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I went to a national tire chain (name withheld pending how this goes) to have my new tires put on today. The clown that balanced my wheels put the wheel weights on the wrong location in the wheels and didn't spin the tire to check that everything was OK before driving it out and handing over the keys. Damage already done. I drove the car a short distance before stopping to check the noise that I thought was just a sticker still on the tire or something that would go away.
Now I have scrapes and gouges on the upper and lower parts of both my front brake calipers! I got a quote from the dealer for new replacement front calipers as I was going straight there for an alignment anyway and they're talking about $3,500 + tax installed with new hoses. 🤯 I'm looking around online and it seems Centric may have made remans at some point but I can't find anyone that stocks them and it appears the new powder coating would NOT have the ///AMG logos. I'm absolutely not OK with this! I love those logos on the calipers. I doubt the insurance would buy used ebay rotors as it's a safety item, but I'm sure they're gonna try to find an angle away from $3500 for new calipers.
The shop admitted fault and I took numerous photos before and after they took the wheels off and moved the location of the weights and a couple videos driving to show the noise and video of them removing the wheels to fox the problem and immediately going in to show the damage as soon as the wheel came off.
The shop was absolutely refusing to give me any copy of an incident report or anything of the sort. After getting into an argument the manager wrote in the back of his business card that a claim had been filed for 2 front calipers.
Anyone ever experience or hear of something like this before? I appreciate any advice and may look to my own insurance to see if they'd subrogate if needed. I'm worried this won't go smoothly.
I think needing new calipers is a bit of a stretch. I'd say you could just have them cleaned up and painted / powder coated to not only clean those dirty *** calipers up, but to smooth out the finish.
To be clear, I'm asking the best way to fix this mess. Are the AMG logos on the original calipers stickers or were they under clear coat on them? I don't believe they're stickers. I'm picky about my repairs and do things once and do them right. I don't want to deal with some guys back yard oven in the garage powder coat that will flake and peel in short order. I want something that will last equivalent to what I had when I went into that shop and look good.
I went out in the 90 degree heat and gave it a real quick clean up for the haters. Lol
I've owned the car 9 years now and have put about 25k on it. It's one of 5 cars and a motorcycle I own. It's a garage queen that sits at least several months a year. I love the damn thing and I'm mad I took it in in great shape and this BS had to happen. I've owned this car at least twice as long as any other car I've owned because I absolutely love it. Yes, I'm pretty salty my calipers got tore up!
I would visit my favourite body shop. I think a good sand and a repaint would be your best bet but I can't see them reapplying the AMG logo. They may want to fully disassemble them for painting or they may just mask off the pistons. If you want it absolutely perfect then new ones are the only option if you can find someone willing to pay for them.
Personally, I would just get a caliper paint kit and touch those scratches up. I'm pretty picky too, but can't imagine those are very visible with the wheels mounted. My experience has been that when I try to be a perfectionist and get things back to 100% (like re-painting or powder-coating the calipers), other things go wrong. Just my $0.02.
Reminds me of when I had a wheel refinished on my M roadster because of a 1" scratch. Less than a week later I drove into a curb late at night and ended up with a 6" curb mark. Doh!
That's definitely one of my fears. If I get it powdercoated with my luck it will start to crack or flake off or something. Same with paint. Will I be making a bigger mess screwing with it?? Will the logoend up crooked or the wrong font or something else crazy? I just want my nice good looking factory original calipers. I don't want them red or green or anything else. I'm quite happy with how the car is from the factory.
Personally, I feel your pain....... But if I was in your shoes, I would 1.) Simply sand down the rough areas, and 2.) Have a guy airbrush the damaged areas with the correct color paint.
That saves your AMG logos,and will save you not only money but time as well. and 3.) It's a simple fast fix. And 4.) You shouldn't even be able to tell anything was wrong, when it's all done.
I know the frustration. I've had mavis tire strip out a lug on my passat, one time. Manager say's no way his tech did it. I told him; I came in with 5 lug blots and am leaving with 4. I actually watched the guy, he had the tire on the rotor with one bolt just started (he did not have the center bore aligned correctly, he didn't use bolt starter tool) he let go of the tire and turned away (to grab another bolt). The weight of the wheel ripped out the threads and the wheel dropped from chest height bounced back and got the tech in the gut. I filed with corporate after the shop manager denied responsibility. They told me to take it back to the same shop and they would resolve. Needless to say I took care it myself. I now will rarely use any big chain for my cars. Very Important to have an indy and a body guy you trust.
As for your situation.... call the corporate office and see what they offer. You may be able to have it fixed and they pick up the tab. Otherwise I'm with yullie36,cfmistry,etc.... sand paper, a rattle can of high temp paint , clear coat and maybe some new decals from ebay (they are cheap). Sucks your out time, thankfully your expense is negligible.
To each his own If you got one, great. If not, painting is all in the prep. I bet I can lay down caliper paint with a rattle can and when it's mounted behind the rim.....you won't be able to tell
Sucks man, Ive stopped going to the tire shops, bought my own tire machine
I think you can get by with having them refinished. Get a quote from a powder coater, or whoever you can find that will redo them and demand that as a compromise to the tire people. Im guess that will be in the 350 range. If they say no, then file a BBB complains for the full value.
Then just sand them down, and spray them your self, get decals from ebay.
So to be clear, that damage was caused by the wheel weights being in the incorrect place and striking the calipers because of a lack of clearance?
Correct. The shop pulled wheels back off and moved weights where they used to be and they now clear. A friend that works at this chain says it is policy to spin the tire before lowering the vehicle. Clearly this wasn't done.
If they say no, then file a BBB complains for the full value
The BBB is a joke and won't do anything.
It sucks, but I think OP is over reacting. Leave it or get some touch up paint to put on them. No one is going to notice. If they really gave a **** about their calipers they wouldn't have let them get that dirty.
My front calipers are currently at a powder coating shop. 60$ each for prep + coating + sticker and a coat of clear. I highly suggest you do that the results are quite amazing.
AE? Wheel balance did that?! Defo did not think that is possible as they're both attached to the hub! Learn something new every day...better get my buckled front fixed!! Lol..
AE? Wheel balance did that?! Defo did not think that is possible as they're both attached to the hub! Learn something new every day...better get my buckled front fixed!! Lol..
See the reply from the OP two posts or so up, the weights didn’t have proper clearance. Not the wheel being improperly balanced. I had to ask for clarification too haha
My front calipers are currently at a powder coating shop. 60$ each for prep + coating + sticker and a coat of clear. I highly suggest you do that the results are quite amazing.
Please post some photos of the calipers after their powder coated. So that we all can see the great job they've done to them. I'm curious to see the final results.
Please post some photos of the calipers after their powder coated. So that we all can see the great job they've done to them. I'm curious to see the final results.
turned out real nice. I removed all the seals prior and replaced them with new.
One thing to watch out is the pad fitment after the powder coating since it adds quite a thick coat where the pads slides.
Also I had to follow the brake bleeding procedure with the STAR as I had to move the car around without the front calipers installed. At your own risks ha.
07-01-2019, 06:01 PM
They told me to take it back to the same shop and they would resolve.
Needless to say I took care it myself.
I now will rarely use any big chain for my cars. Very Important to have an indy and a body guy you trust.
If you got one, great. If not, painting is all in the prep. I bet I can lay down caliper paint with a rattle can and when it's mounted behind the rim.....you won't be able to tell
