Failed Inspection (Va)
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,799
Likes: 1
From: Northern Virginia
St. Jude Donor '08
To the OP,
I am a little puzzled by your description. The corvette has 4-wheel disc brake system. There are no shoes. Did you look at all the pads (inner and outer on all 4 wheels)?
These brakes are known to sometimes wear unevenly (pad taper).
I am a little puzzled by your description. The corvette has 4-wheel disc brake system. There are no shoes. Did you look at all the pads (inner and outer on all 4 wheels)?
These brakes are known to sometimes wear unevenly (pad taper).
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: NOVA
Get a written quote from the shop, then replace the front pads - taking a time/date-stamped pics of the existing pads. In the end, this is about getting your car back on the road and changing the pads is quick and cheap.
Afterwards you can decide what to do with the written quote and pics.
Afterwards you can decide what to do with the written quote and pics.
Kevin
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: NOVA
Sorry...Pads/shoes mean the same thing to me. And yes, looked at all 4 pads on the front, all above 1/16th easily.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,411
Likes: 3
From: slidell louisiana
Take it to the state police and explain what happened and show him the brakes. My guess is he will go to the inspector [if he finds the brake pad thickness to be o.k.] and take it from there
If the inspector is lieing to drum up business he will soon find himself in a mess!
ex inspector Dave
If the inspector is lieing to drum up business he will soon find himself in a mess!
ex inspector Dave
great advice
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Don't know how it works in VA, but here if you suspect the inspection station is jerking you around and finding things wrong that just aren't true, I believe you can go to the State Highway Patrol and ask them to verify the results. If they find that the failure was not warranted, they can jerk the inspection license from the shop.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 3,617
Likes: 7
From: Virginia
I hate these types of rip-off shops. I'd call the State Police and see if they are interested. If not, I'd take it somewhere else to re-inspect. It is a bit of a drive, but Progressive Automotive in Hamilton is absolutely fantastic on inspections. The inspection guy, Tim, is solid gold honest. If he says it's bad, it's bad. You can change the brakes yourself (fairly straight forward in the C5) or take it to another shop (I've also had work done at Curry's on rtes 28 & 50)
Other than to try and take the scammers to justice, I wouldn't ever go back to your original place.
Best of luck
Other than to try and take the scammers to justice, I wouldn't ever go back to your original place.
Best of luck
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: NOVA
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 804
Likes: 0
From: Stockton California
My question is if there 3/16 or 1/16 why wait change the pads yourself. If you wait you can cost yourself a new rotor or maybe you life. I hope you are more valuable than the cost of a brake job.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
and in the time you post all this info you could have gone down to autozone, buy some inexpensive brake pads, or a GM dealer and buy some C5Z06 brake pads changed them and going to get your car re inspected.
Just change your darn brake pads and stop whining about it
some fights are just not worth the time. THIS IS ONE OF THEM.
Just change your darn brake pads and stop whining about it
some fights are just not worth the time. THIS IS ONE OF THEM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,231
Likes: 65
From: Seattle WA
St. Jude Donor '14
I'm not suggesting you let it drop - I'm suggesting you get your car back on the road with 30 minutes work and a few bucks...and THEN deal with their business ethics.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: NOVA
I love the way people act sometimes when asking for advice. I never said my brake pads were below 1/16 or even 3/16 for that matter, just the fact that those are the rules for failing. I said in the OP they were around 1/4". If you think I am dumb enough to ride around on pads around 1/16th of an inch your mistaken. I know they will need replaced soon but not yet and I dont drive it very much in the winter.
I am not whining or complaining, I am simply asking for advise. If you don't want to put anything constructive down and would rather attack me go post somewhere else.
I am not whining or complaining, I am simply asking for advise. If you don't want to put anything constructive down and would rather attack me go post somewhere else.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: NOVA
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 73
Likes: 1
From: Lancaster Pa
In my opinion you have two choices:
1) Go get new pads and put them on to pass inspection. Maybe afterward, you put the old pads on if they are still "safe" so you arent out any money in the long run.
or what I would do:
2)Print a copy of the states legal requirements for the pads and take this proof to the shop. Tell them they are in violation of the standards and are holding you car from passing although it is legal. If they still dont do it, demand to talk to the manager and show him the proof. If that still doesnt work, tell them you will report them (make sure you still have possession of the car at this point...lol) and see what they do. IF you do this, then be prepared to actually report them.
I understand its not the money that concerns you but the principle and I support this completely. If the shop is trying to screw you then they deserve what ever they get. Good luck
1) Go get new pads and put them on to pass inspection. Maybe afterward, you put the old pads on if they are still "safe" so you arent out any money in the long run.
or what I would do:
2)Print a copy of the states legal requirements for the pads and take this proof to the shop. Tell them they are in violation of the standards and are holding you car from passing although it is legal. If they still dont do it, demand to talk to the manager and show him the proof. If that still doesnt work, tell them you will report them (make sure you still have possession of the car at this point...lol) and see what they do. IF you do this, then be prepared to actually report them.
I understand its not the money that concerns you but the principle and I support this completely. If the shop is trying to screw you then they deserve what ever they get. Good luck
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: NOVA
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: Midlothian VA
I would take it to another shop, tell them your issue and ask if they can just look throught the wheel at your pads to give you an unofficial opinion if they thought they were too thin, if they say they look fine then let them do the inspection. Isn't it only $10. or $15. dollars to do the inspection? In principal alone I would not change the pads. They will walk out and take a quick peek, have done it many times.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
From: Richmond Virginia
The OR post says something like when he called me ????? I don't leave my Vette . or Vallet it. I have known shops that have damaged cars just jacking it up ...be there and WATCH them !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: NOVA
I took it to Curry's at their Arlington location. People on here have had good luck at other locations so I thought that one would be ok as well. I usually take it to another shop down the road to where I live to get my cars inspected which has never given me any sort of problems.