Pep Boys Auto Service & Tire at 3217 Harwood Road, Bedford

Reviews

• Joe Bouch

  Dec 28, 2017
  ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
  This place used to be a Just Brakes and apparently they changed the sign but not the business practices of Just Brakes.
  Received a phone call from a mother and daughter we know. The daughter was complaining she was pushing very hard on the brakes but the car wasn't slowing down. The problem was the master cylinder seals under light pressure were leaking resulting in the pedal sinking to the floor and applying fluid pressure to the brakes at the wheels resulting in terrible brake performance.
  The daughter had at least the front rotors and pads replaced approximately a year ago when this location was a Just Brakes for several hundred dollars and had the documentation.
  The list of parts required to fix the car given to the daughter by Pep Boys was: new rotors and pads; new rear drums and shoes; new master cylinder; brake fluid flush. Also suggested were new struts and alignment.
  Total: $2100 (about $1200 for the brakes)
  I looked at the car (mechanical engineer and lifelong car nut) and determined the master cylinder had to be changed very soon, none of the rotors or drums or brake pads/shoes needed to be changed for at least a year, the struts are wearing out and noisy but not dangerous, the steering rod ends were suspect (not mentioned by Pep Boys), and the front tires are close to the end.
  The main problem I have with Pep Boys diagnosis was the replacement of the almost brand new and barely worn rotors and pads. That was a rip off. The price of the other work was high in my opinion.

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