A buddy of mine called me out to the parking lot Thursday. His front wheel was bathed in brake fluid. Crawled under and found one front bleeder only finger tight. The other front was half-tight. The two rears looked dirty and untouched. A private shop had done the brakes, presumably fronts, 2 weeks ago. The reservoir was below 50% and after I tightened the bleeder there was air in the line. Cleacoat was flaking off the alloy wheel everywhere. I photographed the wet loose bleeder and he nursed it back to the shop.
Despite the picture, the shop would not agree the loose bleeder was at fault. After looking at his car, they concluded both front calipers were faulty. They asked him to pay cost for 2 calipers, and they ate the labor for replacement.
It was the weirdest outcome. Full caliper replacement is a full brake dis- and reassembly, and a full bleed. Had they believed his statement that I tightened the bleeder, a simple bleed and fill would have sent him on his way at much less re-work. Either they didn’t want to admit a mistake, or they were really concerned about liability.
As far as my friend was concerned, they made it right, but I couldn’t quite figure out their decision.
M