American Work Ethic? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

rmmagow · #1 04-20-2006, 10:08 PM

I am just finishing up a series of brake jobs. I did full Rebuilt calipers and rotors on a my 83 300D, an 89 Mazda 929 and a 2001 Subaru Forester (drums in back). I'm so disappointed in the quality of the rebuilt calipers, all of them. I am guessing that they are actually re-built here in the US (maybe I'm wrong - hope so). The worst were the ones for the MB, second the Mazda. The Suby was OK. The Mercedes calipers, all bought at the same time, all ATE I think, one in front went together pretty much OK, the other had the heat shield sticking out too much and I needed to sand down a pad to make it fit. The rears were just as bad, one was super clean install, the other had a COMPLETELY different type of heat shield, one with a small shelf at the bottom. The pads don't fit and I'm doing the sanding thing again. The Mazda calipers came with broken hardware and wrong hardware. The Suby was OK, but probably because all I needed was bare calpers, no hardware or pads.
What's up with this?? Where's old fashion quality control? I really hope these are all being done overseas but I bet not!
Just a rant from sombody whose spent 30+ hours this week taking care of the fleet. Probably shouldn't be in this forum.

pxland · #2 04-21-2006, 09:29 AM

I'm sorry, quality control became more expensive then dealing with returns sometime in the early 90's.

It's not American (or any nations) work ethic, it's corporate greed.

boneheaddoctor · #3 04-22-2006, 07:08 PM

Its a result of corporate boardroom greed...they hire homeless people to work for a bottle of booze or some crack that way they can line their pockets with as much as they can before the company tanks...then they take their golden parachutes and move on the the next victim....cough, cough.....company.