bushing failure w/pic

I agree that it makes no sense to cut a bushing that's so easy to install, but there are a few mitigating factors involved in my firing this guy. It took more than two weeks to do the job, which I forgave because he did do a lot of wiring repair. Somehow he shredded a tire. I'm no front end mechanic, but my limited knowledge tells me that shredding a tire while doing a front end rebuild is, well, suspicious. When I took the car in, it had a full tank of gas, purred at 700 idle rpm and didn't smoke at all.
When I got it back there was less than 1/2 tank, it chugs at 1200 idle rpm, and smokes like a house afire. The bushing thing was just the last straw.
I called Vic.Brit. and found out that the major suspension kit does come with the stock bushings, not V8's. My goof... should have asked before I ordered.
Anyway, here's a pic of the camel back breaker. I ran a piece of white paper through it to enhance the edges of the cut/flaw. Any opinions?
Sure looks cut to me....

Looks like it was cut to make installation easier.

It also sounds as though he had some fun thrashing your car around the neighbourhood.

<<Looks like it was cut to make installation easier. >>

how could this make installation easier or quicker or ?

I don't think there's room to wiggle the bushes into place without removing at least one a-arm side piece.

That brings up a point. Do the fasteners holding the a-arms to the spring pans look like they have been disturbed? MMMMMM Jack

talk to a layer and tke his ass to court, he rolled around in your car and had fun at your expense.....smoking now right? small claims court for $2500, should cool his jets.

I would want to kill him.....It is a shame that it is so hard to find a good mechanic. I have found a guy that is fair in price and in business practice and about cried when he told me that he is looking to get out of the business....luckily he said that he is on a ten year plan. Whew.....


Good luck with getting it straighted out.....I wouldn't let him get away with that stuff, things like that could get someone hurt someday.

Part of me leans toward Jerry's approach. There is no excuse for the low fuel, smoking, possible engine damage and other stuff. It could be that some flunky at the shop took it out while the boss was eating lunch but in the end it is his responsibility. You can tell in an instant whether the rubber was sliced or not. Just get to a common microscope or even a jeweler's loop and observe the edges and surfaces of the split. If it was a knife there will most certainly be ridges showing. If it split it will show up as a perfectly smooth surface.

Perhaps a calm but pointed private discussion about the merits of making you whole again would get more positive response and avoid the expense and stress, but if the guy stumbles hit him with a two by four.

Time is of the essence. The longer you wait the more it will look like you are being devious on your side of the fence. And document EVERY conversation.

Jack

where a wire. get it on tape. then u got him.

Well Boyz,

I just love it! Wear a wire! I suggest that since he has a full service shop, secure him to a rotating tire balancer and thrash him to within an inch of his life! Beat him with a tire iron until he is senseless and then torture him until he confesses the truth.

After he confesses, burn his shop down and set off a small nuclear explosion. If you have no available nuclear devices then lay a bad fart and call the EPA and have them close him down for good.

I hope this helps as I gotta run. My Hungry Man TV dinner is finished simmering in the microwave and all this violence has brewed me up a mighty hunger. Afterwards, I am gonna watch reruns of The Lone Ranger and My Friend Flicka.


Good Luck

Been thinking long and hard about this split bushing think. If one woulf try to replace the bushing without dissassembling the suspension, one would have a very hard time getting the bushing to compress and slide into the hole, But if one split the bushing and removed enough at the split so that the bushing would fit looser, one could get everything back together again and get the car out of the shop. The bushing would fail after a short time right at the split because the integerty of the rubber had been comprimised at that point.

Some lazy sob might just try this to keep ftom having to take the lower a arms off and fighting the springs. I'd be interested in know if the other bushings were split as well

Ed,
There is another approach. Confront him with your bushing & ask him (nicely)to "Please explain this." Assuming that you find that it has been cut.
Listen to his explanation (excuse). Then inform him of how the front end should have been rebuilt.
Again, listen to his explanation.
Then ask him to explain the shredded tire ...
And the half tank of gas ...
And the smoke ...
And the poor idle ...
Suggest that it may have been one of his employees 'joy-riding' without his knowledge ..
Then inform him that you will, never, under any circumstance, bring any vehicle into shop again.
And furthermore - it is your intention to contact any & all car clubs in your area and inform them of the type of service & damage your car got at "A certain establishment in XYZ."
But whatver you do - DO NOT LET HIM TOUCH YOUR CAR AGAIN. Even if he offers to "repair" any damage.
My Dad used to say - "A good reputation is very hard to get - but very easy to lose."
Good luck.
Regards, Graham

I picked the car up from my new mechanic this evening. He usually closes at 5, but worked on it until 8pm. Now, I know Twig has a temper re: sloppy work, but this guy was absolutely spitting fire. The bushings on each side had been cut, cotter pins not installed because the new castle nut is a bit longer, and evidence of BMFH use on several pins. He redid the entire job, pointed out several things that need to be done and handed me a list of part numbers from Moss. No charge until I order the parts and he installs them. I think I found my mechanic.
My new top should arrive Tuesday or Wednesday, new parts should arrive Wednesday or Thursday, and I should be finally driving the car this weekend. ROAD TRIP!!!!
Maybe I'll drive down to Miami and find me a good lawyer lol
Thanks to all for giving opinions and advice. This forum is outstanding.

Call Rush since he is there in town, and get Roy Black's number.

Did your new wrench notice whether the bolts holding the arms to the spring pans had been removed or not? That would be a dead give away if they had not.

I think that Gerry is dead on right. I thought that was what happened, that the guy just crammed the bushings in, but until Gerry said what he said I couldn't figure out how he did it without bunching the rubber up.

I hired a mechanic in Tallahassee once, and soon realized that he was short cutting the Hell out of jobs. A customer came in complaining of an apparent unspeakable rip off that had occurred through the shop with an AC compressor on a Benz. I was so stunned I couldn't believe it. When I asked the guys to gather round and told them what had happened several of them actually want to lynch the no good so and so. They physically threw the dolt and his tools out on the street. I'll never forget the embarrassment for me, for my shop and for my guys.

Jack