dangerous maneuver. Take a map or a sat nav or read the road signs

Steady on people, play nice....

 

Anyway, yes, there are some really dodgy places out there. The best ones are usually the ones that don't spend a fortune on advertising, instead they use word of mouth - personal recommendations go much further than radio/local paper ads. Best bet is to ask around, see what other people say, you can sometimes be very surprised which garages are the better ones that way.

 

As for the wheel nuts, torque wrench every time, just remember to re check after 50 miles I think (I am sure there is a recommended interval after having the wheels off. We hear it on the phones quite regularly, garage phones up with a clutch problem, we ask them to fit it to the flywheel, next thing you hear is an air ratchet in the background as they bolt it down   then they wonder why it's juddering/not clearing etc!

WOOHOO!! I got in before the lock

WOOHOO!! I got in before the lock

 

Closer

 

Still unlocked

 

Locking wheel nuts... Locking threads....   *Gets coat*

Edited 8 September, 20169 yr by Robshaw

Yo Mumma?