Joe's Auto Repairs

Matt was a great guy. Very honest and very knowledgeable about my Jeep. Good prices and did a great job

On Saturday September 15th of 2015, I walked into Joe's Auto to inquire if they could install a pair of front end shocks for my 2013 F150. I had purchased the shocks months, they are aftermarket ride hight adjustable, to lift the truck. The gave me a price and it seemed okay, I help at the martial arts studio in the same strip mall so it was convenient. I got the truck back and was happy with how it looked. Nobody ever showed it to me the just parked it and said there you go. I drove home happy but the next day I noticed the ball joint dust cover on the upper control arm (UCA) leaking grease down the spindle. I worried the lift was the cause. The shocks I bought are designed by the company Bilstien to lift the ride high but not max out the suspension travel to save all the ball joints. That is how they were advertised. I was worried that wrong when I saw the split dust covers and even looked up how to replace the dust covers. Ford only sells the entire UCA and not the dust cover by itself. I noticed a rattling noise but wrote it off as part of the lift.

Later that week, the friend whom got the shocks for me, came by the studio to check it out. He noticed and even took a picture of the top of the shock, where the nut that holds it in place was not tightened down on both sides. A little more than inch was between the nut and the washer it rested on. I was right next to Joes but they had closed for the night. I went home, got out my jack and checked to see if it was indeed moving up and down causing my rattle. Sure enough it was moving, and the suspension was moving to the max.

I brought it back to Joe's the next morning, Thursday. I spoke to the manager He had me pull the truck in and they tightened the nuts. When I told the manager about the dust covers he automaticly said" it was that way","it was dry rotted","see's it all the time. Dry rot on a 3 year old truck only on the components that joes auto worked on. My reply was to ask why didn't he tell me if it was that way. I talked to the mechanic he told me a pickle fork tool was used to separate the UCA from the spindle, and there was no way not to damage it. ( other mechanics informed me a special fork was available to not damage the part, as well as video's online demonstrating safe install.

The manager told me a he would give me cost and no labor on an aftermarket OEM set of UCA's. I didn't bite and a few minutes later he came back and told me he talked to his boss and a way to seal the dust cover was available. I told him "I just want it right", and then said I could not come back for 3 weeks. the assured me the truck would be fine for day to day use and come back when I was ready. 4 weeks later I made an appointment to come in the next Saturday. Saturday October 17th I dropped it off with Joes to seal the dust covers. When the truck was done the the manager delivered the keys to me at the kung fu studio, and I was grateful that the decided to replace the UCA's. Again nobody looked it over with me, no bill was ever made, but they at least satisfied me that they fixed the issue. I drove home and heard what I only could think was tire noise. I had the truck for 4 weeks with the shocks and never heard the noise. I got it back drove it home and wondered if a wet road made the difference. I drove 5 miles home, took it to work another

9 miles on Monday, and took it back to Joe's auto on Monday afternoon another

5 miles. I thought maybe it had smoothing to do with 4 wheel drive, I locked it in on my way to Joe's and it started slamming the gears. Odd thing on an automatic. The 4 wheel drive was defenetly damaged. When I went into Joes auto that afternoon, I told them about the noise. The mechanic that installed the UCA's (different guy than installed the shocks) drove it and got out and said the hub of the front axel was locked up. Then he got out a played with the wheel. He said it would just remain in 4 wheel drive. The axel is in the center of the spindle, I asked cause the mechanic worked on it," did you cause this?" Both he and the Manager said it was not possible. The UCA connects hold everything together, it was off, the spindle must be held up to not have the axel dislodge, if it is jammed back in and not checked it will damage the hub and the axel. The mechanic told me the noise I heard was tire noise. He asked if I had got an alignment. I said No. The manager told me to take it to a Ford dealer to get the warrantee to cover it. They never acknowledged they could have caused the problem. Even when I explained how soon I noticed it. I didn't trust to leave them the truck. So I left. The next day I took the truck to be aligned by an alignment tech with 25 yrs experience. He told me that if the alignment was making the noise it would go away after the alignment was straight. I considered taking it back but on Friday the 23rd I was on my way to work and the noise was just too loud. I limped it into Bell Ford, on my way to work. I told them everything that had happened and even said that if the lift was the issue we could address put it back to stock. I was willing to blame the lift if need be. Bell Ford called me back and gave me a list of issues. Even checked to see if it would be covered under warrantee. I was most suprised that not blame the lift at all.

Even acknowledged a premium F150 has the same adjustments. I returned to Bell Ford before the work was started to talk with the tech, and be certain that it was not an issue. He even offered to check to see when installing the new parts to make sure they have plenty of room to move and won't be damaged by the new ride hight. The Bell Ford Service writer even noted on the work order that the shock were "not causing any damage", and "operating per design. I brought this truck to Joes Auto. They failed twice, I have gone back with my bill asking for the repairs to be compensated. I have presented them with a bill and highlighted only what labor and parts cost, labor 457.50, parts 664.69. It was not well received.

When I gave a copy of my bill to the Manager of Joe's auto, he got angry and said it wasn't his problem. The repair was not authorized by him so he wouldn't pay. I pointed out the bad work done before, and pointed out I had pictures of the loose shock nuts and torn dust boots. At one point I had to tell him to lower his voice cause he was in a rage. He refused to give me a way to contact his superior, and I was forced to try to contact via email. The next day I got a call from that man by the name of Lars. I told him my story and at some point he didn't want to hear it. He began to try to speak over me, to try to get me to go away. I pointed out the negligence of his techs, the photo's and my problems. I eventually got him to admit that it was possible to cause damage to the 4wd system by improper handling of the suspension, but he refused to admit that his shop could have caused it. He called me twice and the second time he refused to pay anything. The shop is a bad place. yelling at customers, refusing to admit damage, I feel bad for the techs if.thats how the management is, no wonder my truck got screwed up.

On 10/25/14 I went to Joe's Auto repair located at [redacted], for a oil change and transmission fluid change. After I pick up mu car the transmission started to slip. When I went back to talk to the person at the counter name [redacted], the mechanic test drove the vehicle with me, he notice my tack gauge was not working and that was the reason why I was having problems It was working before service and now I had a problem I the proceed to go the dealership service center I was advised by them Joes could of cause the problem. I went back as was falsely accused by [redacted] "Is this was I trying to do when I came for service". This is a slander remark and failed to check out what was causing the issue. I then Had my vehicle check by another shop was advised I could have been an air gap causing the issue the reset system and it is now working but keep an eye out due to could cause father damage later on. If this shop would have taken the time to help not falsely accusing a customer of creating a problem and slandering me. I will never go do to this shop again do to poor service. No thanks to them.

Matt was a great guy. Very honest and very knowledgeable about my Jeep. Good prices and did a great job

I set an appointment for an oil change for my wife's vehicle at the advertised price of $14.95. I am aware that there are taxes and a disposal fee for the oil and the final price should have been around $20. When I brought the vehicle in [redacted], himself, told me that the vehicle takes a synthetic oil and the cost would be around $35. I decided to take the vehicle elsewhere. The vehicle's manual states regular oil and if desired a synthetic oil can be used. The shop that I took the vehicle to could not believe this. They changed the oil for a final price of $22 and some change. They had a $17.99 special at the time. I see that there are two other comments regarding this shop and they are both negative. [redacted] will never get my business and I will spread the word.