Rear Axle, AGAIN...

1. Nathan-HxC Established Member Joined: Aug 2010 Bath, South West Posts: 1081 16v VTR

   #1 5th June 2011, 08:43

   Had my axle replaced for a so-called refurbished axle for it's MOT, yet to me this looks fucked?
   It has about 5mm clearance between the tyre and the inner arch...
   I put it off for a week because I thought it was just me being too cautious about it and that a garage wouldn't put a fucked beam on my car and pass it's MOT (even though they passed it with a decat lol...).
   
   
   
   I'm also fucked off with the fact that because the rear beam had to be lowered again to match the front of the car, I told him the height I wanted it and when I picked it up he was telling me how he tried 2 clicks but it was lower than I asked so put it to 1 click, which is the fucking cowboy way of lowering...
2. devilsadvocate Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Dec 2006 Maidstone Posts: 8210 Golf TDI

   #2 5th June 2011, 09:22

   Hmmmm that does look like a decent amount of camber, surprised it passed an MOT with that but if the same garage sourced and supplied the axle then im not surprised they passed it!
   
   Sounds like a cowboy garage, a few do exist
   
   All you can do it go back to them and complain but that may not get you anywhere unless they are a large chain and have a complaint procedure etc.
   You could report them to trading standards
3. Nathan-HxC Established Member Joined: Aug 2010 Bath, South West Posts: 1081 16v VTR

   #3 5th June 2011, 09:40

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by devilsadvocate Hmmmm that does look like a decent amount of camber, surprised it passed an MOT with that but if the same garage sourced and supplied the axle then im not surprised they passed it! Sounds like a cowboy garage, a few do exist All you can do it go back to them and complain but that may not get you anywhere unless they are a large chain and have a complaint procedure etc. You could report them to trading standards

   Yep the garage sourced and fitted the axle, I think it was just a case of 'it's got a new axle put on so we'll pass it' without any proper testing of it.
   I'm fucked off to say the least as they fucked me about with the times of picking it up etc and everything was done a week late so I had lost out on a week of work which I really could've done without as I'm only a student.
   
   My parents suggested going to another garage (there's an axle specialists quite local to me) and having their professional opinion, then taking it down to the garage it got done at and have them sort the issue or else the trading standards or VOSA will be contacted for fitting and passing a fucked beam, and for passing the emissions test by using a donor car.
   
   
   Oh and I can fit my fingers between the tyre and the inner arch on the opposite side, with room spare, but on the side pictured, I can't swipe them through at all.
4. willsy West Midlands Joined: Nov 2005 Nuneaton (West Mids) Posts: 13835 '64 Volvo V40 R’Design, '89 Ph1 309 GTi, ‘97 Mk1 S

   #4 5th June 2011, 10:35

   That's well and truly knackered, surely the original one couldn't even have had that much camber?
   
   Definately take it back, better a refund and take it elsewhere rather than risk more shoddy work and frustration

   1 user thanked this post: raunchz
5. Nathan-HxC Established Member Joined: Aug 2010 Bath, South West Posts: 1081 16v VTR

   #5 5th June 2011, 10:54

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by willsy That's well and truly knackered, surely the original one couldn't even have had that much camber? Definately take it back, better a refund and take it elsewhere rather than risk more shoddy work and frustration

   They didn't even use my old beam, so fuck knows what they did, where they got this one from etc.
   Tbh my old beam that was on had no camber, no inner wear on the tyres, no odd noises, no handling issues etc so I was shocked when he said it originally failed and needed a new beam.
   
   What if they refuse to refund it and just give the excuse of "It's MOT'ed now so it's not our concern"?
6. Nathan-HxC Established Member Joined: Aug 2010 Bath, South West Posts: 1081 16v VTR

   #6 5th June 2011, 11:10

   Just had a drive to Tesco, this time I had my music completely off, and I can hear and feel what sounds like wheel wobble from the rear, and the back end tried stepping out on me when I was going along a dual carriageway that has a slight curve to the left...
   
   I genuinely can't believe my bad luck, my car was perfectly fine before it went in for that MOT, it came out with a shoddy axle that they made me wait for it to be lowered because they claimed the torsion bar had to settle a bit first... It had a running problem when I got it back aswell which they said was the sparks so they changed them but it still doesn't feel right, feels flat at points :/ Not to mention the fact that they stole or misplaced my de-wiper bung LOL, luckily I had a multipack in the glovebox so replaced it >_>
7. Mochachino Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Nov 2007 Guantanamo Bay Posts: 28700 oyster card

   #7 5th June 2011, 11:29

   They sound like absolute cowboys mate. Id go back and play up to be honest.
   
   Full refund for the rear beam, refund for the labour and have your old beam refitted for free. I would source my own refurbed axle IF it actually needed one and take it somewhere more reputable to be fitted if you dont want to do it yourself.
   
   Running problem cant really be pin pointed to being their fault, that genuinly could be a coincedence, or easy for them to pass it as a coincedence anyway.
   
   I wouldnt complain about the spark plugs as its good to have fresh ones in from time to time anyway despite it not curing your problem.
   
   Also its bollox about the torsion bar needing to settle before lowering it? wtf there..
   
   Sure you didnt go to Kwik Fit?
8. Nathan-HxC Established Member Joined: Aug 2010 Bath, South West Posts: 1081 16v VTR

   #8 5th June 2011, 12:33

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by db_sax They sound like absolute cowboys mate. Id go back and play up to be honest. Full refund for the rear beam, refund for the labour and have your old beam refitted for free. I would source my own refurbed axle IF it actually needed one and take it somewhere more reputable to be fitted if you dont want to do it yourself. Running problem cant really be pin pointed to being their fault, that genuinly could be a coincedence, or easy for them to pass it as a coincedence anyway. I wouldnt complain about the spark plugs as its good to have fresh ones in from time to time anyway despite it not curing your problem. Also its bollox about the torsion bar needing to settle before lowering it? wtf there.. Sure you didnt go to Kwik Fit?

   I jacked the car up about 20 minutes ago and there's play in that side yet the other side is stiff, an angry dad is going down tomorrow to have words with them whilst I'm at college.
   
   I haven't a clue what they're gonna say, I'm worried they'll refuse to refund it and say the only thing they can do is put another beam on (which is likely to be another fucked one ) :/ I just want my fucking old beam on and a refund for what they charged for the beam and the fitting of it, but I'm willing to bet my old beam has been binned :/
   
   The thing with the running problem is I was at the garage waiting for them to get back as they actually MOT the cars at a seperate place, and one of the blokes that was driving the cars back that they had MOT'ed was hooning the fuck out of the car, he didn't see me until he parked up and got out and looked at me as if to say 'oh fuck didn't see you there' :/
   
   Yeah I know I can't really pin it on them as such, but meh it's something else I'm gonna have to get sorted through my own time :/
   
   I know it's bullshit about the torsion bar settling, I think they were just too fucking lazy to do it in the agreed time (which was a week late anyway, pricks) :/
   
   Nah mate wasn't Kwik-Fit aha, was a local garage to me.