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Just Brakes

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Craig of Auburn, GA December 24, 2009

I had my brakes done with the intention of getting their 99 special. After all was said and done it costed 248.00. less than a month later the brakes were grinding I tried going back to Just Brakes but the store that I had the work done was no longer open. I took my car to a diferant place and found that Just brakes had not done anything to my brake system but put new pads on and my rotors needed to be replaced at this time.

Kathy of Brandon, FL December 12, 2009

I took my vehicle in to Just Brakes for routine brakes on October 17, 2009 (270.53) This was the 99 special. Less than 2 months later the brakes sound like a school bus and when I took it back for warranty work, I was told today, Dec.12, 2009,that there was damage done to the system when the new brakes were put on and they would cheerfully fix it for another 400. Which I declined. So, now I drive a vehicle with faulty, screaming brakes that are worse than when I took them in initially. I intend to file a complaint with the better business bureau if this is not resolved.

Stephanie of Allen, TX December 3, 2009

My car hit 60k miles and the brakes were starting to squeak. So seeing the fantastic deal Just Brakes advertised I decided to take my car in. This is how I learned the "cheap" comes out expensive. So of course after dropping off my car they phone me to say that my brakes have numerous things wrong with them: Corrosion on the discs, bad calipers, and of course the pads were "special order", but they happened to have them on hand.

So my 99.00 brake job turned into a 360.00 brake job and I wasn't about to pay that. My sister had the same experience where they were wanting to fix the calipers and she refused and had no issues. So I refused the caliper repair and corrosion repair. They informed me that by refusing the additional repairs that I voided the warranty on the brakes. Fine. So they replaced my brake pads for 155.00 having upcharged me the "specialty brakes".

This was in March 2009. It is now December 2009 and my "new" brakes are completely shot after a whopping 8,000 miles of use! I had noticed my brakes were still squeaking and figured they just needed time to break in. I recently took a trip w/ my family and started smelling the brakes burning and I had brake dust all over my rims.

I took the car into another shop and they told me that my brakes were completely worn out and this was because they are crappy pads. They also said there was absolutely nothing wrong with my Calipers either and there was no corrosion on the disk. So I forked over 260.00 to get some quality brakes with a LIFETIME warranty.

NEVER take your car to Just Brakes. They are absolutely crooked and that 99 special is just to lure you in and have them rip you off by trying to get you to fix things that do not need fixing to make a buck. And be warned that when you refuse to have them fix the most likely bogus repairs, then they void out the warranty on the brakes. They use [bad] pads and upcharge you for stuff that does not need to be repaired in order to void out the brake warranty. My brakes lasted only 8 months/8,000 miles before they were shot.

Nelda of Plano, TX November 24, 2009

I took my car in to JUST BRAKES for the 99.00 brake deal because I'd felt a vibration when I braked at high speeds. After about 3 hours, Bobby phoned to say that in addition to my needing brakes, the calipers needed to be rebuilt; front 109, rear 120. And replace disk hardware, 85.00, bleed and refill the lines, 39.50 for a total of about 440.00. I stated I'd get back to him in a minute. He said, 'he'd be glad to talk with whomever I was consulting so they could understand what was needed' (Bobby had been condescending from the very beginning). He also said the struts were leaking and needed to be replaced. After I hung up from "Bobby," I called my local Toyota Dealership. Among other things, they said, "WHY would anyone want to rebuild a caliper?"

I called "Bobby" back and said to put my car back together and I'd pick it up. He said I should not drive the car very far or very fast because my brakes were worn to less than 10%. Next day, I took my 1999 Avalon to the Toyota dealership. Guess what! I did not need brakes! The vibration I felt was the ABS kicking in. Front brakes were at 30%, rear at 40%. Toyota also said that the struts were just fine.

Norman of Canton, GA September 23, 2009

In April, 2009, we took our PT Cruiser for brakes. We've spent a total of 448.68. I have since had my vehicle in for inspection due to the squeeks in the brakes. Each time, we were reassured that the problem was fixed;however the same date of pick up the brakes started squeeking again. We've been very patient but my car sounds worse than it did before I had new brakes installed. I called today to complain & requested a refund. To availabe their customer "no-service" got me no where. I'm at a point, that I will take my business elsewhere & then file a civil law suit against them to recuperate my money.

Melanie of Decatur, GA September 15, 2009

Just Brakes has been advertising heavily on the radio locally regarding their 99.00 special for all four brakes and machining the rotors so I called because I noticed my car doesn't stop as well as it used to. The day before I had gone to express oil change and lube to check to see if I should get a tune up. We looked under the hood together, everything looked normal and determined all was fine. I called Just Brakes and asked about the brake special. I was told that my car would cost 299.00 rather than 99.00 because it is a Jaguar. Was instructed to bring it in for an estimate.

I brought my car in and was given forms to sign before they would even inspect it. The technicians put my car on a lift, popped the hood and began working. After 15 minutes I was called over and shown a brake vacuum booster hose that was leaking air. It was very loud. I was told that it could be fixed fir 225.00 and that I needed both rotors and pads at a cost of 400.00. Of course, the day before there was no loud hissing noise under the hood. I told the tech. To put the car back together so I could leave because I didn't plan to spend that kind of money.

I walked away to wait and after another 15 minutes I was called over to the car again. This time I was shown wires that had been cut on the idler air control valve connector. I am told that this can be fixed for approx. 200.00. I am informed that it is dangerous to druve thae car and that the dealer will charge meva lot more than 800.00 if I take it to them. I told them thst since I am the only person with keys to my vehicle and just looked under the hood a day ago, I could not fathom how anyone could have cut the wires under my hood. I told them to put the car down and put the parts back on so I could go.

The technician acted as if he was surprised and proceeded to tell me that if I called him after hrs and came back to the shop with the parts I needed he could fix the car for me at a discounted rate. He followed me and gave me a card with his personal number. It took another 30 Minutes before my car was ready to go. The tech gave me a part that came from my car which he rigged up with a hose of some sort. He said he had to do this so I could take the part to a parts store and ask for the replacement. When I got back to my car, the brakes were worse than ever. The air conditioner was also not working properly. It kept alternating between hot and cold even though the temp was at 70. This had never happened before.

Sergiy of Tampa, FL September 12, 2009

This issue started as a need to change the brake pads and shoes on my Toyota Corolla 04 as the Toyota dealer indicated that I only had a few millimeters on pads left. Toyota dealer (Toyota of Tampa Bay) charges 190 for this service and I thought I would save 90 if I turn to Just Brakes. The brake system itself did not have any other issues other that the indication of the little life left on the pads.

When I brought my car to JustBrakes the service manager L. Nation inspected my brake system and in addition to the basic service of 100 for changing the pads and shoes wrote other issues that WERE PRESENT with my car: cracked calipers which could compromise safety, wheel cylinders, disc hardware for front and rear wheels, and adjusting brake system with total estimate of additional 681.95. I declined that service because I did not believe my car had these problems. The only service I got from the company is the basic service 100 which includes front pads, rear shoes.

Immediately after such a repair I had a squealing noise when braking. I called the facility and they told me it's normal and after first 300 miles it should be gone. I called them back when I put 800 miles on my car as the squealing did not go away and then brought the car for inspection to the facility. I was told that "since my calipers were cracked it was normal to hear such noise" and I would need to pay 169.50 per caliper, or 339 total to change the calipers to fix the problem. On my question why it did not squeal before the fix L. Nation said "I don't know". I am not a mechanic and don't know if the problem really existed but the whole situation seemed weird.

I went back to Toyota dealership and asked to inspect the brake system and showed them report from JustBrakes. After inspection the dealship gave me a report stating that the car did not have any other problems than the aftermarket pads installed by JustBrakes. Nothing was wrong with the calipers and the other parts mentioned by JustBrakes are extremely rare to break and be replaced. They showed genuine surprise for the number of parts that JustBrakes wanted to replace. Basically Toyota dealer said that JustBrakes were trying to sell me parts that my car did not need.

at this point the only service I will need is to redo the brake job - the basic service for 190 which should fix the issue with squealing noise. My initial intention was to save money but it seems I am only overpaying. When I came back to JustBrakes they did not want to read the report from Toyota dealer and just gave me a number to contact customer service, which shows how much they care for their customers.

Steve of Seffner, FL September 4, 2009

I should have known better but I sent the girlfriend to Just Brakes here in Tampa to get the 100 special they advertise to do all four corners. She calls me from the store saying they want 352. She proceeds to tell me how the Manager took her over to her car, ran his finger through a bronze colored grease, wiped it on her tire and said, look, your brakes are leaking... we need to replace the bla bla bla. Anyway, we all know that bronze grease comes from the bearing, not the hydrolics. I got the manger on the phone, called him out on it and he denied doing it. I told him to put her car back together and let her go. What a farse. I felt so bad for sending her there without me.

On a little bit better of a note, I took my car there 2 years ago for the same special. I had 65,000 miles on the truck. They told me that I needed to spend about 400 becasue everything was broken. I told them to just give me the special for 100. They then told me I didn't need rear brakes. I told them to turn all my rotors and to put all my old pads in the bed of the truck as advertised. They unwantingly complied. Now I have 116,000 miles on the truck and all that stuff they said would blow up is still just fine. Geez what a scam.

Paul of Lorton, VA September 2, 2009

OK, this was 20 years ago, but when I told someone this story they found this company is still around. I was in the Army at Ft Hood 20 years ago. My car needed brakes. Just Brakes advertised a special that seemed fair. I took my my car (Dodge Champ)in & was told I needed about 400.00 to fix the problem. I was told the car needed brakes pads, rotors & drums. I wanted a 2nd opinion.

I took my car to the Dodge dealership. I spoke to a mechanic & he agreed to look at my car for free. He put the car on a lift & immediately called me over. He said, number one, they are trying to kill you. The nut to the brake calliper had been loosened & brake fluid was dripping out. The mechanic told me I did need brake pads & rotors. He showed me how to take them off & advised me take them to a machine shop for turning. He also told me nothing was wrong with the drums & he tightened the nut & replaced the fluid. Some places will do that for soldiers. I asked the mechanic if he would write his findings on a Company letter & write down he was a factory authorized mechanic.

I took the letter to Just Brakes & had some fun with them. After agreeing to pay for their service, I pulled the letter out. I was promptly asked to leave. This was years ago, probably 1985 or so. The reason why I wrote this was I have told this story to many people. I found many people with similar stories at Fort Hood. One was a soldier I worked with. He forced Just Brakes to do what their advertisment said. When he left, his front tire flew off & he tore up his car. He never did get them to pay for it. Another gentleman told me he worked at Just Brakes & quit because of all the needless work he was forced to do. He even told me they purposely gouged brakes drums, loosened callipes (like mine) & would leave lug nuts loose. Maybe they have cleaned their act, but I doubt it.

eddie of lubbock, TX August 5, 2009

took car for brake job on 7-10-09 and they put brakes and rotors never got turned so i drove for about a month and got a vibrating on my steering wheel when i put brakes on took it back to them on 7-30-09 for the brakes again had a friend look at brakes before and saw that rotors werent turned, that it caused the rotors to warp. when went back to just brakes they said it was bad tires doing the vibrating and shakin of steering wheel so went to mechanic and he looked test drove car and said rotors were bad he took wheels off and told me the same .,that rotors had never been turned and rotors were warped.

so i had to pay him for the brake and turning the rotors since just brakes was ignoring the problem ..i have photos of how rotors were when i took it back in and how there suppose to look when they were turned..now the car is drivg right without no shaking of steering wheel, and just brakes doesnt want to refund my money for what they were suppose to have done..i havae kids and was not gonna risk there lifes cause they want to give me the run around..i cant afford to be paying for a job that is not being properly conducted..

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