Just Brakes in Lithia Springs, GA - On 5/15/04 I was hearing my brakes

Just Brakes in Lithia Springs, GA - On 5/15/04 I was hearing my brakes “squeal” at 81,778 miles, so I took it to an ASE brake specialist nearest my home

Just Brakes repairs/parts & service and Mitsubishi dealer service

I bought a 2000 Mitsubishi Mirage from CarMAX in Kennesaw, GA. and bought an extended warranty with MAXCARE at the dealership. On 5/15/04 I was hearing my brakes “squeal” at 81,778 miles, so I took it to an ASE brake specialist nearest my home that could see me on a Saturday, Just Brakes in Lithia Springs, GA.

At Just Brakes they informed that that it just wasn’t a situation of brake pads but that I needed a series of other things including calipers and that this type of work wasn’t usually covered by extended warranties. My car was dismantled and I was afraid to drive it without the work so I agreed to get it done. It cost $399. 92 but I was told to bring it back for a check up. They noted that the proportion valve was “questionable”. On 6/21/04 I was gain beginning to hear the squeaky/grinding metal to metal sound so I again took it to Just Brakes. This time the work done came up to $495.54 (with a discount based on their warranty) and I was told that the proportion valve and the master cylinder needed to be replaced in the future or the problem would continue and get worse. I had several days of dialogue with Just Brakes and the warranty company, MaxCare.

MaxCare told me that I should not have gone to Just Brakes because they used parts that were very hard and caused problems with the Mitsubishi system. There was also going to be a problem with the warranty, as an adjuster needed to come, inspect the care and then approve or disapprove the diagnosis and the work for the proportion valve and the master cylinder under the extended warranty (100,000 miles). After some going back and forth I decided to use the car until I again started having a brake problem and then take it to the dealer so I wouldn’t have a problem with having to pay for everything up front and waiting to get reimbursed. On 9/21/04 after again hearing the progressive “squealing and metal to metal sounds of my brakes, I dropped off my car at the Ed Voyles Mitsubishi dealer on Cobb Parkway. On 9/22/04 I spoke to Jeff Kurtz at the Service department who made it clear to me that the car brake system had been “contaminated” that the wrong fluid had been put in. He said that everything needed to be replaced including the master cylinder because it had a swollen cap. He also told me that the warranty company was going to send me back to Just Brakes because it was their work and they were the ones responsible.

However, he was going to call the warranty company so they could send an adjuster to review the car problem. He stated that the inspector would come in 24 hours from the time that they were requested and then if approved the parts had to be ordered by 1 o’clock so they could be there the next day. Once they had the parts the work would take about two hours. Mr. Kurtz tone of voice was arrogant and blaming and our exchange was tense and guarded. Later that afternoon I spoke with Mr Kurtz who indicated that he still had not heard from an adjuster and that he had called it in about 11am. After speaking with Mr. Kurtz, I called MaxCare to find out about the adjuster and I was told that an adjuster would see the car in 24 hours and that they had received the request at 1:51 pm. On 9/23/04, I received word from Mr. Kurtz that the adjuster had found nothing wrong with the master cylinder and proportion valve and that I should take it back to Just Brakes. To have the repairs done at my expense would cost me around $1,700 and they could not guarantee it because it would have calipers from Just Brakes.

At that point our discussion deteriorated into a fairly nasty exchange in which Mr. Kurtz accused me of blaming him and I accused him of not treating me as a customer. I told him that I felt that neither Mitsubishi, Maxcare, nor Just Brakes cared at all about fulfilling their responsibilities with me and that none of them stood behind their product. I also told him that if anything happened to me or my family members or any one else because of these brakes that they ( Mitsubishi, MaxCare and Just Brakes) would be responsible. I took my vehicle home and I am making arrangements to have it repaired.

T, Blanca Click this link to e-mail the above consumer: //

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I went to Just Brakes today (April 5, 2008) on Cobb Parkway in Smyrna. They also told me that my car had nonstandard brakes and that it would cost either $279 or $320 to have my brakes done (that certainly is not $99.00). In addition the guy kept calling me sweetie and telling me that I needed Caliphers (sp?) another $300 and that my brake light was on as I needed to bleed the system for $39.00. I had them to put my car back together and I left. Why? Because when I asked why the price difference he could not look in my face let alone my eye while he attempted to explain why. Additionally, I told him that I called autozone and was given prices that was much cheaper than what he provided for brake parts. (You should also know that he told me he would never use Autozone or Advance Auto parts because they are substandard (which I have bought parts from these places before without problems. Furthermore, he named out a brand that I called Advance Auto about and they had it for half the price he was charging me for the parts alone (keep in mind that Advance was charging me a retail price so I would think that as a business (i.e. mass parts purchaser) Just Brakes could do even better than I!)Finally, I have a friend who's husband is a mechanic. I called him afterwards and he will look at my car tomorrow. Moreover, he told me that customers from Just Brakes are always coming into the national auto mechanic shop where he works and when he checks their cars they don't need anything near what they have been told. Finally, he said that they reel you in with the $99.00 and the customers end up paying $4/5/600.00!!! There is sooo much more I could say but why bother?!!!! I am very disappointed, to say the least, with these types of business practices and I think that it is time for regulatory bodies to send in mystery shoppers and judge for themselves!

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Funny thing... My wife just called and said her calipers were shot on her 2002 Honda Accord. The total cost was around 341. This was from the Just Brakes in Snellville, GA. The $99 hook is just that. A BIG HOOK. The only difference is that I demanded them put our car back together without any charge. It's a shame that business can't earn a honest dollar.