Maximum Tuning brake service
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 39
Maximum Tuning brake service
I am not here to bash Maximum Tuning or it's owner Jeff. Overall, I have had a positive experience there. However, my recent experience may indicate that they are best left for performance tuning jobs that a regular dealership cannot perform. Case in point, I sent the following email to Jeff regarding my negative experience with a standard brake job (pads + rotors).
It is over two full weeks later, and I have not received any response. Hopefully it is because he doesn't check that account rather than deciding to ignore my message.
Dealerships can be incredibly expensive, but this lesson taught me that their expertise might be worth it in certain cases. Jeff has a great reputation on the boards, which is why I was surprised that a Nissan tech immediately identified the simple reason for my brake noise when Maximum Tuning could not. The cost I incurred to correct the problem more than negates any savings I had by not doing it at the dealer in the first place.
Originally Posted by To:Jeff@maximumtuning.net
Dear Jeff,
My name is **** and I am a longtime and proud customer of Maximum Tuning (I have your license plate frame and decals on my car). I originally heard about you on the forums and had several jobs done at your facility including a UD pulley install, two valve body recalibrations and several smaller maintenance jobs for my Altima and Maxima and for the most part have been very satisfied. Last year, I went in for a full brake service (new pads and rotors on all four wheels) for my 2003 Nissan Maxima GLE. Immediately afterwards, I noticed a significant amount of noise whenever the brakes were applied. I returned two times for a recheck and the problem was not identified. I got some silver spray applied to my rotors but that didn’t do much and the noise was back to full strength within hours. I eventually gave up and tried to live with the noise.
This week, I sent my car into my local Nissan dealer for a simple NYS inspection. However, in the process, they identified the source of my problem – and I didn’t even ask them to check the brakes. Apparently, when my brakes were being changed by your associate, the brake shim kit was removed and was never replaced. I can only assume that it was discarded since I didn’t get anything back after the procedure. The Nissan tech explained that it was a series of metal places and lube behind the pads that, among other things, helps to dampen the noise and protect the rotors. I had the problem corrected at my dealership at considerable expense.
I am writing to inform you of the situation and request reimbursement for the cost of parts (not labor). The brake shim kit cost me about $50 in parts, $25 each for front and back. I can provide a receipt of both the original brake service at your shop and the repair by the Nissan dealer. Unfortunately, your warranty period has already expired so I understand if you refuse however I’m asking you to make an exception in this case. Hopefully there is a lesson learned here so that others will not suffer from the same issue.
My name is **** and I am a longtime and proud customer of Maximum Tuning (I have your license plate frame and decals on my car). I originally heard about you on the forums and had several jobs done at your facility including a UD pulley install, two valve body recalibrations and several smaller maintenance jobs for my Altima and Maxima and for the most part have been very satisfied. Last year, I went in for a full brake service (new pads and rotors on all four wheels) for my 2003 Nissan Maxima GLE. Immediately afterwards, I noticed a significant amount of noise whenever the brakes were applied. I returned two times for a recheck and the problem was not identified. I got some silver spray applied to my rotors but that didn’t do much and the noise was back to full strength within hours. I eventually gave up and tried to live with the noise.
This week, I sent my car into my local Nissan dealer for a simple NYS inspection. However, in the process, they identified the source of my problem – and I didn’t even ask them to check the brakes. Apparently, when my brakes were being changed by your associate, the brake shim kit was removed and was never replaced. I can only assume that it was discarded since I didn’t get anything back after the procedure. The Nissan tech explained that it was a series of metal places and lube behind the pads that, among other things, helps to dampen the noise and protect the rotors. I had the problem corrected at my dealership at considerable expense.
I am writing to inform you of the situation and request reimbursement for the cost of parts (not labor). The brake shim kit cost me about $50 in parts, $25 each for front and back. I can provide a receipt of both the original brake service at your shop and the repair by the Nissan dealer. Unfortunately, your warranty period has already expired so I understand if you refuse however I’m asking you to make an exception in this case. Hopefully there is a lesson learned here so that others will not suffer from the same issue.
Dealerships can be incredibly expensive, but this lesson taught me that their expertise might be worth it in certain cases. Jeff has a great reputation on the boards, which is why I was surprised that a Nissan tech immediately identified the simple reason for my brake noise when Maximum Tuning could not. The cost I incurred to correct the problem more than negates any savings I had by not doing it at the dealer in the first place.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 39
EXPLANATION...
I got Jeff on the phone after work yesterday. First of all, he never checks the email I used so that's why he didn't respond for so long.
As for why the shim kits were not replaced, he looked up my info in his database. After a while, he came back and said it was probably because of the brand of brake pads he stocks in his shop. The manufacturer of "Wagner ThermoQuiet" brake pads claims that their pads do not require shims.
Obviously I disagree, since I had wicked noise with those pads until the shim kits were finally replaced by my dealer.
As many of you thought, Jeff would not reimburse me for the cost of the shims. I wasn't expecting to get my money back, so I wasn't as disappointed. Jeff was professional as always in his explanation.
It's still disappointing that no one at Maximum Tuning figured this out or offered an alternative solution in the two times I came back. But clearly, some blame has to be shifted to the manufacturer: those claims are bogus. I should have known - nothing beats the OEM setup. Lesson learned...
I got Jeff on the phone after work yesterday. First of all, he never checks the email I used so that's why he didn't respond for so long.
As for why the shim kits were not replaced, he looked up my info in his database. After a while, he came back and said it was probably because of the brand of brake pads he stocks in his shop. The manufacturer of "Wagner ThermoQuiet" brake pads claims that their pads do not require shims.
Obviously I disagree, since I had wicked noise with those pads until the shim kits were finally replaced by my dealer.
As many of you thought, Jeff would not reimburse me for the cost of the shims. I wasn't expecting to get my money back, so I wasn't as disappointed. Jeff was professional as always in his explanation.
It's still disappointing that no one at Maximum Tuning figured this out or offered an alternative solution in the two times I came back. But clearly, some blame has to be shifted to the manufacturer: those claims are bogus. I should have known - nothing beats the OEM setup. Lesson learned...
Actually, some pads like Hawk HPS also do not need the shims. Even without the shims, as long as adequate lube is applied to the pad the noise should be minimal. Sorry for your troubles, maybe a DIY next time?
Originally Posted by ckohl23
EXPLANATION...
I got Jeff on the phone after work yesterday. First of all, he never checks the email I used so that's why he didn't respond for so long.
As for why the shim kits were not replaced, he looked up my info in his database. After a while, he came back and said it was probably because of the brand of brake pads he stocks in his shop. The manufacturer of "Wagner ThermoQuiet" brake pads claims that their pads do not require shims.
Obviously I disagree, since I had wicked noise with those pads until the shim kits were finally replaced by my dealer.
As many of you thought, Jeff would not reimburse me for the cost of the shims. I wasn't expecting to get my money back, so I wasn't as disappointed. Jeff was professional as always in his explanation.
It's still disappointing that no one at Maximum Tuning figured this out or offered an alternative solution in the two times I came back. But clearly, some blame has to be shifted to the manufacturer: those claims are bogus. I should have known - nothing beats the OEM setup. Lesson learned...
I got Jeff on the phone after work yesterday. First of all, he never checks the email I used so that's why he didn't respond for so long.
As for why the shim kits were not replaced, he looked up my info in his database. After a while, he came back and said it was probably because of the brand of brake pads he stocks in his shop. The manufacturer of "Wagner ThermoQuiet" brake pads claims that their pads do not require shims.
Obviously I disagree, since I had wicked noise with those pads until the shim kits were finally replaced by my dealer.
As many of you thought, Jeff would not reimburse me for the cost of the shims. I wasn't expecting to get my money back, so I wasn't as disappointed. Jeff was professional as always in his explanation.
It's still disappointing that no one at Maximum Tuning figured this out or offered an alternative solution in the two times I came back. But clearly, some blame has to be shifted to the manufacturer: those claims are bogus. I should have known - nothing beats the OEM setup. Lesson learned...
Oh man.........Just cut your losses and run that is my advice. there have been a few memebers on here recently including myself who have had horrible experiences with maximum tuning. I drove all the way from MASS to have my clutch done. that was the worst mistake of my life.
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