Showerthought: The day a 'simple' brake job on a 2008 F-150 turned into a full axle rebuild.

Customer came in for new pads and rotors, but the caliper bracket bolts were so seized we had to torch them out, which led to finding a cracked caliper mount on the axle itself. The whole thing snowballed into a 6 hour, $900 repair instead of the quoted $300. When do you guys decide to stop a 'simple' job and call the customer with the bad news?

2 comments

2 Comments

masontorres1d ago

That exact scenario is the worst part of the job. You hit the point of no return the second you see something that's a real safety issue, like that crack. It's not even a choice anymore. The call is always awkward, but you just have to lay out the facts, show them the damage if you can, and give them the new number. Most people get it when you explain it's not just a fix, it's a must-do.

fionaw5423h ago

I once saw a crack so big you could fit a credit card in it sideways. That's when you know the conversation is going to be rough.