Aluminum Driveshaft Failure at 70 mph...
4/10/07, 04:31 PM
#81
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Yes, actually... 
B.A.R. has escalated it to a Fraud investigation and will be paying them a visit soon. The Better Business Bureau has forwarded my findings to Jaws Gear & Axle and he will need to respond by next Monday, and it will go to arbitration shortly after. So the process by the departments is moving now... In the upcoming days I should have more information.
I provided BAR and the BBB with a 68-page binder documenting the incident, the BAR rep said it was the best she had seen in her 15 years there!
B.A.R. has escalated it to a Fraud investigation and will be paying them a visit soon. The Better Business Bureau has forwarded my findings to Jaws Gear & Axle and he will need to respond by next Monday, and it will go to arbitration shortly after. So the process by the departments is moving now... In the upcoming days I should have more information.
I provided BAR and the BBB with a 68-page binder documenting the incident, the BAR rep said it was the best she had seen in her 15 years there!
4/10/07, 08:53 PM
#84
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The thing that's slightly different hear is that this is damage resulting from someone's negligence, not an accident. That's why I feel you likely won't have any issue getting a settlement above and beyond the actual damage. Regarding totalling the car, everyone is a bit different. I actually saw a brand new Explorer that someone rolled down an embankment during a bonehead parking lot mishap. As you can imagine every body panel (except the hood curiously) was damaged. The entire roof was caved about 3 inches. All the glass shattered. The damage was well in excess of $25k, but they actually opted to fix it because it was new. I personally would never want a truck that had the A,B,C pillars repaired, but there wasn't much the owner could do. Granted, these days you can fix previously unsurmountable damage to just about as new conditions, but you really need to find a good shop to get it done correctly.
4/10/07, 09:08 PM
#85
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Hold out for a new car in exchange if you can. It will never be the same.
No matter what the outcome, an very unfortunate and expensive lesson.
Not all shops are this incompetent and deceptive, but one does need to do some homework before commiting to, or having a impulse for someone modifying their car, no matter how nice, sincere and convincing the service provider is. Even good friend recommendations should be validated (been there done that).
Good luck with your case.
No matter what the outcome, an very unfortunate and expensive lesson.
Not all shops are this incompetent and deceptive, but one does need to do some homework before commiting to, or having a impulse for someone modifying their car, no matter how nice, sincere and convincing the service provider is. Even good friend recommendations should be validated (been there done that).
Good luck with your case.
4/11/07, 01:05 PM
#87
Not to rain on anyone's parade but I find it unlikely that the repair shop will simply shrug and say, "oh well" and pony up for a new car. They will fight you tooth and nail and this process could take years.
You DO have a lawyer don't you?
The only way you will get anything is if you aggressively pursue the shop and DOCUMENT DOCUMENT DOCUMENT everything! The BAR can and will fine the shop (and could even close it down) but that does nothing for YOU. They aren't in the business of "fighting the good fight" for a consumer and getting you a new car.
IMO you need to use the BAR findings as evidence against them but your insurance company and your attorney should be working on a strategy to get them to fork over $$$ for your car ASAP. I assume you have Comprehensive insurance? The ball should have been rolling already.
You DO have a lawyer don't you?
The only way you will get anything is if you aggressively pursue the shop and DOCUMENT DOCUMENT DOCUMENT everything! The BAR can and will fine the shop (and could even close it down) but that does nothing for YOU. They aren't in the business of "fighting the good fight" for a consumer and getting you a new car.
IMO you need to use the BAR findings as evidence against them but your insurance company and your attorney should be working on a strategy to get them to fork over $$$ for your car ASAP. I assume you have Comprehensive insurance? The ball should have been rolling already.
4/11/07, 02:52 PM
#88
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Not to rain on anyone's parade but I find it unlikely that the repair shop will simply shrug and say, "oh well" and pony up for a new car. They will fight you tooth and nail and this process could take years.
You DO have a lawyer don't you?
The only way you will get anything is if you aggressively pursue the shop and DOCUMENT DOCUMENT DOCUMENT everything! The BAR can and will fine the shop (and could even close it down) but that does nothing for YOU. They aren't in the business of "fighting the good fight" for a consumer and getting you a new car.
IMO you need to use the BAR findings as evidence against them but your insurance company and your attorney should be working on a strategy to get them to fork over $$$ for your car ASAP. I assume you have Comprehensive insurance? The ball should have been rolling already.
You DO have a lawyer don't you?
The only way you will get anything is if you aggressively pursue the shop and DOCUMENT DOCUMENT DOCUMENT everything! The BAR can and will fine the shop (and could even close it down) but that does nothing for YOU. They aren't in the business of "fighting the good fight" for a consumer and getting you a new car.
IMO you need to use the BAR findings as evidence against them but your insurance company and your attorney should be working on a strategy to get them to fork over $$$ for your car ASAP. I assume you have Comprehensive insurance? The ball should have been rolling already.
4/11/07, 03:35 PM
#89
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Both shops have concluded that it could be nothing other than the driveshaft being the wrong size and the cause of the damage. They explained that the bent output shaft says it all, there really was nothing more for them to note since it was already quite obvious. So hopefully the shop owner recognizes the position he is in sooner than later, but court costs should he lose, should certainly be a concern considering the amount of documentation and the upcoming findings of fraud by BAR. So my fingers are crossed as well....
4/11/07, 05:28 PM
#90
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Both shops have concluded that it could be nothing other than the driveshaft being the wrong size and the cause of the damage. They explained that the bent output shaft says it all, there really was nothing more for them to note since it was already quite obvious. So hopefully the shop owner recognizes the position he is in sooner than later, but court costs should he lose, should certainly be a concern considering the amount of documentation and the upcoming findings of fraud by BAR. So my fingers are crossed as well....
4/12/07, 03:51 AM
#91
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4/12/07, 10:47 AM
#92
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Well there's no point in boycotting the idea. This is obviously an isolated incident. Don't forget the driveshaft in question was actually STEEL not aluminum. They have their benefits- it might be questionable on a street car, but they have benefits none the less.
4/14/07, 04:18 PM
#93
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I agree, but my experience with aftermarket driveshafts has been less than ideal. Even the high quality "high-speed balanced" driveshafts aren't bulletproof - it may still vibrate. I quickly learned that if it isn't broken, don't fix it (with regards to the stock driveshaft).
4/15/07, 07:45 AM
#94
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You should also be paid for the time you lost the use of your vehicle.
4/18/07, 08:55 PM
#96
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At this point BAR is putting together their documentation and will be in contact with him soon regarding the "issues". Once they complete that I will have access to their reports.
The BBB has begun the arbitration process since he failed to respond by Monday. I'm sure he is hesitant to submit more info after I broke down his one page response into a 5-page analysis of his statements.
So the other agencies are working on their process and I'll let them finish their work first...
The BBB has begun the arbitration process since he failed to respond by Monday. I'm sure he is hesitant to submit more info after I broke down his one page response into a 5-page analysis of his statements.
So the other agencies are working on their process and I'll let them finish their work first...
4/19/07, 12:21 PM
#98
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I appreciate it the support from everyone... The shop's fault was so obvious from the moment it happened, and here we are 2 months later in same place... But it is looking good, at this point he deserves whatever comes his way.
