Do you trust your mechanic with your life?

[Metalhead]

I know people moan about the cost of repair work and that the main dealers are a rip off but how much risk would you take to save some money?

I'm stripping/rebuilding a 3G and thankfully not much has ever been replaced in the 27 years it's been on the road, but the work that has been done is some of the worst I've ever seen in over 20 years of 'spannering'. One of the upper rear ball joints had been welded where there should have been a castle nut/split pin.

[youtube]yEN6Axkby3w[/youtube]

Having removed the weld this evening the shaft had actually broken clean (previously). It looks like the joint had failed causing the threaded shaft to snap in situ. Someone has just run some weld around what was left of the pin shaft and sent the car back onto the road with the ball joint still knackered!



Had this weld failed the rear suspension would have collapsed. At motorway speed it could have been fatal. The weld will have been under massive pressure with the ball joint not doing anything (you can see in the vid how knackered it is)/

I wonder if the previous owner knew what had been done? It's a terrifyingly bad bodge, who would feel comfortable doing such a repair??? Scary stuff!

[tom023]

A few weeks ago a guy came in complaining about an oil leak. Turns out one of the hoses for the power steering had a tear in it and was leaking. Another mechanic had decided to bodge it up with garden hose and two old jubilee clips.
When we gave the customer the price for the correct hose from the dealer (couldn't get it anywhere else) he said it was too expensive of a part, at about 30€ IIRC (£20-25ish) ... Sometimes i wonder if its the mechanics fault or the customers... The leak was lashing out PS fluid everywhere when the pump was actuated.

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[NafemanNathan]

That's unreal

The worst bodge I've had was a cracked and therefore leaky injector with electrical tape wrapped around it. Fortunately not crash worthy, but still not clever by any means

[Sailor]

The answer to the thread title is "sort of".

For example, if the work that's been done is easy to insect or test, then the answer is "no". The ball joint might just come into the category, as would brake pads perhaps.

But what about brake lines? The answer then is probably "yes".

I always try to get the mechanic to show me the job. It's usually possible if you've someone with pride in their work.

[Metalhead]

Sometimes i wonder if its the mechanics fault or the customers... The leak was lashing out PS fluid everywhere when the pump was actuated.

It's a fair point, if you're skint and need the car back then I guess you will cut corners but as a mechanic I would have refused point-blank to do something that's potentially life threatening.

I always try to get the mechanic to show me the job. It's usually possible if you've someone with pride in their work.

Agreed! I never skrimp on tyres, brakes or steering but it's crucial you trust your mechanic/garage to do a good and safe job and not rip you off even if that means inspecting the work and asking for the old parts back.

The worst bodge I've had was a cracked and therefore leaky injector with electrical tape wrapped around it. Fortunately not crash worthy, but still not clever by any means

It could have caused an engine fire - still a really crazy bodge!!!

I'm hoping that's the last of the bodges now.... not much left on the shell to remove!

[Confused]

Only myself or my dad does work on any of my cars, they're the only people I trust. Seen too many examples of work from "professionals"...

[simonc]

I trust Jason now, but it took a long while to get to that point. Especially after all the bloody cowboys I'd been referred to.

[vtectom]

I heard a loud clonk the day after I had uprated anti-roll bars
fitted.
It was a cross threaded bolt falling out!

[Gayno]

I understand your sentiment, but what's to say this was a mechanic?

How do you know it wasn't the owner themselves who thought he was "good at car mechanics" had his own welder and thought this would be a good idea?

[Metalhead]

I understand your sentiment, but what's to say this was a mechanic?

How do you know it wasn't the owner themselves who thought he was "good at car mechanics" had his own welder and thought this would be a good idea?

It's a fair point and I guess I'll never know who did it.... the bottom line is someone did something REALLY stupid and dangerous!!!