Scarlet and Gray Tire and Brake Center, Inc

To who it may concern: I was hired by the consumer to install parts he bought elsewhere into his vehicle, a Dodge Avenger.  He and his buddies attempted to install them themselves, but could not complete the task.  At no time was I told not to install the parts if they were not...

necessary.  The consumer had determined the replacement was necessary and had purchased the parts before coming to my shop. I installed the parts according to the manufacturer’s recommendation, the vehicle was test driven and made available to the consumer.  According to the consumer, when he drove it home, the vehicle’s brakes overheated.  I was asked to take another look at it and the consumer preferred that I tow it rather than drive it.  After towing it back to my shop, I sent the consumer a photo of my hand on the brake area showing that I could place my hand on the rim without getting burned.  The consumer directed me to delve deeper into the problem to find the cause of the overheating.  I proceeded to tear down the brakes again and determined that a caliper was sticking on the driver’s side rear.  Tearing down the caliper is not part of the original installation.  In other words, it was not necessary to tear down the caliper to install his parts.  The consumer gave the ok to replace the caliper as the pins were rusted to the bracket.  The consumer was anxious to have his vehicle returned to him and the vehicle was the last repair of the day.  The vehicle was test driven and a slight noise was coming from the brake area.  I told the consumer that I wasn’t 100% satisfied with the repair since it was making a noise.  Hence, I was only 90% satisfied with the repair.  I explained that it was safe to drive, but it was making a noise and I’d like to have it further.  He drove it and agreed that it was making the noise, but I couldn’t have it back.  Apparently over the weekend, he and his buddies looked at the brake and determined that a small piece of the brake hardware was bent and scraping against the rotor causing the noise. Eventually, the consumer came to my shop and demanded justice.  I deducted all labor charges.  In the end, the consumer was only charged for the additional part needed to repair the caliper.  The consumer was happy to pay for that additional part because he recognized he would have needed it anyway.  As is customary at my shop, I returned the original parts from the original repair to the consumer.