I am in a jamb, I got a full brake job at the Airstream dealer today, they let me leave the shop without checking everything out, well, the new brakes were locked up, and fried $977 worth new brakes, all within 1/2 mile of the shop, I was refunded, but now, I have new burned brakes, magnet is fried, got my old 1973 brakes and parts, I dont know what to do now, can the new backer plates be repaired ? where do I get the parts? I am lost, and still shook up from the smoke and all, what a day, any ideas? , thank you
They should have done something different than refund your money. If it were me I would tell them they are going to replace everything that was damaged at thier expense and I would let them keep the money I had paid because I would end up with what I originally asked for - new brakes. If they wouldn't do that then it would be time for a friendly call from my lawyer. If they still refused I would take them to small claims court for triple damages which would be the bill from the new shop that replaced everything.
Godspeed,
Trent
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Was it that when applying the brakes they would go to full lock and when the brake pedal is released everything rotates fine? If you unplug the umbilical is the trailer towable or locked up? not sure what they could have done as the voltage signal comes from you tow vehicle? Maybe they adjusted them way too tight and once you got going they got hotter and hotter.. lots of smoke and brake smell and then when it cools down it rolls with little friction. If thats the case then the magnets are probably fine.. the backing plates ok too.. the brake shoes and drums would take the beating. If you are not confident to dive into this then is should be looked at by someone who is. If they overtightened the brakes then you dont want them looking at it again anyways.. Just get it corrected and if new drums are needed send them the bill.. pay them a visit then maybe your local small claims court should it go that far.
I am in a jamb, I got a full brake job at the Airstream dealer today, they let me leave the shop without checking everything out, well, the new brakes were locked up, and fried $977 worth new brakes, all within 1/2 mile of the shop, I was refunded, but now, I have new burned brakes, magnet is fried, got my old 1973 brakes and parts, I dont know what to do now, can the new backer plates be repaired ? where do I get the parts? I am lost, and still shook up from the smoke and all, what a day, any ideas? , thank you
Hi, I can't imagine an Airstream dealer, after doing the job, to not be willing to find the cause and/or repair the brake system unless maybe you became un-glued and unwilling to let them make good on their work. Therefore here's your money back, good luck.
They should make it right. Period. There simply isn't any reason to burn up brakes 1/2 mile away from a repair shop. The problem with a simple refund is that the heat may have damaged more than the parts the shop replaced. I'm also a little curious as to why they agreed to write a $977 check rather than bringing the coach back into the shop and doing it right. Nine times out of ten, a shop will want the chance for a "do over."
Oh, if you've had a bad experience, post the name of the shop here. One of the advantages of owning an Airstream is that we are a community. Good businesses can count on good "word-of-mouth" advertising. Lousy businesses will find themselves losing businesses because if you screw one of us... you screw all of us.
I have not had any repairs or service done at Bates in Tampa. I have had both service and repairs done at Sanders in Alachua, and have always been more than satisfied with their competence.
Being that you are only 20 miles from Alachua, I guess that you went Sanders. I can not believe that they would do that to you.
Brian
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This is what happened, I went to Sanders, I was ok with the full brake job of $977.00, and some new wiring ,I wanted it done right, and I have no idea at all how to do it, safety first you know, so I went to the best. but they never checked the umbilical cord, said they did,nt have a one, that was hard to believe, a big Airstream Dealer with no cords. anyway, my theory is, when I got plugged up, they never checked anything out, my truck battery must have engaged the magnets, also they rewired the brakes to the male side plug of the Airstream, perhaps something in there is crossed, then, as I pulled what felt like 12 , 29 foot airstreams, peddle to the floor going about 20 mph, waiting to kick into the next gear, and being its the second time I ever pulled this thing, I said to myself, boy this thing is heavy, but I guess that's the way it is, then the smoke, and very close to fire and all that disaster kind of stuff happened next. and then of course, my panic, I finally got it back to Sanders, I called ahead of time, Make sure you have a fire extinguisher, I am rolling in on fire!!, just as I got there, up a small bump, everything seemed to let loose and now for the first time it felt like I was pulling only one 29 foot streamer, there was nothing left to burn ,and it was smooth sailing. The dealer said it was my new Out of doors mart cord that caused the problem, after the fact they even messed with the cord, and now I no longer have brake lights or blinkers, its all messed up, It was a hot day in the Airstream shop, it was the end of the day, everyone wanted to go home, I even gave the two mechanics $20 each, to help me out and also to show I was not a cheap bum, the shop said it all looked ok now and did what they could to send me on my way, but I persisted and said, take those tires off and look. They looked, and this picture is the results, turned to dust in 5 min. then the refund came, I still am not whole, my $40 cord is messed up and the wiring is messed up, but I can only deal with a little at a time being I am trying to quit smoking.
. Today, I went over to Texas trailers, I bought two lefts and two rights 12 x 2, $80 bucks each, then I got my mechanic and he installed them at my home, and I helped, I shall wait on the wiring till I get over the drama. Thank you all, you were there for me, being I started this story, If you want to know more, I,ll let you know later, here's the pics, left pic burnt brakes, right pic new brakes, Peace , John
Thanks for the update. It might be a good idea to atleast have those drums checked. Im not sure what the recommendation is but I know that there are minimum thicknesses allowable to turn them on a brake lathe. I know that we have a shop in town that can actually turn the magnet surface at the same time. Just imagine how hot those drums got.. I bet they were glowing at night!
does any one know, I did not connect any of the brake lines to the brakes, does this have any effect on the running lights, I plugged my cord in and all the lights no longer work, all worked fine before I went to Airstream to have the brakes worked on, now , no lights, looks like they messed up my wiring, I think they should make it right for me, and if I tell Marge, she,ll get on them.
John
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Hi, I can't imagine an Airstream dealer, after doing the job, to not be willing to find the cause and/or repair the brake system unless maybe you became un-glued and unwilling to let them make good on their work. Therefore here's your money back, good luck.
Question's 
Were the brakes locked-up BEFORE being connected to the TV?
Something stinks other than burnt brakes.
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