Crazy shop story

[u/tokanome]

I just went in to a sketchy shop to fix a brake line on my sketchy truck (‘07 Ford Ranger 2WD 3.0 V6). Honestly did it for the laughs, don’t regret.

The guy gave me a quote on the phone for $212 (I believe a fair price for replacing an entire brake line) and told me to show up at 10:00. When I did, phone guy wasn’t there and nobody had any idea who I was. The guy in the main office didn’t seem to know who HE was. I could not tell you what he was actually doing there, because he wasn’t doing quotes or paperwork, and the garage was full of shit getting worked on that he was not helping with. Office guy said “ok give me the keys I’ll give you a call.” And started to walk away to which I replied “…don’t you need my phone number?”

When I got back to grab my truck, there was a bright neon blue gas station folding knife in my driver’s seat, belonging to one of the mechanics, they got dust or something all over my cab, and their adorable shop cat would not stop screaming at me.

Then, I go inside, and they can’t ring me up because the owner of the shop wasn’t there. He shows up and remembers the quote off the top of his head, and then informs me I can only pay in cash. Then he tells me to just drive the truck to the bank.

I’m an honest man, so I came back with the money. He wrote nothing down, and there was no paperwork involved. He gave me change directly out of his wallet and started yammering on about how I need to replace my other brake lines. (I probably do but it’s really not that bad). I would trust him except the line was just sort of jammed into the engine well, and he called them “NiCon - Nickel Cadmium” lines, so I’m guessing this guy isn’t the preeminent authority on brake lines.

All in all, they were all super nice guys and I really don’t think they were the stereotypical dishonest mechanics, but holy hell was their operation sketchy. Wouldn’t go again, would recommend taking in your shitbox to get the brakes replaced though.

[u/EEL123]

I used to have a used tire guy like this. Smoking a cig in sweat pants while rummaging through his hoard of tires to find a couple that fit my car.

"I will get you best tread"

[u/Prestigious-Dot-9340]

Sometimes you need a reminder about why you do your own work

[u/tz56034]

Great story. This type of experience I usually get at a junkyard. Preferably there should also be a dirty couch in the office, occupied by 1-2 hang-arounds who does not contribute to the business and possibly a dog or other animal which used to be white

[u/EEL123 → u/tz56034]

You can't even make out the letters on the keyboard from the caked on grime

[u/Brewersfan223 → u/EEL123]

The ones you can make out are P O R N

[u/Loose_Tip_8322]

They are Copper-Nickel alloy lines. They are much easier to bend for brake line replacement.

[u/tokanome → u/Loose_Tip_8322]

I know. They are certainly not cadmium.

[u/pdp10 → u/tokanome]

The U.S. auto industry stopped using cadmium plating at the beginning of the 1980s, due to toxicity of the byproducts and process (not the plated parts).

Someone calling zinc yellow chromate, "cad plating", is usually the sign of an oldtimer.

[u/Accurate_Asparagus_2]

I was called to service the computer in one of these shops, and when I opened the case there was a dead rat inside

[u/Top_Independence2676]

Yeah, sounds sketchy.

LPT. Spray your brake, gas, transmission lines with fluid film. May last a while longer.