News

Lets Talk Warranties

We see a number of parts returned to us as a suspected manufacturing fault when in fact a lot of the time this could be avoided if there was a little more time taken when the job is priced up or when the parts are fitted.

Engine Mounts
Most vehicles have 1 engine mount that takes a lot more of the load than the rest. This is the one that will show signs of wear first. If the vehicle has done 150,000km you can guarantee that the other engine mounts will be worn as well but not showing the signs. If only the broken engine mount is replaced, within 6 months that engine mount will fail again. This happens due to the replaced engine mount having to work a lot harder to compensate for the older mounts that were not replaced. This is not a manufacturing fault.

Bushes
We receive a number of bushes returned with the centre crush tube twisted out. This happens because the bolt going through the centre crush tube is tightened when the vehicle is on the hoist and the wheel is at full droop. By the time the vehicle leaves the workshop the bush is stressed, so it does not take long for the bush to fail. ALL BUSHES SHOULD BE TIGHTENED UP WITH THE WHEEL AT RIDE HEIGHT!! The other issue we see is voided bushes with the centre torn out. This usually occurs if the bush is fitted the wrong way round and the void is facing where there should be solid rubber.

Shock Absorbers
Shock manufacturers will tell you that a shocks life is 100,000km not 200,000km as seems to be the norm of our cars in NZ. It amazes us the number of customers that replace only 1 shock because only 1 shock is leaking. While the vehicle has done an excessive amount of Kms. The other 3 shocks will be well past their use by date. By just replacing 1 shock you are putting it under extreme stress, reducing its effectiveness. Do not use a rattle gun to do up the top nut as this can undo the nut on the bottom of the shaft. Do not hold the shaft with vise grips as this makes sharp points on the shaft, then those sharp points cut the seal as they go up and down through the seals, causing the shock to leak all its Gas/Oil.