Just took my car in to have the brake squeal service bulletin done. No problem with the work except when I got the receipt it said they turned my rotors.

So I asked them why they turned the rotors on a 3.5 month old car that did not have scored/warped rotors.
Their reponse was that MAZDA told them to do it. Customers were giving them bad surveys (not fixed the first time) because they were leaving and complaining about a front end vibration after the service bulletin work was performed.

Sure they will vibrate a little until the new pads seat but the problem should go away. I dont think its correct for the service dept. to perform the rotor turning just because Mazda says so and to better their survey scores. I should have been informed they were going to do that work and why. My decision not theirs.

While they only took off a couple thousandths per side (they say), they did "age" my rotors without my permission.

Had they told me they might vibrate a little when I first get on em (I know that) and I could bring it back to get the rotors dressed, I would not have a problem.

Their service survey I do will not be pleasant for them now. What would you do?

 

If they did it gratis I wouldn't get too upset. (I doubt if "Mazda" told them to do it, though.) The freshly turned rotors will help your new pads seat in better.

Of course, if they charged for the rotor work, I would be pissed. It's probably a case of the well-known and oft-practiced techinque known as upselling in the business world. In other words, while they have the customers attention, sell them something they don't need. The use of this "marketing tool" is rampant these days, particularly in the auto service industry (IMHO, of course). Especially so when they are dealing with someone who knows little about auto mechanics.

 

Just goes to show how hard it is to please in the auto servicing business. I agree they should have fully described the scope of work with you before proceeding. That's why I always take the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" approach. The less people who touch the car the better because you don't know who you can trust. Even oil changes freak me out sometimes, especially when you hear about all the overfill stories.

 

Thanks for the post and info Valpac...I also have a 3 month old 8 with brake squeal. Going to check out the warranty service with MM so your feedback is well timed in my case.

 

No, they didnt charge me for the work (Wouldnt have paid it if they did). My point is this is my car, just do what I freakin ask, no more, no less. Thats not too difficult a concept is it?

I tried not to show too much displeasure as they are the "best" service dept in my area and I will probably need them in the future. (Hopefully not).

Next time I will give explicit instructions to them. If you have to deviate one iota from them, call me first.

 

I am pleased to report that after voicing my concern to the service manager, he offered to replace my rotors under warranty. Excellent service response!

 

That's great, glad it worked out for you. I called MM in Sing and they said I just needed to replace my pads.....under warranty of course

 

Exactly. If rotors are undamaged and relatively new, there is no need to turn 'em.

 

Probably true, but I would always lathe the rotors whenever replacing the pads, regardless of mileage.
There just isn't justification in not doing it since it is cheap insurance against vibration and improperly seated pads.
The "wear" to the rotors from turning them is minimal compared to the wear on the suspension bushings from a vibrating hub assembly.

 

which may be good practice, however.. When I asked the service mgr how many times they turn em before having to replace the rotors, he said 2! Two !?! That means that he cut the life of my rotors in half? Unacceptable practice to prevent a problem that may not show up anyway.

 

Lathing your rotors 3 or 4 times won't even cut their life in half.
The maximum allowable variation is .015mm. The minimum thickness is 22mm for the front and 16mm for the back.
Brand new the front are 24mm thick.
In other words, the lating took off 2/1000 of the total useable rotor thickness.

 

2 mm = .079 in. divided by two (each side) Approx. .040 can be taken off each side before trashing the rotor. So IF (big if there) they only take off .002 per side, that would mean that you can turn a rotor 20 times before its too thin. Never seen a rotor able to take that many turnings before its junk. Therefore, each cut is probably far more than .002 per side.

http://www.mile-x.com/Brake%20Lathes/800DLX.htm

Depth of cut for this machine .020 NOT .002. Probably a typical cut for brake lathes. 2 cuts X .020 = .040 per side and the rotor is junk. Matches the service mgrs asssessment. Done.