Well, went to Mike @ 'four play' and had my gears done. Had 4.56's installed in the dana 30 (along with a lock right) and the same gears in the rear chrysler 8.25, and a set of alloy USA shafts for the 8.25. Since they are new shafts they have no studs in them, which is perfect because I had a set of zj backing plates that I had mike put on, and a set of longer studs. Since the jeep has over 220k miles I had him replace all bearings, seals etc.
Picked up axles Friday night, mike and another guy loaded them in my truck, and bs'd for a couple min. Asked him if the backing plates went ok, and if the studs (for the backing plates) were long enough, he said yeah, it was good to go.
He did mention that I should 're torque' my wheels a few times for the first few miles because he 'didn't think he got the (wheel) studs all the way in'.....
I didn't think much of it, said thanks, and headed home. Planned on painting the axles Saturday and putting them back in the jeep today. He said if I have any issues with anything or need any help, to just let him know.
Now, Saturday morning I unload the axles, 8.25 first so I can install the zj discs. Looking at the wheel studs I find this:
Not terrible, but they were brand new studs, and they were/are bad enough that lug nuts would NOT go on! All ten wheel studs look like this!
Next issue that jumps out is the backing plate studs. I asked him, specifically, if the backing plate studs were long enough, and he answered yes. Also told him when I dropped off the axles, that of he needed longer bolts I would get them right up to him.....
This is what he apparently considers 'fine'
Maybe 2/3 of the way through the nut at best....
This is what they should look like:
So with all this overwhelming BS going through my mind, I throw up a rotor, no go! The wheel studs are not in all the way (therefore crooked as hell) so I can't even put the brakes on, or a wheel for that matter. I'd post a pic but you really can't see much detail without seeing it in person.
So needless to say, at this point I'm pissed! However, I know shit happens, so I keep my cool, and call mike. No answer! And his voicemail is turned off.... Wtf? Send him a text saying I need to talk to him. Nothing! Send him a second text, saying I'm disappointed with a few things and we need to talk.... Nothing! (This is Saturday)
Funny thing is, up until he got paid, he always answered his phone when I called, and always texted me back within min's.... I know he wasn't doing much this weekend, he was working on his truck and said if I needed help with anything he'd be around, and to just give him a call.
Looks to me like he's choosing to ignore me. Just want to give anybody in the market for gears/axle work a heads up. Heard lots of good things about Mike, but I'm pretty unimpressed to say the LEAST! Now I can't put my jeep back together, had to buy bolts, and some other stuff to fix the backing plates, had to spend time, and again money on tools to fix the damaged wheel studs, and still haven't figured out exactly how to get the studs properly pressed in.... May take the shafts to six states Tuesday, which means I'm out more time, and more money.
The thing that is haunting the back of my mind, is if he does stuff like this, cuts corners like this, what else may he have cut corners on inside the axles that I don't even know about???
