Putting the Brakes on Poor Car Repair
Question: We bought a used 1979 Cadillac Sedan DeVille. Less than a year ago, we had a complete front-brake job for $50. Shortly after, the brakes started squealing. We had the brakes adjusted. The squealing got worse, so we went to another garage and they turned the rotors. It still got worse, so we went to another garage. They told us the rotors are warped, and it will cost $217 to replace them. But they said it was safe to use the warped rotors as long as we could live with the noise. We don’t know who to believe.--J.E.
Answer: It’s difficult to imagine what sort of “complete” front-disc brake job you obtained for only $50, and that may be a source of some of your problems.
Almost certainly, your problem with squealing is not related to a warped rotor. The more likely cause of the noise is a glazed disc pad, which sometimes results from excessive metal content in the lining material of the pad.
Most likely, your $50 brake special did not use original-equipment brake pads. There’s nothing wrong with using non-GM replacement pads, but they probably will not wear exactly as original equipment parts.
As for your rotor problem, you can often detect warped rotors by a pulsating feeling in the brake pedal when you make a hard stop. Normally, warping can be corrected by turning a rotor.
If your rotors are so badly warped that they cannot be turned flat, you should replace them. In such extreme cases, braking can be very uneven, and the wheels may even lock up.
Q: We are writing because we own a 1985 Ford Thunderbird with 10,000 miles that is eating through front tires. The wear is on the outside of the tires. The dealership we bought the car from claims we must have hit curbs and knocked the front end out of alignment. He refused to fix it under warranty. We took the car to two different service centers, which told us the alignment was correct. What steps should I take before my car runs out of warranty next month?--M.S.
A: One step you might consider is finding a competent dealer, because your current dealer leaves much to be desired. Ford has notified all dealers in technical service bulletin No. 83-25-9 that new-model Thunderbirds are subject to excessive tire wear.
Although you may not drive your car abnormally, Ford engineers have found that hard cornering apparently causes severe wear on the outside of Thunderbird tires. The fix is relatively inexpensive and should be covered under warranty, to make no mention of your ruined tires.
The repair procedure specified in the service bulletin calls for changes from the original specifications in the front-end alignment. (In technical terms, the camber-and-toe adjustments are both set at zero.) Recommended tire pressure is 32 pounds per square inch.
Q: Our family has a 1966 Buick Riviera in excellent condition. I would like to have an idea of its value, but it doesn’t appear in any blue book. Is there any publication that gives values on older cars?--R.H.S.
A: Since so few cars such as yours are traded, there is no established market. But you can determine its value by checking various newspapers and magazines that specialize in classic cars. You’ll need to look at a few cars to see how they compare. Also try to find an antique car club in your area and talk to members for suggestions on who trades in old Buicks.
