Where has QUALITY Workmanship Gone?

[Black_Sheep]

The only person that works on my cars is me…

 

[YY1]

Generally the only person that works on our older cars is me.

100% the only person that works on our older car's brakes, is me.

 

[Ron H]

The only person that works on my cars is me…

That used to be me, but pushing 70 now after a few surgeries, I have a shop do a few things now I used to do. Fixing this brake conversion took a while and then finding this bearing installed was unbelievable. Had to take some force to cave it in…like the damage was intentional. There are deep punch marks like with a screwdriver where it’s bent. The kit comes with the races already installed in the rotor so just a matter of grease packing, setting it in, and tapping in the seal..

 

[Ron H]

bent roller cage isn't something that's going to cause a bearing failure.

This bearing in this condition couldn’t be prone to fail? In all my years never came across anything like this. I looked at this after 3,500 miles…not thinking I want to put it back in.

 

[68BabyBlue]

That used to be me, but pushing 70 now after a few surgeries, I have a shop do a few things now I used to do.

Me too. When I ran my first truck in the late 1970s, I did my own repair work, even if that required long haul towing back to home base. The second truck, a generation later, it wasn't a physical option. Now that I just have the GTX to worry about, I'm lucky to have access to some local shops that still do quality work, and have familiarity with 60s Mopars. I did some light work on the car yesterday, cleaning up the bulkhead connectors and installing a new voltage regulator, and I'm paying for it today.

 

[gtxdana]

This bearing in this condition couldn’t be prone to fail? In all my years never came across anything like this. I looked at this after 3,500 miles…not thinking I want to put it back in.

The bearing cage is not really a precision manufactured piece and is made from a lot softer steel than a bearing roller. Sure, you could buy another bearing and outer race, or you could just take a screwdriver and bend the cage back into position.

 

[Black_Sheep]

That used to be me, but pushing 70 now after a few surgeries, I have a shop do a few things now I used to do. Fixing this brake conversion took a while and then finding this bearing installed was unbelievable. Had to take some force to cave it in…like the damage was intentional. There are deep punch marks like with a screwdriver where it’s bent. The kit comes with the races already installed in the rotor so just a matter of grease packing, setting it in, and tapping in the seal..

I get it, my body is wrecked from 30 years of working on heavy equipment. Things take a lot longer than it used to and after a day in the shop I feel like I’ve been dragged through a knothole. That said, I try to work at my own pace and if something isn’t done today there’s always tomorrow…

 

[cr8crshr]

SSBC kits are some of the easiest DIY swaps one can do. Knowing your schedule, I guess letting the shop do it made sense as I have done so in the past with my engine builds. I was working on my 66 Ply Sat during the OIF and being on active duty, I was on the road more than not. I had a supposed machine shop/engine builder doing my stock 383 heads and when I went to pick them up, the owner asked me to let him do the rebuild on the entire engine. As I said, being on the road as I was, I figured by doing so, I would get the whole project moving toward completion. Boy was that a mistake!!! The engine would not turn completely over using the crank bolt as it would stop after a 1/2 turn and was hitting something internally. Took it back, and the builder refused to fix it saying I did something wrong and he was not liable. Got it back home and began a complete teardown. Discovered he had used mismatched piston rods and a different crank that was clearly not a MOPER crank as it was stamped with GM stampings. I finally got it rebuilt and done correctly to my liking and never went back to him ever again. I do not know if the place is still in business, so if they are stay away from them if you are in Northern CA...Name of the place...California Street Machines...cr8crshr/Bill

 

[Ron H]

Discovered he had used mismatched piston rods and a different crank that was clearly not a MOPER crank as it was stamped with GM stampings.

Wow, and here I’m peeved about a damaged bearing. Gotta wonder how careless or incompetent (or a combination of both) a so-called PRO-shop can be. Installing the wrong crank and rods? And more is the shop not responding or blaming you. The shop I’m referring to STILL seems to have a fine reputation, some glowing reviews; but I figure the ones who were going to complain were killed in auto accidents due to their ‘work’. Two guys I know (those still alive) who used to do engine machining are now retired. They did their work right, were picky about the work they did, and as we know fewer of these guys around anymore.

 

[GetX'd]

I took my X to a few pro shops out here - pretty sure they didn’t know what they were doing on a 68 Mopar - but they could baffle you w/their bullshit. Extremely difficult to trust so many things these days -

 

[Krooser]

There is a local repair shop that has done work on my daily's for 30 years...GM specialists and I own an '04 LeSabre.

Back in January they installed new front tires before my yearly pilgrimage to Florida.

Fast forward to Saturday and I start hearing a grinding noise from the LF wheel while coming home from the dirt races.

I figured another Chinese wheel bearing gone bad...these cars seem to have an appetite for wheel bearings.

267,000 miles.

Last night I jacked up the LF and found the wheel loose on the studs by at least 1/4". I figure they zipped the wheels on, got distracted, and forgot to torque the nuts.

I'll see them Friday to pay my bill and give them some ****. I'm not pissed...could have been worse. Still a good, trusted shop.

 

[padam]

There is a local repair shop that has done work on my daily's for 30 years...GM specialists and I own an '04 LeSabre.

Back in January they installed new front tires before my yearly pilgrimage to Florida.

Fast forward to Saturday and I start hearing a grinding noise from the LF wheel while coming home from the dirt races.

I figured another Chinese wheel bearing gone bad...these cars seem to have an appetite for wheel bearings.

267,000 miles.

Last night I jacked up the LF and found the wheel loose on the studs by at least 1/4". I figure they zipped the wheels on, got distracted, and forgot to torque the nuts.

I'll see them Friday to pay my bill and give them some ****. I'm not pissed...could have been worse. Still a good, trusted shop.

With all due respect, that’s an unforgivable in my book.

 

[Krooser]

They have a busy two man shop with a thriving wrecker business... when the Sheriff calls to clear the highway after a wreck one brother jumps in a truck and heads out.

First goof up since 1991.

I forgave my ex wife for worse.

With all due respect, that’s an unforgivable in my book.

 

[Krooser]

Factory tour ....

 

[padam]

And we can’t compete with that?

 

[Ron H]

Oly CHIT!