Has this happened to you (wrong part installs)?

[ovilla]

Keep in mind that this was my first ever wheel bearing job on a Chevy. So, my FIL says that he needs the other front wheel bearing swapped out (the dealer had swapped out one side since it fell apart a few weeks ago back home). I start the job and didn't even need a puller to remove the bearing from the knuckle - that's suppose to be the hardest part, right?. However, re-installation was a hassle as I was having a tough time lining up and threading the three bolts holding everything together, which took for freaking ever. I finally figured out to just tighten up the axle nut as much as possible to help get the whole assembly closer to the knuckle.

Anyway, I finally get everything on and torqued to specs and that's when it happened. I went to put the rotor back on and guess what? I had just installed the WRONG bearing - the rotor didn't fit. It was a five lug pattern, just like the old one, but the pattern was ever so slightly closer in diameter. Pissed me off royally. I was sweating like a dog and had a few choice words. Oh, of course it was already 10pm at night so I couldn't go swap out the part either, and the new part was all greased up too (so it had to be cleaned).

The only good thing about the night was that I got to break in two new Snappy dual 80 ratchets (FHL80 and a SHL80) and a new 36mm impact socket.

Okay, share your stories please so I don't feel like an idiot all day today.

P.S. The car in question is a 04' Chevy Malibu and I have noticed that other parts (like the air cleaner) can't be replaced with 04' parts. In the case of the air cleaner, I always have to ask for an 03' part. Why do MFG's do this stuff? Anyway, I'm off to find the correct wheel bearing now.

 

[c39er]

Had the exact same bearing issue on a front press in bearing on a toyota corolla. This style bearing requires a press and like yours the rotor wouldn't fit over the bearing hub. I should of checked it. It looked exactly the same but was manufactured wrong-'Made In China". I should of hunted more for qa USA made part. Went back to the seller and complained. They let me file a labor claim and I got $100.00. Not enough but something!
Hate crappy non USA made parts!

 

[Fedwrench]

Happens all of the time. You have to order parts by the VIN and sometimes you will need the build date because, there may be a mid year change. We won't even discuss parts being misboxed or incorrectly labeled. When the parts delivery people show up with a resealed box, I always open it in front of them and often there is a problem with the part. It can be e real time waster.

 

[Professur]

My missus has a 2005 Malibu. I have to drive south of the border to get brakes for it. There's exactly 2 places that carry the rotors for it (2.2l) The dealer and Napa. Napa want's $70+ for their own name brand rotor,and GM want's $210 for theirs. Advance Auto in Plattsburg set me up for $115 for pads and rotors for both corners.

 

[ovilla]

Went back to Advanced Auto Parts and they brought up another bearing for an 04' Chevy Malibu and it was the same incorrect one that I had gotten before. He then checked the 03' and 05' ones and they had the same part number. He then went and brought back an 02' wheel bearing and it was exactly like my old one. I even brought in my old rotor just to make sure it fit. Anyway, came home and was able to install everything (no drama this time) in about 45 minutes.

The only good thing about the whole ordeal was that the new correct part cost less and since they couldn't put the difference back on my gift card, they had to give me cash. That's $80 going towards the next tool purchase. I'm thinking of picking up some 3/8 impact stuff like swivels and sockets.

P.S. You'll like this. I was done and wiping down my tools, when my wife walks by and says we really need to think about getting extra home owners insurance "We don't have jewelry, we have tools!". Made me smile (if she only knew exactly how much the garage contents are now worth - Gotta be the most expensive room in the whole house now).

 

[Gary S]

This is the main reason I love OLD Chevys. Years ago, Chevy made all their vehicles with interchangeable parts. The same brake pads that go into my old Camaro also fit both my Caprices, and my 1/2 ton 4x4 pickup. Three of them also all share the same water pump in spite of the fact that they were made 15 years apart. Many of the other parts in them interchange as well.
30 years ago, vehicles were engineered. Today, they just slap them together to use a short time and then junk them.

 

[FordToughF250]

I forgot a couple parts if that counts..haha. My 351 from my F250 was on the engine stand and I put a new pump in so I had to take off the oil pan. First I put it all together and remembered that I forgot the pump, I had all the bolts tighned. Then after I took it back off, I put the pump in and tighned all the bolts. Then when I got them all tight, I looked and there was a small gap between the pan and the bolt head. I forgot the strips that go between them. That sucked, givin I was 15 and wanted to sticken get the truck ready to drive. But after I got the engine in, it didnt leak at all and had good pressure so hey, nothing can be easy, I go in thinkin that every project now haha

 

[sberry]

This is the main reason I love OLD Chevys. Years ago, Chevy made all their vehicles with interchangeable parts. The same brake pads that go into my old Camaro also fit both my Caprices, and my 1/2 ton 4x4 pickup. Three of them also all share the same water pump in spite of the fact that they were made 15 years apart. Many of the other parts in them interchange as well.
30 years ago, vehicles were engineered. Today, they just slap them together to use a short time and then junk them.

30 yrs ago cars were junk by todays standard, 40 yrs ago even worse, they tossed together anything they thought they could get out the door to sell. Cars were worn out at 100K, needed valve jobs, tune ups, carbureted fuel puking pigs. Cars stalled on the roads were common sights. I had a Buick in the other day, 160K on it, had a misfire, spark plug wire. New plugs, set of wires and a belt, good to go, still a serviceable car.

 

[Gary S]

30 yrs ago cars were junk by todays standard, 40 yrs ago even worse, they tossed together anything they thought they could get out the door to sell. Cars were worn out at 100K, needed valve jobs, tune ups, carbureted fuel puking pigs. Cars stalled on the roads were common sights. I had a Buick in the other day, 160K on it, had a misfire, spark plug wire. New plugs, set of wires and a belt, good to go, still a serviceable car.

I'll disagree there. My 70s and 80s Chevys are still running strong with almost no problems or repairs for 30-40 years. The newer electronically controlled vehicles I've owned since then have problems all the time and either don't run at all or require very expensive repairs to just get them to move.
Every car I've owned with EFI has been a nightmare to drive while my old carbureted ones still run strong and work right every day.
And, my old carbureted cars are long past 100k miles of troublefree driving and still are not close to being worn out while the new ones I owned were junked already.

 

[gatchel]

I guess it depends where you like to spend your money. Gas or electronics. I'll gamble with electronics.

 

[JCQuick]

as a professional Parts man I can tell you what the worse thing.. selling yourself the wrong part only to discover it in the middle of the job.. Only happened once

 

[sberry]

Gary, you probably take a bit better care of your stuff than average but most stuff is to a great extent made better today and if it isn't its substantially cheaper. My Grandmother had a great toaster, lasted 40 years, they scrimp and save 3 months to buy it, now with a little careful shopping a pretty decent one can be had for 20$.
I see a lot of cars today with 100K on them never seen a wrench, plugs go 100K miles, never foul. I got a Windstar, 160 on it, 1 fuel inj, one set of plugs, an alt and a battery, some shocks and a couple wear items like brakes. Still runs great and in service every day.

 

[Gary S]

I have a 2001 Ford Ranger with 23K miles on it. Nothing electrical or electronic on it can be relied to work on any given day. Here is a list of the malfunctions I can think of at the moment in those first 23K miles.

CD player intermittent
Car alarm intermittent
anti-lock brakes intermittent
airbag light intermittent
park lock doesn't work in cold weather (vehicle can't be driven at all)
intermittent engine no-start condition (some kind of computer controlled spasm)
intermittent no-transmission gears (another computer controlled spasm)
Can't turn right in cold weather in 4 wheel drive (horn and lights will malfunction)

The fuel mileage between this half sized pickup and my full sized 1981 Chevy 1/2 ton is about 3mpg. The fuel savings between the old Chevy and the new Ford won't even pay for the first Ford failure. The cost per mile to operate the new Ford compared to the old Chevy is about 10 to 1 in favor of the old Chevy.

 

[sberry]

Lots of guys got stuck with lemons with older cars too, like anything mechanical stuff happens but mile for mile and on averages the new stuff is better. My master who works for me part time laughs when he hears old is better, a man who is a master of masters, worked on thousands of cars for 40 yrs.

 

[Gary S]

My master who works for me part time laughs when he hears old is better, a man who is a master of masters, worked on thousands of cars for 40 yrs.

Let him laugh. No master mechanic ever got to touch my old cars because nothing ever wore out that required their skills. A few cheap and simple things failed that I could replace myself.
I can see why a mechanic trying to make a living likes new vehicles.

 

[porphyre]

Let him laugh. No master mechanic ever got to touch my old cars because nothing ever wore out that required their skills. A few cheap and simple things failed that I could replace myself.
I can see why a mechanic trying to make a living likes new vehicles.

Gary - I normally don't feed trolls, but you're just too dedicated to it...

First - of course a mechanic making a living likes new vehicles. All the old vehicles are in scrapyards because they wore out.

Second - Let's look at your lemon of a 2001 Ford:
CD player intermittent
Car alarm intermittent
anti-lock brakes intermittent
airbag light intermittent
park lock doesn't work in cold weather (vehicle can't be driven at all)
intermittent engine no-start condition (some kind of computer controlled spasm)
intermittent no-transmission gears (another computer controlled spasm)
Can't turn right in cold weather in 4 wheel drive (horn and lights will malfunction)

Your cars from the '60's... do they even HAVE any of those features? Bet not.

I can certainly see a no-start and no-gears condition on your old cars. Leave 'em outside in the winter when it's -15 degrees and see if they start up at 5am the next morning. Bet not.

Third - of COURSE new vehicles are better than old. 50k mile warranties are pretty standard. Many manufacturers are providing 100k mile powertrain warranties. You're north of the rust belt, but try daily driving a mid-60's Chevy in KS or MO for 100k miles. The fenders will drop off.

 

[Gary S]

Your cars from the '60's... do they even HAVE any of those features? Bet not.

I can certainly see a no-start and no-gears condition on your old cars. Leave 'em outside in the winter when it's -15 degrees and see if they start up at 5am the next morning. Bet not.

My old cars don't have those features, and I don't want them on a new car either. That is one of the shortcomings of the new vehicles. They have too much junk on them to ever be as reliable as an old simple vehicle.

Don't bet your money against my old 81 Chevy K10. You would lose. It starts reliably in the morning at -40, which you probably have never experienced.

 

[red baron]

when you work in a shop, its almost a daily occurrence!

 

[sberry]

About 90% of the stuff that goes wrong with cars is still the same stuff that fell off them 40 yrs ago, water pumps, tie rods, ujoints, brakes. Got to the point you rarely see burned valves and internal engine work, some intake manifold stuff but my mechanic Bud gave me his valve grinding tools, waste of space in his shop and I am about the only kind of guy that uses it anymore.

 

[sberry]

Yup, I tell my guys to make sure its the right part before ripping the **** out of the packaging.

 

[sberry]

I agree with Gary that I got some good old cars that work and give very little trouble. Got some newer ones the same way. Its not always exclusive but a generalization that things are better.