59BlueSilver

I gotta worry about todays young people that work at places like Midas, Jiffy Lube, Kwik Lube, Meineke, etc.

My friend just installed front disc brakes on his 59 and carefully drove it down the street to a Midas dealer to have it properly and professionally bled. It was a joke, came back worse than before! Should have known he was in trouble when the guy started to remove the hubcap to do the job! And these are the people that specialize in doing brakes! Makes you feel real safe, huh!

This is why us old farts have to learn and work on our cars. Thank God for this forum and all you knowledgeable guys!

Big Hit

I wouldn't take a bicycle to the above mentioned!

phil2302

Your friend did all the hard work putting front disc brakes on a 59
Bleeding the system is the easier part especially if you get over there and work the brake pedal for him.

59BlueSilver

I did, and according to him, they work great!

phil2302

Good friend and good work!

59BlueSilver

Speaking of bleeding brakes, being by myself, I've always used the jar filled with brake fluid, pump a few times and close the port. But that was just replacing a wheel cylinder. I know they have fancy gadgets that may do a better job, but would this method work on a total brake rebuild?

Bowtyeguy

You think they are bad with brakes, dont ever show them your carb.

Had to have an emissions test on a car with a carb and the guy had no idea what to do with it.

59BlueSilver

Yeah, ran into that, too. If they can't hook up a computer to it, they're lost!

phil2302

Yeah sure when working solo I use the bottle or jar with a tube into it and also use a stick wedged between the driver seat and the brake pedal to hold the pedal down tight after pumping it while you go back to the bleeder to tighten it.

59BlueSilver

After38Years

Many years ago I was having my oil changed regularly at Jiffy Lube for the family Oldsmobile.

My son, having his first car, had me show him what to do to change oil. After he had completed his car (and wearing a good amount of 10W30) asked me if he wanted me to change the oil in the family buggy. Sure!!

He came back to me after about 15 minutes and asked what kind of special wrench was used on the Olds. Just a socket or box end wrench I assured him. Back again - "doesn't work" he said. Slid under the car with him to find the drain plug rounded off to the point the wrenches wouldn't turn it.

Jiffy Lube had obviously equipped their "techs" with a set of vice grips. This was back when they only did lubes and oil changes. If you don't have the proper tools for your core business, should you be in that business?

Not a big deal, a few bucks at the FLAPS for a new drain plug, but never again to JL.

59BlueSilver

It may not be fair to run them all down, but how do you know! Another Vette buddy owns a Kwik Kar place and I've used them to charge my Vintage Air system and to do a wheel alignment. He put his best guy(same guy) on both jobs, don't know about the rest, and both came out great, no complaints!

MikeM

My first thought when I read this is why a guy that just put disc brakes on his Corvette would need to carefully drive a car somewhere to get the brakes properly and professionally bled?

Not to mention the bad judgement he used in driving a car with no brakes on a public highway?

59BlueSilver

It was only a block away and he had enough brakes to stop, you just had to stand on it. He thought the "professionals" could do a better job and do it faster. I thought the same, why do you have a problem with it?

MikeM

Maybe you should re-read what you quoted until it becomes clear to you what my first thought was when you posted your tale of woe?

I also thought that a guy that couldn't bleed brakes probably shouldn't be attempting to change the brake system on his car to something it wasn't designed for. Maybe you should check his work?

But I didn't want to say that.

Gary's '66

I used to go to Jiffy lube many many years ago. I always watched while they would do a LO&F to be sure that kinda crap didn't happen.

However, the LAST time I used them, I was waiting by the bay before they were to get to my El Camino next. While standing there I noticed a line of oil or fluid going from the front of the bay all the way around to the back of the building so, I followed it. It ended at a cars differential that they just serviced. Someone forgot to put the F'n plug back in!

I told the so called "manager" who thanked me profusely then, went back to REALLY watch my vehicle being done. When it was ready I got in to leave, turned on my radio and, found that some clown thought it'd be cute to change all the presets! Went back in, told the "manager" about it and have never been back to one since.

Never have, nor will I ever use, Midas. Their "touch", IMO is pure FOOLS gold!

Gary

GCD1962

OP said disc brakes just installed on the car. That often requires some additional steps other than the simple bleeding methods

Easy Rhino

You get what you pay for. Those places are about cheap and easy turnaround using quite often a low level of training for their employees.

That doesn't mean that everybody that works at one of those places is bad, but the odds are not on your side.

I can personally detail almost a dozen "JiffyMidasMeineke" horror stories that have happened to close acquaintances.

Just say no. You're playing the lottery with your car with a low return on investment.

Find a competent mechanic - particularly for older, more valuable cars.

YMMV

Frankie the Fink

Uh. Yeah. And those Midas guys know all about disc brake conversions on classic Corvettes.

This is like removimg a brain brain tumor from your own head and going to the Urgent Care so they can close the incision.

vettepoor

This thread reminds me of a forum member who took his classic to one of these grease monkeys for service, and they pumped the brake bleeders full of grease! My mom took her Datsun to one back in 70s, jerks FORGOT to put oil in and fried her engine! My wife (before we met) took her Pinto ( yeah, I know) in and some tool left the old oil filter gasket on - poor car died a slow death.
As long as I can see and crawl I will stay away from those places!