Canadian Tire Automotive Service Trouble..need some mechanics opinions

[timex69]

hey guys
Im having some trouble with the local canadian tire mechanics shop and id like some advice from someone who has or does work as a mechanic.

I blew a brake line in the parking lot of canadian tire so i went in and asked if they would put my truck on the hoist so I could inspect my brake lines and decide on how I would like to go about fixing the problem.

After me and the mechanic had the truck on the hoist i realized it was rotten front to back. I got a quote for $390 plus the 2 flex hoses that go into the front calipers at $50 a peice. So i left and got a call at lunch today saying it was going to be a little more expensive and told them thats fine as long as all the lines are getting replaced front to back. i called them at 3 to see how it was coming and they said the mechanic just replaced one line and was trying to bleed the system when he busted another line and i said hang on a second i said i wanted all my lines replaced not leaky section cut out and replaced and pointed out every line on the truck I wanted replaced. I called again at 5 and they said they fixed the 2nd line and they were again bleeding the line and not replacing the front lines which are all ready to bust so i left work 3 hours early and headed into town where i got the service manager who told me my total was $610 the only line they had fixed was the line that goes from the 3 way union on the rear end to both the rear clipers and half the line running from the ABS module to the 3 way union in the rear leaving the whole front end untouched. Then i said how much more to get it all fixed and he said over $1000 plus tax then told me to come back in a few weeks to make it "financially easier" if that was too much so i said no drop it off the hoist n ill pick it up tomorrow at 9.

Im hoping someone on here could give me a rough figure if I went there shop how much would it be to simply replace every line..cut the old off and replace with brand new.

I filed a complaint with Canadian Tire on this issue and will hear more on this from them tomorrow. I think $1000 to replace brake lines is outragous and to claim they have 8 hours into fixing 2 brake lines is crazy.

[Mosh]

Depends on the truck. Newer Chevy Silverado's have, about 90 feet of brake tubing that takes about 8-10 hours to bend and fab each line and replace them all. You have to remove the inner fender well and so on.
Typically on those, the bill can reach $1200 or more depnding on if the calipers will come loose at the bleeders.
Ah yes..You can thank 4 wheel ABS for that extra money and amount of lines needed.

Most vehicles where I work, to replace all the lines and flex hoses can be anywhere from $600 to $ 1200 for the whole job getting them done right.
Some shops just jam a line anywhere, and zip tie it to the frame with little or no bends, leaving the old lines on the vehicle, a real cut throat repair that typically will cause the new lines to rub through prematurely..If they do the lines all half assed like that, then no, they should not cost that much.
But if you want them too look factory new, then be prepaired to pay.
I dont have the truck in front of me, or know what year or model you have, so I cant give you a ball park even.

[timex69]

mosh
my truck is a 2000. When your standing under it you can see the ABS module and access it from underneath just fine. and i see where your coming from though..to bend all the lines and replace them like factory can be time consuming but the shop wasnt even doing what I asked. But if 1000 isnt unreasonable mabe i should proceed with the work. Its just from 8-5 all they did was replace a few lines and kept trying to bleed the system when there was more faulty lines. I just feel like im paying for unrequested work. Thanks for the opinions.

[cox]

look man, your first mistake was taking it to canadian tire. you might as well get the walmart boyz to do it. The "mechanics" they have at canadian tire are all retarded or under 20. i have yet to have one goods experience with them. even the parts counter guys are straight retarded. most of the time they cant even find a frickin spark plug...

[RoscoW]

^^^^ What cox said. I only ever dealt with CT once, that was it forever.

Ross..

Here's an idea on material cost
http://www.inlinetube.com/

[timex69]

Yea ive herd it a milion times today and i agree canadian tire is the shits....i broke down at like 5 pm on a saterday not alot of shops open. i got burnt pretty good id keep yas posted how i fair out with the general maanger tomorrow.

[Rajunrick]

A 2000 model and you want the entire brake line system replaced? I can see it on an older truck, but on yours more than likely you just need to replace the flex lines on the front and rear if you have disc brakes on the rear, then flush all the lines out, and fill with fresh brake fluid and bleed. I have an 00 F150 and the hard lines are still good on it. I would try that first unless you just want to pay a high repair bill.

[brucewilliams]

had you tried MRF or Bridges tone tyres

[Woodsrider]

A 2000 model and you want the entire brake line system replaced? I can see it on an older truck, but on yours more than likely you just need to replace the flex lines on the front and rear if you have disc brakes on the rear, then flush all the lines out, and fill with fresh brake fluid and bleed. I have an 00 F150 and the hard lines are still good on it. I would try that first unless you just want to pay a high repair bill.

I would be willing to bet that rust is more of an issue in P.E.I. than it is in Louisiana. I have a 1999 Z-71 and my brake lines in the rear have all been replaced(from the master cylinder back). I don't live in P.E.I., but we use lots of salt on the roads here in the winter....it does nasty things under our vehicles.

Oh...BTW...I wouldn't take my truck to CTC for anything....not even an oil change...they burned me once when I was 17. Timing belt broke on my Chevette...they said I needed new pulleys and that they had to take the engine apart for that. I said NO...just put a new belt on. The belt broke in a week . I replace the belt on the side of the road myself and it lasted 3 more years. Never again.I'm pretty sure that they overtightened it or something..on purpose. That was CTC in Truro, N.S.

[Mosh]

Sounds like this is some form of a franchise auto repair business up in Canada.
Now I see. We have the same types of shops around here. National chain franchise stores, filled with teenage kids that couldnt fix a ham sandwhich.
Yeah, get the hell outta there, and go to a reputable private owned repair shop right away.

[Northman]

Agree first mistake was useing canadian tire. I find it interesting where ever you go now these are not licensed mechanics I always ask. Most big companies now like the tire, ford who ever train useing thier own certification. Its amazing the government allows some kid to fix your brakes where you could die and he has no license other than in house piece of paper.

[Dirtcrasher]

Can't make a Ham sandwhich sad but true........


Mental note to self - Do not buy truck with 4 wheel ABS

I know it isn't anything like yours, but I replaced the 2 brakelines on my Toyota,front to back, and they came pre-bent to fit around everything. Then bent them in half to ship them as they were about 14' long or something. Took me a few hours to replace them and bleed the system, I also replaced the grommets that held them (some of those bolts snapped of course) because I figured that the rust from the grommet would rust my lines out again. When I was done (although they were coated) I took a brush and some Rustoleum to them; I knew I'd have the truck another 10 years so it was preventative maintenance.

[timex69]

Well i went and sucked it up and payed the bill. I went to customer service and they docked an hour labour off my bill. It was 11 hours labour and 93 dollars in parts. they replaced the lines running to each rear wheel and then up half way to the abs module and the line from the master cylinder to the abs module. They didnt touch any of the rubber flex lines in the front. Bill was $620..and i was quoted half that. Now i have 2/3s of my lines left to fix myself and no money.

To the american readers...canadian tire is country wide franchise and yes about 3 licensed mechanics and 10 apprentises work there.

My local mechanic who i deal with when i dont have time or am not able to fix the problem myself quoted me at 400 front to back plus what the flex lines cost..he wasnt sure on a price on them.

[Woodsrider]

Well...chalk it up to experience...you're not the first and certainly won't be the last to regret going there. They are not ALL bad...but I find that it is more the rule than the exception.

[ilmoakw]

I wouldn't take a broken wheelbarrow to Canadian tire...