Serious Question

[FJ MCC VII]

I took my bike to a local KTM dealer's service department to get the brake pads changed, front and rear, after about 10,000 miles. ($260 parts and labor.) Apparently, dude had to bleed them to get the pistons to go back in. Next day, 65 MPH on the freeway in traffic, I hit the front brakes, and guess what happened? Nothing. I was REAL lucky.

So, I've been back twice now, front's still mushy, back squeals like a bitch every time I pull up to a stoplight. I don't even like riding it like this, but it's how I get to work. Every day. Or anywhere else for that matter. I'm going back to the shop one last time.
What advice do you have, O my Brothers? What should I expect from a shop whose fuckup almost killed me. And it DID almost kill me.
(Sorry for cussing. If it happened to you, you would be cussing too.)

And I know, I know, about doing your own work, but I'm the kind of mechanic that would make the same kind of mistake. I know mechanical integrity is as important on a superbike as it is on an aircraft, but most pilots don't work on the planes they fly. That's why I don't mind  paying the money, but I do expect it to be done right, or at least not worse than when I brought it in, which is what happened. What would you do?

[andyoutandabout]

I'd complain like crazy, but then again I'm British and complain we do. However, in the states I've noticed, complaining rarely seems to promote fitting action from those responsible, but the choice option can produce great things. Be super clear about what you expect them to do about it with the alternative choice being crappy. For example - fix my bike mof'ker and return some money for my wasted time and near death experience or it's off to the small claims court we march.
That's my 2 cents - anyone else?
Andy

[Pat Conlon]

Retracting the pistons is needed when installing thicker new pads...before you remove the old pads just stick a big 'ole screw driver in there on the old pads and open them up....opening the bleeder port is not necessary.

It sounds like either:
1) the mechanic got brake fluid on your new pads when he opened the port....I can see it now, he took the caliper off, took out the old pads (before spreading the pistons) put in the new thick pads...and went to put them back on the rotor and went ...uuuh oh, won't fit...so he opened the bleed port to spread the pistons and got brake juice on your new pads...very slippery stuff that juice.
Or
2) when the mechanic opened the bleed port to retract the pistons...he did not bleed out the air and you have a big mushy bubble of air in your hydraulics..
Or
3) a combination of 1) and 2) above.

***The horrors of unskilled labor***

Did you change pad compounds? Go from an organic compound to a sintered HH?
If so, you need to scrub or glass bead your rotors to remove the old transfer layer.

Follow Andy's lead...take it back and raise hell...brakes are serious...you could have been killed.

[oldktmdude]

Retracting the pistons is needed when installing thicker new pads...before you remove the old pads just stick a big 'ole screw driver in there on the old pads and open them up....opening the bleeder port is not necessary.

It sounds like either:
1) the mechanic got brake fluid on your new pads when he opened the port....I can see it now, he took the caliper off, took out the old pads (before spreading the pistons) put in the new thick pads...and went to put them back on the rotor and went ...uuuh oh, won't fit...so he opened the bleed port to spread the pistons and got brake juice on your new pads...very slippery stuff that juice.
Or
2) when the mechanic opened the bleed port to retract the pistons...he did not bleed out the air and you have a big mushy bubble of air in your hydraulics..
Or
3) a combination of 1) and 2) above.

***The horrors of unskilled labor***

Did you change pad compounds? Go from an organic compound to a sintered HH?
If so, you need to scrub or glass bead your rotors to remove the old transfer layer.

Follow Andy's lead...take it back and raise hell...brakes are serious...you could have been killed.

Sometimes when you retract the pads, the m/c is too full to let the excess fluid to return. You should never have to open the bleeder to fit new pads. Doing so will let air into the system. The "mechanic" should have removed the m/c lid and removed excess fluid to enable piston retraction. On the odd occasion, the return orifice may be restricted in the m/c and require cleaning. Doesn't sound like the kind of workshop that I'd Be going back to.  Pete.

[ribbert]

....I can see it now, he took the caliper off, took out the old pads (before spreading the pistons) put in the new thick pads...and went to put them back on the rotor and went ...uuuh oh, won't fit...

So Pat, what's going on here?

Noel

[Pat Conlon]

I don't know what you mean Noel....

[ribbert]

I don't know what you mean Noel....

Removing the caliper to change pads?

[Pat Conlon]

Assumption on my part.

It's what I do so I can clean out all the dust off the pistons with brake spray cleaner. I'm not dripping that stuff all over my bright work.
Also, that way, when I put the screwdriver tip in to spread the pistons, I'm pressing against the old pads and not the rotor.

No biggie

[Arnie]

Yeah, I'd be going back and raising all kinds of holy hell.  First in the "service" department and then on the sales floor, preferably on a Saturday morning their busiest time.  And, don't be afraid to get LOUD.
Demand that they get a COMPETENT mechanic, not some kid off the street to fix it right. and NOW !!

Then go find yourself a good independant shop, cause you'll not get any good work from that dealer in future.
Maybe talk to Fintip when he gets back to Austin.  He might know a good shop there.

Arnie

[andyb]

I'd say I'd raise hell, but after that sort of experience, I wouldn't go back to that dealership even if I had a blowtorch in my hand and it was the middle of the night.

[Pat Conlon]

Note to self: Don't fuck around with Andy's brakes....

[1tinindian]

 but most pilots don't work on the planes they fly.

Reminds me when I was in the Air Force, we NEVER saw a pilot in the phase dock, where the planes were torn down for inspection and repair.

They would have never wanted to fly them after seeing them gutted like fish!

Leon

[theLeopard]

fix my bike mof'ker and return some money for my wasted time and near death experience or it's off to the small claims court we march.
That's my 2 cents - anyone else?

only way to get anything done in this country. if they're too incompetent to get it right the first time it's usually a scam or an idiot.

[racerrad8]

Note to self: Don't fuck around with Andy's brakes....

No worries, I did them and he is as happy as an Englishman in America.

Randy - RPM

[Pat Conlon]

Note to self: Don't fuck around with Andy's brakes....

No worries, I did them and he is as happy as an Englishman in America.

I'm not worried about that Andy. He's a sweetheart....it's the other Andy. The demented Andy...The guy who would visit me in the middle of the night with a blowtorch...yikes.