Budget Brake & Muffler
Faulty, dangerous brake job released to client

The Budget Brake and Muffler (Dougclas & Bay St. location) did a brake job for me, replacing the front brake shoes and replacing the rear calipers because they were leaking. I'm not 100% about the cost of such a service overall, but it was just over $480. However, that's not the main issue.

After waiting most of the day for the job, Budget called and let me know my vehicle was ready for pickup. I paid, got in and started off down the road and all was well for the first couple of stops.

Then the brake pedal started going all the way to the floor. I wound up having to "double pump" the brakes in order to get them to function. Usually I do my own brake work, but I had neither the time nor inclination for a D.I.Y. job this time around, so "treated" myself to this "luxury" of having the job done for me.

Therefore, I knew what this behavior meant. It wasn't the master cylinder, that checked out fine... The "brake experts" DID NOT BLEED THE BRAKE LINES CORRECTLY.

This was not only just a case of slovenliness in workmanship to me, it was a danger to my life and well being. The fact that this is one of the most basic things to do when replacing brakes also added to the frustration.

I called in immediately upon reaching home and told the manager of my concern, and he told me to drive it back the next morning! (No offer of a tow for safety!)

I took the vehicle in and the brakes were bled in the space of about 10 - 20mins. The kicker was, in the way of "compensation", the manager gave me a chit for a FREE OIL CHANGE. Now, it may just be me, but a place that put me at risk by not bleeding my brakes, their prime business being brakes, is certainly not going to get my vehicle back into a position where someone may "forget" to put the oil drain plug back in.

Budget gets a HUGE thumbs down from me.

Anthony
Victoria, British Columbia
Canada

Company: Budget Brake & Muffler
Country: Canada
Province: British Columbia
City: Victoria
Address: Douglas St

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