Review express 4x4
I…read morerarely write reviews; only when the service/work is enough to praise or reveal negligence. This review is about negligence for Express 4x4 in St Robert, MO.
I recently bought an older Chevrolet 3/4 ton and wanted to someone to look it over to ensure everything was in good working order, if not, replace what needed to be replaced. I called a couple shops to a wait of 2-3 weeks. Then I remembered Express 4x4 who did some work on a previous truck; I was pleased then due to good work.
I bring to to Ray and tell him to look for a noise I was having, replace pinion seal due to leak, possibly axle seal leak, and replace anything that needed it. Look at the brakes as well. He calls back the next day and informs me that the brakes were inspected and cleaned; no replacement needed. He replaced the pinion seal, wheel seal rear drivers side and noted a couple other things like tie rod ends and some ball joints that needed replacement. I told him to just replace it all. If it's broken, just replace it. They replaced all ball joints, most wheel bearings, new upper control arm, new pinion seal, new tie rod ends and wheel seal rear drivers side. I pick up the truck the following couple days with a $1100 bill. Understandable due to the amount of diagnosing and labor. (So I thought)
A week later on a Friday afternoon, I'm headed out of town and just before I get too far my drivers passenger wheel locks up on the highway coming down a big hill at 70mph. Thankfully pull off to the side and call Ray. He sends a tow truck, that arrived within 10 min. Fast response. Tow it back and explain what happened. I get back with the tow truck and Ray is driving away telling me "Mike can help you". I go speak with Mike, show him the pictures of the truck and road explaining what happened.(skid marks) He said he would look at it and they would get back to me. I told them I want them to look at everything again, to ensure nothing was missed or anything else needed replacement. My wife could have been driving. The next morning, Ray calls and tells me the rear drivers wheel bearing looks as if it locked up and go HOT. This is the same wheel they worked on and said everything was ok. I chalked it to accidents happen. They've had the truck twice now and have "looked it over".
Fast forward a few weeks and still have this loose clanking noise from the front. So I go to inspect and thinking maybe a 39 year truck has rattles. I discover my sway bar bushing are split and falling out. I thought this shop looked everything over?!? Upon further inspection I notice I was missing 5 zerk fittings on brand new parts, no grease in anything, passenger front shock was unbolted, hanging loose (and the reason for my noise), passenger upper ball joint boot compressed IN the ball joint, and Rear diff fill plug loose (leaking down the side of the differential).
I'm beyond pissed ; had to go to the store and purchase parts; spent the next half of my day replacing parts and installing new shocks all around. Because they were toast. They had this truck twice and "missed" these signs. Negligence is the only word for it. I'd say the only good thing from this is the free tow and now know the quality of work. Once is one thing, but twice to miss these things, especially after your customer gets towed back to Your shop?!?
