This is my story ordering FRONT rotors and brake pads for my 1998 Maxima from Southwest Autoworks (I hope this story never happens to anyone else). So on August 15th, 2004 I decide to spend the money and get new Stillen Rotors and brake pads. I've heard alot of good things from Southwest Autoworks and have gotten my Cattman Headers from them with another small issue, but nothing too concerning. So I didn't know exactly what brake pads I wanted at the time so I called and talked to Steve who then put my order in personally. Couple days later on August 20th, 2004 they charge my credit card (no problem) Shortly after I get my Stillen Rotors and Pads, so I take it to my local shop to have them installed and soon after getting my car on the lift and opened up the packages to find out that they set me the REAR rotors and pads instead of the front. Dissappointed and slightly angry for having to still pay for the garage time and still not having my new rotors. Called up Steve and told him what happened they said they would have news ones out to me soon.
A week later I had my new rotors in hand, but when I opened my box, there were NO brake pads. So again I had to call up and deal with finding what happened to my brake pads. So another weekend goes by before I finally get the pads on October 12th.
So yesterday October 12th, Almost 2 months have gone by since putting the order in and finally getting all my parts. I make an appointment at my shop to put the rotors and pads on. We get the car on the lift again 20 minutes later the mechanic comes out and says something isn't fitting right. So we go to the local Autozone to see if the brakes were too thick, they turn out to be OK. So the next thing is that they were the wrong rotors. Sure enough I look and the Rotors are for a 00-01 Nissan Maxima not a 1998 Maxima. So I call up Southwest Autoworks and they say that they are the same rotors for 1996-2001, but they would look into it. So my mechanic used to work at a nissan dealership called one of the head mechanics and asked. The mechanic was told that they ARE NOT the same are 00-01 Rotors are thickier. So back on the phone with Southwest Autoworks its now 7pm and the shop has been closed for 2 hours after fighting with them that the rotor sizes are not the same they finally admit that they Stillen gave them the wrong part sheet and they sizes could be different and the earliest they could get them to me was thursday, October 14th, 2004
So now Im stuck with the issue that my old rotors can't go back on my car because they are warped so bad, and was hour from my house so my gf had to drive all that way to pick me up and my car is off the road for 2 days which means I have to find a way to work and back for 2 days. On top of that I spent $100 dollars and $20 for the overnight fee without even having anything put on my car! Words can't described how angry I am at SWA, true they did try everything is their power to help me, but still want to blame stillen for sending them the wrong part sheet.

My logic is this: "I am the customer I tell you what parts I need (Front Rotors and Pads for a 1998 Maxima) it is YOUR job to get those parts to me and make sure the part numbers are right in a timely manner, ISN"T THAT WHAT IM PAYING YOUR FOR? Also are you telling me that no one has ordered Stillen Rotors from you for a 4th gen maxima and if all the part numbers the same, and you had the same list all this time and the part numbers are off,no body complained? IT JUST DOESN"T MAKE SENSE " I know that may people have had success with SWA and Im not telling you that they are a bad company I just want people to be aware and who knows maybe I am not alone. I just know I will not be using them again anytime soon.

 

I can certainly understand your frustration through this whole ordeal and we are doing our best to make it right for you. After we spoke with Stillen they did inform us there had been a change in the Maxima rotor part numbers. They also admitted they did not inform us of this change which is why the correct rotors are leaving today from Stillen to you via next day air at their cost. We have since made the change to our web site so we don't forsee any problems from here on out.

Per your comment as to those who have ordered the brakes from us in the past: I've been with SWA well over a year now, and as far as I can remember we've never run into a problem with these. I do apologize for everything you've had to go through and things like this certainly don't happen every day. The refund we were also going to do for you was taken care of this morning as well. Thank you for the feedback, however, as that is the only way we can continue to make improvements.

Steve

 

Another Note: When I went to Stillen.com this morning just to check and see if they had the part numbers listed on their site, and sure enough clear as day they show different part numbers for 89-99 Maxima from the 00-01 Maxima. Another fact is that they are listed for $124.00 when yours are listed for $149.00 (so much for being cheaper) I'd rather pay the additional shipping charges then have to deal with all the **** I've been through for the past 2 months.

 

The spreadsheets we had from Stillen were broken down differently. They did not let us know of the change, hence why they are taking responsibility. Per Stillen being the manufacturer of these brakes, they control the price they and we sell them at. Shipping from Stillen on these rotors would come out to right about $30.

Thanks,
Steve