Diff Mounting Reinforcement - Poor Work?

[Ali King]

I have just had my diff chassis mountings reinforced. At least that is what I asked for.

The garage's quote included a charge for a "Chassis strengthening kit" and "Welding & fab materials".

However, I would very much appreciate opinions on what has actually happened.

My parts bill includes:

"1 x 140009K RE-INF KIT FR BRIDGE"

"1x 147400RK RE-INF KIT REAR X ME"

On checking suppliers catalogues, I see that these are the mounting pins and brackets. However (see photos below) there is no evidence of these having been fitted.

Also, I am not sure how well the bracket reinforcing has been done. Some of the boxing in bits don't seem to have a great deal of weld.

I would very much appreciate knowledgable input on this to give me confidence before raising the issues with the garage. 

[stuart]

Job to see much with those pictures but they certainly havent replaced the pin that can be seen in the first picture, the others just look like a load of body shutz sprayed round and the third doesnt look as if anything has been done.

Its difficult to do this job properly without lifting the body though.

This is re-enforcing. Same done to the rear bridge too.

Stuart.

Edited January 18, 2022 by stuart

[trchris]

Hi Ali

I'm with Stuart on this doesn't look as if there's been much reinforcing done just plenty of underseal

hope your both well

Chris  

[Waldi]

I think all is said above. The pin is the old one. I replaced all 4 (2 were broken).

But tbh I don’t think you can expect a quality job without lifting the body.

3rd picture shows a reinforcing bracket (I think), but I see no welds at the top of this plate, so it is not very effective.

Waldi

[Andy Moltu]

Access is fiddly and there is little evidence of much work being done.

[boxofbits]

I’d concur with the above comments. Rusted pins and surrounding metal, no evidence of new metal or welding. I’d go one further than poor work and say no work judging by the photos. I assume they charged for labour?

It’s fair if the garage say they can’t do it without lifting the body etc, but if they’ve given you the impression it’s been done, and charged you, that’s another matter altogether.

Kevin

[mike ellis]

Who did the work, not based in Hykeham by any chance?

[Ali King]

Hi all, and thanks for your responses.

To be clear, I was not actually expecting the pins and their mounts to be replaced (neither was the garage), but was confused by what were erroneous items on the invoice. It was just the front pins/mounts to be reinforced. So it is just the quality of repair to the front dif mounts at issue.

I am now in discussion with the garage (who to be fair seem to be as dissapointed as me) and I'm hopeful of a satisfactory outcome.

Ali.

[Ali King]

Happy outcome.

It is often said that the measure of a business is how they deal with any problems that arise (as they ocassionaly do).

Well the company in question have excelled in this. They immediately acknowledged that the work wasn't up to their high standards (and there was a genuine, unfortunate reason for this).

They took the car back immediately, stripped it back, then carried out an excellent welding/strenghening job (over and above what I might have expected), and kept me involved. The icing on the cake is that the car was given back to me with a shiny new SS silencer in place of the old rusty mild steel one. Gratis.

So they have turned an initially sceptical customer into an enthusiastic advocate.

Thank you TR Enterprises of Blidworth. I wouldn't hesitate to recommened them to anyone.

Alistair.

[stillp]

Good result! Great recommendation for TR Enterprises.

Pete

[iain]

…….but what was the excuse for  the unsatisfactory work in the first place? 

 

[Motorsport Mickey]

1 hour ago, iain said:

…….but what was the excuse for  the unsatisfactory work in the first place? 

 

Not for us to bother about.

Even the best workshops occasionally carry out work which is doubtful, as long as they acknowledge they have screwed it up and make sure the work is remedied without cost to the owner and he is not inconvenienced that's all anybody can ask for. In fact, it gives the offending firm a chance to shine (not suggesting they do it badly just to reclaim it). The facts are owners build confidence from firms who examine claims against themselves and then acknowledge they muffed it up and sort out the debris from it, there are too many firms who don't ever entertain they do anything wrong.

Mick Richards 

[Hamish]

40 minutes ago, Motorsport Mickey said:

Not for us to bother about.

Even the best workshops occasionally carry out work which is doubtful, as long as they acknowledge they have screwed it up and make sure the work is remedied without cost to the owner and he is not inconvenienced that's all anybody can ask for. In fact, it gives the offending firm a chance to shine (not suggesting they do it badly just to reclaim it). The facts are owners build confidence from firms who examine claims against themselves and then acknowledge they muffed it up and sort out the debris from it, there are too many firms who don't ever entertain they do anything wrong.

Mick Richards 

+1

[iain]

Sorry disagree…the owner was charged for a job, that he trusted had been done to a satisfactory standard. Had he not inspected the work, he would be none the wiser……….good job he could see the issue.

 

Iain

[ntc]

But there is a saying if a job’s worth doing do it right first time, and many times I have seen nice house but bad foundations. 

[ianc]

I agree with Iain - had Ali not carried out an inspection, then the unsatisfactory work would not have been uncovered.

There are certain jobs where an owner may not be able to carry out an inspection (difficult access, owner not able to get beneath car) or is not competent to pass judgement.

One trusts a reputable firm to carry out work to a high standard; here, this was not the case.

Ian Cornish

[Hamish]

i do see the point and yes i am a satisfied customer  i commissioned them work after i had undertaken "due diligence " and asked previous customers.

but for me it's the measure of the company as to how they rectify and issue.

every company will have issues, car companies have recalls, aircraft have issues despite what i understand to be the most robust  QC, the space industry etc etc

its what they do about it, and systems in place to protect from it happening again,  is the thing for me.

 

and it appears that the OP has a similar view and he is now "enthusiastic advocate"

you folks can of course choose your own specialist to spend your hard earned....

oh and i don't get discount i had to pay real money* 

 

 

 

 

except for the conrods that I got for free from Maxpeeding