So I talked to a muffler shop owner yesterday while my car was on the lift | |
Visitor User ID: 78037273 United States 05/05/2021 02:23 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 80319674 United States 05/05/2021 02:25 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | nobody wants to work Quoting: CharlieFoxtrot he has work backed up the employees I saw were over 50 years old I am contemplating quitting my IT job and going to work in a muffler shop, at least my work will have some meaning. I heard that kind of work is exhausting... I thought it was minimally witty, but not really that funny. It takes all kinds. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 80277684 United Kingdom 05/05/2021 02:27 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | nobody wants to work Quoting: CharlieFoxtrot he has work backed up the employees I saw were over 50 years old I am contemplating quitting my IT job and going to work in a muffler shop, at least my work will have some meaning. I heard that kind of work is exhausting... I saw 2 overweight old dudes getting it done. woosh |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 49819844 United States 05/05/2021 02:29 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 80319674 United States 05/05/2021 02:29 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | I'll tell you the quickest way to get ripped off my a mechanic. Look down your nose at him. Generally speaking mechanics and mechanically inclined people are well above average intelligence and do what they do because they enjoy doing it. There are hundreds of thousands of people who do it just for the fun of it in this country. Despite what you might think, people can instantly sense when you are patronizing them or pretending to respect them. If you act like you suspect him of being dishonest, he's going to be dishonest with you. Every fuckin time, and you'll never feel the shaft going in. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 75364881 United States 05/05/2021 02:34 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 75882322 United States 05/05/2021 02:40 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 80319674 United States 05/05/2021 02:40 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Most muffler and brake specialty shops are clip joints, especially the chain named after a Greek King. The last time I set foot in one was 25 years ago, to get a quote on having them replace all four rotors and pads on my daily driver sedan with disc brakes. Keep in mind this is 1996 when I tell you the quoted price was $1,400. I managed to keep my poker face when I asked for it in writing. Even though I was working 60 to 80 hours per week back then, I made the time to buy the parts and do it myself. Two hours later I completed the job in my driveway for $150 in parts. I kept that quote in my auto repair file at home for nearly 20 years, as a reminder to never let myself be screwed by the "Greek King." Quoting: Anonymous Coward 75364881 The Midas touch is when they molest your bank account and shove your own driveshaft up your ass.. Biggest ripoff artists in the business. You probably didn't even really need all four rotors, it is very unusual for rear brake rotors to wear out. Ive seen cars with 300,000 miles on them and the rear rotors were in spec. |
ThatShamanGuy
User ID: 71066527 United States 05/05/2021 02:43 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Its not about the work... mostly. It's the fact that our way of life has been completely destroyed, all fun has been canceled, oh, but hey, you still need to go to work. Ef- that! And the future is looking even darker. Other than the rat race of food and shelter, what good is money anymore anyway? My mentality is that I am living like i only got one more year on this stupid planet, so I am making the most of it. You can bet I am not planning on getting a full time job, or preparing to enter a new profession. Plus, since I am unvaxed, why on earth would I want to work really hard for society that is making every move possible to make me a second class citizen? All the people I know who got vaxxed are in support of my rights beings violated because I will not- so you know, you vaxxed peeps can do all the work. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 80319674 United States 05/05/2021 02:47 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Its not about the work... mostly. Quoting: ThatShamanGuy It's the fact that our way of life has been completely destroyed, all fun has been canceled, oh, but hey, you still need to go to work. Ef- that! And the future is looking even darker. Other than the rat race of food and shelter, what good is money anymore anyway? My mentality is that I am living like i only got one more year on this stupid planet, so I am making the most of it. You can bet I am not planning on getting a full time job, or preparing to enter a new profession. Plus, since I am unvaxed, why on earth would I want to work really hard for society that is making every move possible to make me a second class citizen? All the people I know who got vaxxed are in support of my rights beings violated because I will not- so you know, you vaxxed peeps can do all the work. Dude it's all in your own mind. Just like freedom. You can only be free if you are free in your own mind. And you can only be enslaved if you allow yourself to be. There are people in a 6 by 10 cell freer than Joe Biden or Baron Rothschild, because their spirits are free. I always look at the bright side of things. Half of these fuckers dying off and killing each other, and the global economy collapsing are not all bad, you know. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 67904014 United States 05/05/2021 02:49 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Most muffler and brake specialty shops are clip joints, especially the chain named after a Greek King. The last time I set foot in one was 25 years ago, to get a quote on having them replace all four rotors and pads on my daily driver sedan with disc brakes. Keep in mind this is 1996 when I tell you the quoted price was $1,400. I managed to keep my poker face when I asked for it in writing. Even though I was working 60 to 80 hours per week back then, I made the time to buy the parts and do it myself. Two hours later I completed the job in my driveway for $150 in parts. I kept that quote in my auto repair file at home for nearly 20 years, as a reminder to never let myself be screwed by the "Greek King." Quoting: Anonymous Coward 75364881 So you installed some $25 brake rotors? and 25$ pads on the car? I bet they were high quality. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 71025595 United States 05/05/2021 02:49 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 67904014 United States 05/05/2021 02:50 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Most muffler and brake specialty shops are clip joints, especially the chain named after a Greek King. The last time I set foot in one was 25 years ago, to get a quote on having them replace all four rotors and pads on my daily driver sedan with disc brakes. Keep in mind this is 1996 when I tell you the quoted price was $1,400. I managed to keep my poker face when I asked for it in writing. Even though I was working 60 to 80 hours per week back then, I made the time to buy the parts and do it myself. Two hours later I completed the job in my driveway for $150 in parts. I kept that quote in my auto repair file at home for nearly 20 years, as a reminder to never let myself be screwed by the "Greek King." Quoting: Anonymous Coward 75364881 Flat rate would be about 2 hours for new rotors and pads all the way around. Even at 100$ an hour and some napa gold brake parts that should have cost about 550$ |
Visitor User ID: 78037273 United States 05/05/2021 02:51 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | nobody wants to work Quoting: CharlieFoxtrot he has work backed up the employees I saw were over 50 years old I am contemplating quitting my IT job and going to work in a muffler shop, at least my work will have some meaning. I heard that kind of work is exhausting... I thought it was minimally witty, but not really that funny. It takes all kinds. It was brilliant, actually. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 71318064 United States 05/05/2021 02:52 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Your the one who sucks cop dicks. That's news to me...Whatever helps you sleep at night... ...well, I guess that WOULD help one sleep better at night, sooo....keep up the good work.... |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 71318064 United States 05/05/2021 02:52 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Your the one who sucks cop dicks. That's news to me...Whatever helps you sleep at night... ...well, I guess that WOULD help one sleep better at night, sooo....keep up the good work.... |
rccola
User ID: 79830924 United States 05/05/2021 02:52 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | I once was a service writer for the local muffler shop in town (I’ve done just about everything) Quoting: Golfcart 77110102 My kid started as a auto tech at 17 at the dealership in town, he’s 21 now, he’s got more money than me... Here's the kick. If you are the best, you can fix a car in ten minutes, but why should you only charge ten minutes labor? No, the skill and talent that allows me to diagnose and fix a car in just a few minutes, where the other guys are scratching their head trying to figure it out, allows me to charge MORE... Did you follow the flat rate manual? There is a new vernacular I think it is called flag time. There's no standard for custom work... On the diagnostic side there were standard prices, but when it comes to labor, I operated by the job and not by the hour unless it's a long tedious job like drilling a head or manifold bolt extraction... Did you ever remove broken exhaust manifold bolts from the heads of Ford FE engines? 352,360,390 v/8s from the 60s and 70s Last Edited by rccola on 05/05/2021 02:55 PM |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 80319674 United States 05/05/2021 02:53 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Most muffler and brake specialty shops are clip joints, especially the chain named after a Greek King. The last time I set foot in one was 25 years ago, to get a quote on having them replace all four rotors and pads on my daily driver sedan with disc brakes. Keep in mind this is 1996 when I tell you the quoted price was $1,400. I managed to keep my poker face when I asked for it in writing. Even though I was working 60 to 80 hours per week back then, I made the time to buy the parts and do it myself. Two hours later I completed the job in my driveway for $150 in parts. I kept that quote in my auto repair file at home for nearly 20 years, as a reminder to never let myself be screwed by the "Greek King." Quoting: Anonymous Coward 75364881 So you installed some $25 brake rotors? and 25$ pads on the car? I bet they were high quality. good rotors will cost you 80 a pair for a medium sized car that has a high production number, and these will be manufactured by a respectable company with a one year - lifetime warranty. You're getting ripped off if you pay more than 25-35 for a set of pads. The 90 dollar ones wear out just as fast as the 30 dollar ones and most people dont need brakes rated for formula one racing |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 76647989 05/05/2021 02:54 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 75364881 United States 05/05/2021 02:57 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Most muffler and brake specialty shops are clip joints, especially the chain named after a Greek King. The last time I set foot in one was 25 years ago, to get a quote on having them replace all four rotors and pads on my daily driver sedan with disc brakes. Keep in mind this is 1996 when I tell you the quoted price was $1,400. I managed to keep my poker face when I asked for it in writing. Even though I was working 60 to 80 hours per week back then, I made the time to buy the parts and do it myself. Two hours later I completed the job in my driveway for $150 in parts. I kept that quote in my auto repair file at home for nearly 20 years, as a reminder to never let myself be screwed by the "Greek King." Quoting: Anonymous Coward 75364881 The Midas touch is when they molest your bank account and shove your own driveshaft up your ass.. Biggest ripoff artists in the business. You probably didn't even really need all four rotors, it is very unusual for rear brake rotors to wear out. I've seen cars with 300,000 miles on them and the rear rotors were in spec. The rear rotors were just barely in spec, so I took the "better safe than sorry" approach. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 80319674 United States 05/05/2021 03:00 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | ... Quoting: BRIEF Here's the kick. If you are the best, you can fix a car in ten minutes, but why should you only charge ten minutes labor? No, the skill and talent that allows me to diagnose and fix a car in just a few minutes, where the other guys are scratching their head trying to figure it out, allows me to charge MORE... Did you follow the flat rate manual? There is a new vernacular I think it is called flag time. There's no standard for custom work... On the diagnostic side there were standard prices, but when it comes to labor, I operated by the job and not by the hour unless it's a long tedious job like drilling a head or manifold bolt extraction... Did you ever remove exhaust manifold bolts from the heads of Ford FE engines? 352,360,390 v/8s from the 60s and 70s The secret there is two things really, heat them to red hot with a torch before trying to remove them and use a socket especially designed for removing rounded or rusted nuts. You should also give it a liberal dose of penetrating oil AFTER it cools off and let it sit overnight. BE PATIENT. What this does is causes the bolt (or stud) to expand enough to break the rust free from the cast iron head , and it gives the penetrating oil a gap to go into in by something called capillary action. The bitch can be when you break off a stud in the head by trying to remove a rusted on nut (and they are always rusted on), but if you get them red hot and let them cool before you try to get them out they will come off pretty easy. studs can be removed by the same technique once you get the manifold off, if you need to replace them. You'll need a GOOD set of vice grips for this "procedure". |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 80206139 United States 05/05/2021 03:01 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 80319674 United States 05/05/2021 03:01 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 75364881 United States 05/05/2021 03:06 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | So you installed some $25 brake rotors? and 25$ pads on the car? I bet they were high quality. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 67904014 good rotors will cost you 80 a pair for a medium sized car that has a high production number, and these will be manufactured by a respectable company with a one year - lifetime warranty. You're getting ripped off if you pay more than 25-35 for a set of pads. The 90 dollar ones wear out just as fast as the 30 dollar ones and most people dont need brakes rated for formula one racing Quoting: Anonymous Coward 67904014 Keep in mind this was 1996 pricing for those parts, and I got them at cost from a friend's automotive supply business. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 79094956 05/05/2021 03:07 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | ... Quoting: Anonymous Coward 79094956 Nope Trained mechanics these days are topping out 100k in the dealership, thats having years of experience and certifications and doing warranty work. Working for a private guy you can expect maybe 20 an hour, maybe more after working for him several years. Its the overhead of a shop that drives up the cost of repairs. But heres the thing, people are too cheap today. They would rather drive their car into the ground and get a new one. yeah, working for someone else.... A smart mechanic doesnt work for someone else. Yea so you pay what 3k or more a month to rent a shop and then pray people come to you ? Seen many shops start and close in the first year due to lack of business. There are losers in every line of work, usually because they're not any good or dont have any fuckin brains. First of all, you dont RENT a shop, you build one, on your own fuckin land in a location that is not to hard to find or get to, and you pay off your debts as soon as you are able to financially even if you have to scrimp. This cuts down on INTEREST, which is often 30 percent of any kind of business development THEN, you actually work yourself. You are there in the shop ramrodding anyone you hire and doing the hardest and most profitable jobs YOURSELF, and you pay employees based on their ability TO MAKE YOU MONEY Mkay?. You dont have to be a certified public accountant to run a business either, you just need to know some old alcoholic who hates the government and is good with numbers Land has to be zoned for commercial automotive use. You dont know much do you? |
Monty Python
User ID: 79683873 United States 05/05/2021 03:09 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | nobody wants to work Quoting: CharlieFoxtrot he has work backed up the employees I saw were over 50 years old I am contemplating quitting my IT job and going to work in a muffler shop, at least my work will have some meaning. I heard that kind of work is exhausting... Last Edited by Monty Python on 05/05/2021 09:27 PM Monty Python's Flying Circus |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 79430199 United States 05/05/2021 03:11 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 79430199 United States 05/05/2021 03:12 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | nobody wants to work Quoting: CharlieFoxtrot he has work backed up the employees I saw were over 50 years old I am contemplating quitting my IT job and going to work in a muffler shop, at least my work will have some meaning. I heard that kind of work is exhausting... Brilliant! . |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 80319674 United States 05/05/2021 03:14 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | ... Quoting: Anonymous Coward 80319674 yeah, working for someone else.... A smart mechanic doesnt work for someone else. Yea so you pay what 3k or more a month to rent a shop and then pray people come to you ? Seen many shops start and close in the first year due to lack of business. There are losers in every line of work, usually because they're not any good or dont have any fuckin brains. First of all, you dont RENT a shop, you build one, on your own fuckin land in a location that is not to hard to find or get to, and you pay off your debts as soon as you are able to financially even if you have to scrimp. This cuts down on INTEREST, which is often 30 percent of any kind of business development THEN, you actually work yourself. You are there in the shop ramrodding anyone you hire and doing the hardest and most profitable jobs YOURSELF, and you pay employees based on their ability TO MAKE YOU MONEY Mkay?. You dont have to be a certified public accountant to run a business either, you just need to know some old alcoholic who hates the government and is good with numbers Land has to be zoned for commercial automotive use. You dont know much do you? Where I live in East Texas you can build a fuckin moat with crocodiles and poisonous snakes in it around your house if you want to. I wouldn't live in a place where you have to operate in some "zone". Basically if you're not within the boundaries of an incorporated municipality you can put any business you want to, anywhere you want to. And if you have any problems you can always loosen up their thinking by hiring a combination lawyer/hit man. |
rccola
User ID: 79830924 United States 05/05/2021 03:15 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | ... Quoting: rccola Did you follow the flat rate manual? There is a new vernacular I think it is called flag time. There's no standard for custom work... On the diagnostic side there were standard prices, but when it comes to labor, I operated by the job and not by the hour unless it's a long tedious job like drilling a head or manifold bolt extraction... Did you ever remove exhaust manifold bolts from the heads of Ford FE engines? 352,360,390 v/8s from the 60s and 70s The secret there is two things really, heat them to red hot with a torch before trying to remove them and use a socket especially designed for removing rounded or rusted nuts. You should also give it a liberal dose of penetrating oil AFTER it cools off and let it sit overnight. BE PATIENT. What this does is causes the bolt (or stud) to expand enough to break the rust free from the cast iron head , and it gives the penetrating oil a gap to go into in by something called capillary action. The bitch can be when you break off a stud in the head by trying to remove a rusted on nut (and they are always rusted on), but if you get them red hot and let them cool before you try to get them out they will come off pretty easy. studs can be removed by the same technique once you get the manifold off, if you need to replace them. You'll need a GOOD set of vice grips for this "procedure". Yes, I've used that method quite frequently. I've also used the difference in melting point in tight areas near the steering gear box. With the proper torch tip and flame adjustment I have melted the broken bolt out of the hole. It requires a lot of protection to be sure that no slag (sparks) get on any flammable items, glass or paint. Once the steel bolt starts to liquify hit the air bar on the torch to blow out the steel from the threaded cast iron head. The after it cools, carefully chase the threads with a taper tap using penetrating oil and finesse |