Broken suspension part, stuck with bill?

[n0c7]

I took my car in for a 4 wheel alignment after replacing my tie rods and some other front end suspension parts myself. While the mechanic was adjusting my toe on one of the rear wheels, he snapped the nut off of the control adjustment arm, not sure of the exact name but it looks exactly like one of the front lateral arms, just in the rear. The bolt is stuck in there and he said hes gonna have to ruin the bushing to remove it. He blames lack of lubrication at the factory and the fact that the car is 10-12 years old. He expects me to pay for the parts, which I'm ok with, but he also wants me to pay for the labour for his mistake. Whats your guys take on this situation? I told him that I wasnt happy with the fact that I had to pay for the labour but I was ok about the parts and he said "What do you want me to do?"

 

[turbo2g111]

Tell him that you want the part the HE broke fixed. Alignments are done all the time on our cars, and not every alignment on a 12 year old car results in snapped bolts.

 

[n0c7]

He had some bullshit to counter everything I put forward. Blamed it on the damn Japanese cars that lack lubrication and seize together after a couple of years. We all know this is bullshit. I bet he just didnt want to #### with it, heated it up and snapped it without even thinking.

 

[boostedinaz]

He had some bullshit to counter everything I put forward. Blamed it on the damn Japanese cars that lack lubrication and seize together after a couple of years. We all know this is bullshit. I bet he just didnt want to #### with it, heated it up and snapped it without even thinking.

Tell him you need to speak to the business owner. You could also call the BBB or go to the local news station. He would hate for them to come down and do a neat little story on the shop he works at.

 

[turbo2g111]

There are lots of cars just like ours that he works on everyday, and I doubt he breaks bolts everyday. If he does, he shouldn't be working on them. Besides, its not REALLY a Japanese car....

 

[wret]

The cam bolts are notorious for rusting and seizing within the bushing. It is not the mechanic's fault. The entire control arm will need to be replaced but they are not terribly expensive. Be polite and perhaps you can negotiate the labor. Be rude and you won't even get that.

 

[n0c7]

The cam bolts are notorious for rusting and seizing within the bushing. It is not the mechanic's fault. The entire control arm will need to be replaced but they are not terribly expensive. Be polite and perhaps you can negotiate the labor. Be rude and you won't even get that.

Thats what I'm looking to hear, someone who has tried to crank these suckers. I busted enough shit in the front doing the tie rods and axles last month so I know our suspension isnt all that fun to work on so I have to give this guy the benefit of the doubt.

What pissed me off was the excuses and getting hostile after trying to negotiate the labour. I feel that they should make a compromise with it, but I doubt I'll get anywhere with it. Too much hassle to bring it back home, wait for parts, do it myself, and bring it back. Not worth the $100 labour and the risk of driving it with a snapped bolt(or towing to and from).

This car has always been good for one thing, it NEVER fails to disappoint me.

Thanks for all of your input. I might just bite the bullet on this one and word of mouth goes a very long way. He's already lost one appointment next week. A buddy was scheduled in, heard my story, backed off. If this mechanic would have explained things without getting pissed off and offered to only charge half the labour then there would have been no hassle.