Halfords Autocentre Dispute

NeverEnough

motorguy wrote: »

You were mugged.

Seriously mugged.

:eek:

What ever possessed you to take an approx 10 year old car to a Halfords Service centre AND then to agree to it needing new discs and pads and front calipers???

Shocking.

Were no alarm bells ringing at all with you?

Oh dear. Yet another Halfrauds victim.........

Why on earth do people keep going to these outfits when there is so much info online about their modus operandi?

Its a classic ruse of theirs to announce you need new brakes all round, then to announce the calipers are "seized" (a decent proper mechanic would actually try to free off a seized caliper before condemning it) and pile on crazy charges. £1000 for brakes with el cheapo motor factor parts, for an elderly MG...... you were seriously ripped off!!!!!:eek::eek:

mgdavid

spacey2012 wrote: »

They have a load of "apprentices" who will bolt on whatever you will agree to pay for.
It is what they do.
In this case you were lucky, the suspension parts are to intricate for them on the Rover...........

you mentioned this before - but I cannot possibly think what you mean. The ZS180 has the same suspension design as the Rover 45s etc and is perfectly simple, no special tools needed. FWIW I race a 180 and self-prep, I'm not in the motor trade, never have been, and I'm not an engineer of any description.

spacey2012

The specialist tools I refer to is a set of long reach spring clamps.
Halfords "mechanics" have to buy all their own tools, hence why they only fit the parts they can bolt on with the basic tool kit they have.
If you work on the Rover, you won't need me to tell you how long the front coil over springs are.

mgdavid

neither of my pairs of spring clamps are anything special but they do they job, although I might have had a 2nd pair of hands :-)
BTW (just asking, genuine question) which mechanics don't have to buy their own tools, I thought all garages worked that way in this country?

And for everyone else, to get back on topic - ** don't use Halfrauds !! ** find a good small independent garage. For the OP there are 2 or 3 very good specalist forums for modern MGs and the Z ranges etc, get a recommendation off them, I know there are some enthusiasts in Cornwall.

Taineh

mgdavid wrote: »

neither of my pairs of spring clamps are anything special but they do they job, although I might have had a 2nd pair of hands :-)
BTW (just asking, genuine question) which mechanics don't have to buy their own tools, I thought all garages worked that way in this country?

And for everyone else, to get back on topic - ** don't use Halfrauds !! ** find a good small independent garage. For the OP there are 2 or 3 very good specalist forums for modern MGs and the Z ranges etc, get a recommendation off them, I know there are some enthusiasts in Cornwall.

I'll have an ask about

atrixblue.-MFR-.

spacey2012 wrote: »

The specialist tools I refer to is a set of long reach spring clamps.
Halfords "mechanics" have to buy all their own tools, hence why they only fit the parts they can bolt on with the basic tool kit they have.
If you work on the Rover, you won't need me to tell you how long the front coil over springs are.

the tools you refure to are basic tools that they will have in the garage, as most suicide clamps come in three's and the arch with the wheel removed is quite large, it reveals the 25 45 75 front coil spring quite easily accessed for removal, you do not need to go out and buy extra long ones at all.

front coil spring on 45 ive done with my own basic clamps with ease, done a 25 aswell, and own a 05 75 classic that again my clamps (nothing special) will deal with with ease.

alfrauds, will have bought in a set of tools per center trouble with that is when one set is being used, they are tied up on one vehicle, with many vehicles being repaired in shop, additional sets for resident mechanics are purchased out of the mechanics pocket and is free to do with as he wishes and when he leaves can take them with him.