I think Red Alert's rear end just failed...

[formula218]

i don't deal with AAA only because most tow truck drivers go full retard when they have to move a lowered/modified car. i'd rather have a friend with a trailer come grab it if possible.

[ruckusz28]

[MENTION=193]meissen[/MENTION] going into the shop..

0wK.jpg

[meissen]

Hope they take care of you Brian . . . you def shouldn't have to pay for it if they f-ed it up.

On another note - this is a great example of why everyone should have AAA. You can actually sign up for it and use it the same day. Last year when my DD wouldn't start in the parking lot at work, I called AAA and signed up . . . 30 mins later called them back and got a tow to the shop . . . then got another tow to a second shop when the first shop couldn't fix it.

AAA's annual membership for two members (myself and Michelle) is $80; so I figure that with those two tows, I got about three years' worth of dues back in the first two days of being a member . . .

It's great and all as long as you're not lowered. Angie had the AAA service where any vehicle she's riding in is covered for towing but the moment we said the car is lowered they said "not covered."

[meissen]

I heard back from the shop - they said the steel driveshaft is all set and ready to go with two brand new ujoints, no charge. They won't warranty this set of u-joints, though. Although I should have pinned replacing the aluminum driveshaft or reimbursing me for the towing bill on them, I'm just happy to be able to drive my car once the driveshaft is back in.


The shop is Richard's Auto in New Baltimore.

[c0ncEpT]

It's great and all as long as you're not lowered. Angie had the AAA service where any vehicle she's riding in is covered for towing but the moment we said the car is lowered they said "not covered."

You have to learn how to deal with stuff like that. In that instance you don't mention shit about it being lowered and you tell the AAA rep to have the tow truck driver call you so you can give him directions to your location. At that point you communicate to the driver you need him to bring some wood.

[meissen]

You have to learn how to deal with stuff like that. In that instance you don't mention shit about it being lowered and you tell the AAA rep to have the tow truck driver call you so you can give him directions to your location. At that point you communicate to the driver you need him to bring some wood.

Werd, that's what I get for being honest. Screwed.


I picked up the driveshaft and installed it when I got home from work. I immediately noticed a difference this time around -- the aluminum driveshaft ujoints were so loose that the transmission yoke would flop all over the place under its own weight. On the steel driveshaft, the ujoints are significantly tighter and require more effort to move. The transmission joint will stay upright and not flop over. Honestly it had me a little worried, but I used a grease gun to shoot more grease into it and then put it in the car. Drove around the block, including a quick stint on the freeway up to 80mph, and it's silky smooth with no vibrations.

When I got home, I called Richards Auto and talked to Richard himself. He immediately said that as soon as the employee told him the situation that Richard told him that it wasn't my fault the cap fell off and to install the two ujoints free-of-charge. It sounds like my whole problem was that I was dealing with the guy who installed the ujoints into the aluminum driveshaft and so he was being bullheaded about it. I did convey to Richard that it was upsetting that the employee was pushing back so much, and that I appreciated that he corrected the situation. I'm still out the $50 for the aluminum driveshaft which is now junk and I'm still out the $120 towing bill, but at least I have a usable driveshaft...

[Boost Addict]

So let me get this straight. They ****ed your shit up. Now you're eating the cost? How the hell does that work? I wouldn't even have mentioned having another driveshaft around and demandrf they fix it or compensate you for a new one.

[meissen]

They took the other driveshaft that I had, the steel driveshaft, and installed two new ujoints in there free of charge. That's all I was asking them to do.

[JoeliusZ28]

So let me get this straight. They ****ed your shit up. Now you're eating the cost? How the hell does that work? I wouldn't even have mentioned having another driveshaft around and demandrf they fix it or compensate you for a new one.

Exactly how i would have approached it. Especially since you can do u-joints in a steel driveshaft yourself with nothing more than a hammer and a surface to work on.... steel is a LOT harder to screw up than aluminum.

[nascarnate326]

At this point, whats done is done, his car is fixed, don't use them again and move on.

[JoeliusZ28]

I picked up the driveshaft and installed it when I got home from work. I immediately noticed a difference this time around -- the aluminum driveshaft ujoints were so loose that the transmission yoke would flop all over the place under its own weight. On the steel driveshaft, the ujoints are significantly tighter and require more effort to move. The transmission joint will stay upright and not flop over. Honestly it had me a little worried, but I used a grease gun to shoot more grease into it and then put it in the car. Drove around the block, including a quick stint on the freeway up to 80mph, and it's silky smooth with no vibrations.

U-joints being "loose" is normal. The trans yoke should flop around like that. Sometimes brand new u-joints are snug and need some wear-in. Pull it back out after a few hundred miles it will probably flop around just like the other ones. Snug u-joints are not something you would want because that would be more parasitic loss in the driveline under operation.

[meissen]

At this point, whats done is done, his car is fixed, don't use them again and move on.

Exactly. Maybe I'm just being a push over, but at this point I'm just happy to have a usable driveshaft with two new ujoints. I just don't have the time or energy to try to get them to pay for the aluminum driveshaft or the tow bill.

[Blue04ss]

I'm just happy to have a usable driveshaft with two new ujoints.

^^
This and that it wasn't something worse really wrong with the car.

[meissen]

^^
This and that it wasn't something worse really wrong with the car.

Haha maybe that's it too - I was thinking I was going to have a $1,000+ repair bill so to hear I'm out $170 and have new ujoints in the spare steel driveshaft I had, well I'll take it...

[JoeliusZ28]

Thats true. But this error on the shops behalf could have also resulted in your car getting Pole vaulted and the whole thing totalled and yourself getting injured...