Any decent shops in Socal area?

[robbie]

Just wanted to know if any one knows any decent garage or shops in Socal area. I haven't had much luck with the places I've been to so far.

 

Basically ended up paying $600 to replace leaking axle seals from two shops cuz the first one couldn't fix it right and replaced one axle with a used one without changing any of the wheel and drum housing components.

 

Paid $400 at the second shop to fix the seals and replaced the other axle. They worked on the bad brake components and told me that it's fixed. After taking it back a few times for them to tell me my brakes are fine (which it obviously wasn't) drove with it for a year and got into an accident that costed me $700 (to fix the other car, my truck is still banged up.)

 

Took it to shop C to get the brakes looked at and they wanted to charge me $800 to change rotors, new pads/shoes and to fix one bad wheel cylinder.

 

This is after shopping around.

 

I think the phrase "you get what you pay for" doesn't quite apply to me and the pathy...

[muttmobile]

socal is quite a large area...i'm located in woodland hills and have been taking my cars to Pat's Auto Clinic in Reseda for most of the problems i can't figure out myself. Pat's just got a little dinky shop and he doesn't always have the best bed-side manor or prices, but i've found him to be very trustworthy. on at least 4 different occasions he's worked on my car and charged me nothing, and he's also given me advice so that i can fix the problems on my own.

 

but again, he's not always the best communicator, sometimes a bit gruff (i've seen him get downright nasty with a snap-on tools rep) and may leave you standing and waiting for annoying amounts of time...got to take the good with the bad i suppose.

 

al

[robbie]

That's a really weird coincidence. I mean yeah LA is huge but I'm also in Woodland Hills. That is great about the place in Reseda. The guy sounds like a character. Man as long as I don't have to deal with another slimy mechanic who lures you in with a good price then try to milk you dry while your car's in pieces that is fine by me. He actually sounds like an angel.

 

That is awesome that you could actually help. Thanks!

 

Hey were you the guy I tried to sell my Bilstein shocks to a few years back? I think I remember mentioning this site to you. If you used to park your truck on MaryLee hope the site helped you out. Now you're helping me out. That would be funny if you are that guy.

Edited December 21, 2006 by robbie

[muttmobile]

That's a really weird coincidence. I mean yeah LA is huge but I'm also in Woodland Hills. That is great about the place in Reseda. The guy sounds like a character. Man as long as I don't have to deal with another slimy mechanic who lures you in with a good price then try to milk you dry while your car's in pieces that is fine by me. He actually sounds like an angel.

 

That is awesome that you could actually help. Thanks!

 

Hey were you the guy I tried to sell my Bilstein shocks to a few years back? I think I remember mentioning this site to you. If you used to park your truck on MaryLee hope the site helped you out. Now you're helping me out. That would be funny if you are that guy.

glad i could help with the suggestion.

 

yeah, i've had my fill of slimy mechanics, that's why i've tried to learn to do as much as i can myself. i once had a brake shop (before i could do my own brakes) tell me i needed $900 worth of brake repair and that my car was in such bad condition i shouldn't even drive away from the shop (this was in San Diego). well i did drive away, and that weekend i took a trip up here and brought my car to Pat's. he pulled off my wheels, told me my brakes were fine for at least another 6 months, and sent me on my way.

 

no, i'm not the same guy who was going to buy your shocks, though when i do need replacements (for my expy or pathfinder) i'll most likely be getting bilsteins.

 

al