I try to help you out and this is the thanks I get....

[98TransAmWs-6]

So I was trying to help a friend out by changing their rear brake pads, on their 2004 Kia Spectra. The caliper was on so tight I had to use my impact gun to get the bolts out. It turned out the pistons in the calipers required a special tool to go back in the caliper. I didn't have one so I put it back together for a shop to fix it. Apparently the brakes were way worse after I gave it back to them. Upon taking it to the shop apparently it required the brakes to be flushed and the right caliper was messed up so a bunch of things needed replacing. The bill was $1078 for a glorified pad change in the rear. Now that person is blaming me for the damage. Not asking me to pay it though, yet. I only looked at one brake and the brakes were extremely corroded and I am sure that and how over torqued the caliper was, it was the only reason they could really stop without stomping on it. I did everything correctly and this may actually end our friendship, I hope not but it may. I will never help them out again. Am I out of the box or are they just being ridiculous?

[SMWS6TA]

give it a few days for him to come to reason before calling it quits on a friendship. See if he comes around and is just blowing off some steam that the shop probably threw you under the bus to justify the costs.

The guy should have taken this as an opportunity to say "Damn that's expensive, maybe next time I service my vehicles on time and maybe, just maybe learn a thing or two about cars"



I had a "shop helper" from a self help auto shop on the naval base cost me $560 for a new bell housing from QTP because he cracked mine trying to pull the tranny on to the BH. He said he didn't know it was aluminum. I was refunded my $20 bay time for the screw up...

[Hi-Po]

Many calipers are that style. Sounds like you didn't know how to properly complete the job, your fault, not your friends.

Special tool is nothing more then this little gem.

You tried to do a good thing, props to you for attempting to help a friend.

[SMWS6TA]

^^^

one more reason to not own a KIA

[98TransAmWs-6]

Many calipers are that style. Sounds like you didn't know how to properly complete the job, your fault, not your friends.

Special tool is nothing more then this little gem.

You tried to do a good thing, props to you for attempting to help a friend.

The tool looked like the cube with tabs sticking out to screw in the piston, since the piston had slots in it. I did know how to do it, I just didn't have the tool. Also the friend is a girl.

[Hi-Po]

The tool required looked different. It looked like a cube with tabs sticking out to screw in the piston, since the piston had slots in it. I did know how to do it, I just didn't have the tool. Also the friend is a girl.

Is the tool in the video not a cube with tabs sticking out of it?

[98TransAmWs-6]

The tool required looked different. It looked like a cube with tabs sticking out to screw in the piston, since the piston had slots in it. I did know how to do it, I just didn't have the tool. Also the friend is a girl.

Is the tool in the video not a cube with tabs sticking out of it?

I mistyped, what I saw first was the one next to it in the default picture before you press play.

[SiggyZ]

I own a Kia.

^^^

one more reason to not own a KIA

[SMWS6TA]

I own a Kia.

I'm sorry......

[98TransAmWs-6]

I own a Kia.

I'm sorry......

Agreed

[SiggyZ]

I'm not, it's a very good car. More reliable than my Camaro. Have you ever had one?

I'm sorry......

- - - Updated - - -

Have you ever had one?

Agreed

[98TransAmWs-6]

I'm not, it's a very good car. More reliable than my Camaro. Have you ever had one?

I'm sorry......

- - - Updated - - -

Have you ever had one?

Agreed

Not a Kia but a Hyundai and I dislike it very much. My Dodge's build quality is much better imo.

[dav-02ws6-m6]

One time I was doing the brakes on my sister's Hyundai and I didn't know you had to have a special tool to make the caliper go back in. Needless to say I messed up the caliper, The good thing was that the caliper was only 50 bucks. As far as friends go I do not work on their car cause of the same reason you are mentioning.

[98TransAmWs-6]

One time I was doing the brakes on my sister's Hyundai and I didn't know you had to have a special tool to make the caliper go back in. Needless to say I messed up the caliper, The good thing was that the caliper was only 50 bucks. As far as friends go I do not work on their car cause of the same reason you are mentioning.

Which I have discovered the hard way. Oh well lessons learned huh?

[SiggyZ]

How old is your Hyundai? And Dodge? That's very odd to read.

Not a Kia but a Hyundai and I dislike it very much. My Dodge's build quality is much better imo.

[98TransAmWs-6]

2007 Hyundai and 2006 Dodge

[SiggyZ]

Hyundai's and Kia's are nothing like they were 2007. In fact, they're a great deal different today. Mine's a 2011 Forte.

2007 Hyundai and 2006 Dodge

[98TransAmWs-6]

Hyundai's and Kia's are nothing like they were 2007. In fact, they're a great deal different today. Mine's a 2011 Forte.

2007 Hyundai and 2006 Dodge

That may be but I wouldn't know about the 2011+s. The Forte does look nice but I would still prefer my Daytona.

[SMWS6TA]

Pre 2011 I would never consider owning them......

[Hi-Po]

One time I was doing the brakes on my sister's Hyundai and I didn't know you had to have a special tool to make the caliper go back in. Needless to say I messed up the caliper, The good thing was that the caliper was only 50 bucks. As far as friends go I do not work on their car cause of the same reason you are mentioning.

Sounds like what happened with the OP. If it was me, I would pay for it.

OP - Doesn't sound like you knew how to properly complete the job, after all, you did screw up the right caliper attempting to push the piston back in. If you were a shop owner, and one of your tech's did this... would you not have to cover the cost of a new caliper because your tech screwed it up? Except here, you're the shop owner and the tech, and you did the job pro bono. If this friendship means something, I would cover my screw up, apologize and move on.