Beware!!! Abs Power Brake Inc.

[jhiphopjunky]

Beware of these guys! They have poor customer service, their products are flawed and choose not to fix their mistakes.

I chose this brake kit so my 1963 Nova SS can stop a lil better while i figure out my final suspension/motor/wheels/tires/brake setup. It was supped to be a direct bolt on kit.

After installation it appears that the caliper bolts made contact with the inner rotor. I called ABS to find out that they made the sleeve that sits in the caliper mounting hole a bit too long. FLAW!!!

I measure mine and they were the right length. The customer service rep. says that there should have been a spacer included in my kit and he will send a set out. Well now i have a huge grove on both front rotors from literally driving up and down the street once.

I spoke with Ed who says he's not the owner but he is the "end all,be all" at the company. He informed me that this is installer error and will not replace my rotors. I believe he will not replace my rotors because he does not have any rotors. I was told that they change designs on their products often and do not stock replacement parts after a new design is released.
I also asked what i should do if i needed new rotors from them in the future and i was told "you would need to buy a new kit"

So after 15 min on the phone going back and forth the guy hangs up on me! I call back and tell him to send the spacers. I also tell him i will be contacting the person above him to file a complaint.

I know there are more reputable places to find brakes like Wilwood, Baer and Kore3. Well i guess i learned my lesson the hard way!

This thread isn't to bash, but to bring this type of situation to light for other builders and most importantly save everyone time and money!

THE END

[camcojb]

Beware of these guys! They have poor customer service, their products are flawed and choose not to fix their mistakes.

I chose this brake kit so my 1963 Nova SS can stop a lil better while i figure out my final suspension/motor/wheels/tires/brake setup. It was supped to be a direct bolt on kit.

After installation it appears that the caliper bolts made contact with the inner rotor. I called ABS to find out that they made the sleeve that sits in the caliper mounting hole a bit too long. FLAW!!!

I measure mine and they were the right length. The customer service rep. says that there should have been a spacer included in my kit and he will send a set out. Well now i have a huge grove on both front rotors from literally driving up and down the street once.

I spoke with Ed who says he's not the owner but he is the "end all,be all" at the company. He informed me that this is installer error and will not replace my rotors. I believe he will not replace my rotors because he does not have any rotors. I was told that they change designs on their products often and do not stock replacement parts after a new design is released.
I also asked what i should do if i needed new rotors from them in the future and i was told "you would need to buy a new kit"

So after 15 min on the phone going back and forth the guy hangs up on me! I call back and tell him to send the spacers. I also tell him i will be contacting the person above him to file a complaint.

I know there are more reputable places to find brakes like Wilwood, Baer and Kore3. Well i guess i learned my lesson the hard way!

This thread isn't to bash, but to bring this type of situation to light for other builders and most importantly save everyone time and money!

THE END
If they didn't send the correct length bolts and/or spacers to make them work that is their mistake. However, the installer is still the one responsible for making sure everything is correct and clears properly before buttoning it up. Especially on brakes which are known to have clearance issues with certain calipers to wheels etc. I know this is a slightly different issue but it's still something that should have been caught before the car was driven. This is not a knock on you in any way, just my opinion.

[jhiphopjunky]

Your first sentence was 100% correct. This was an issue that shouldn't have had to be caught! If they didn't send the correct length bolts and/or spacers to make them work that is their mistake. However, the installer is still the one responsible for making sure everything is correct and clears properly before buttoning it up. Especially on brakes which are known to have clearance issues with certain calibers to wheels etc. I know this is a slightly different issue but it's still something that should have been caught before the car was driven. This is not a knock on you in any way, just my opinion.

[camcojb]

Your first sentence was 100% correct. This was an issue that shouldn't have had to be caught!
I understand that. :thumbsup:

[Rod P]

Your first sentence was 100% correct. This was an issue that shouldn't have had to be caught!

agree here 100%



However, the installer is still the one responsible for making sure everything is correct and clears properly before buttoning it up.

and agree here 100%

both those being the correct case...means that a 200% inspection is done (in theory) on part installs...and if one like the manufacture (I don't think they manufacture anything they just bundle products) drops the ball the last line of safety is the installer

nothing I build is assembled once, from sheet metal to brakes I scrutinize the product and parts during assembly, take pictures and look for ways to make better if possible, its my ass in the sling or dead if there's a failure...and DUDE I'm having to much fun to die ......

I assemble parts loosely, looking for binds in bolts in case i have to chase threads, and also if a bolt is too long I mark them with a sharpy and disassemble and cut them down, it makes the assembly cleaner and safer to work around, and then I use a paint pen to mark then bolts as there tightened

[GregWeld]

Frankly I don't know how you could install bolts that were so long they ran into the rotor --- and not have noticed that the rotor was locked up tight.... How would you even adjust the wheel bearings etc if you couldn't / didn't spin the rotors... or check for rubbing issues or any of that...


I agree that parts should be correct - but I think that if you're doing the work you also have to accept responsibility for checking to see that things are right. It's your car - it's you doing the work - and the only guy that's ultimately responsible is going to be you.

It's hot rodding -- the guy putting the stuff together is the guy that needs to be the one with the eyes on the job.

Sorry it happened -- but.... we all know there's way too many parts and pieces out there being put together in so many configurations. And parts get shipped that are wrong.

[kwhizz]

Frankly I don't know how you could install bolts that were so long they ran into the rotor --- and not have noticed that the rotor was locked up tight.... How would you even adjust the wheel bearings etc if you couldn't / didn't spin the rotors... or check for rubbing issues or any of that...


I agree that parts should be correct - but I think that if you're doing the work you also have to accept responsibility for checking to see that things are right. It's your car - it's you doing the work - and the only guy that's ultimately responsible is going to be you.

It's hot rodding -- the guy putting the stuff together is the guy that needs to be the one with the eyes on the job.

Sorry it happened -- but.... we all know there's way too many parts and pieces out there being put together in so many configurations. And parts get shipped that are wrong.




Bingo......

[jhiphopjunky]

The brakes were not locked up tight. They spun freely but did have a slight "dragging" sound as if the pads were slightly touching the rotor. I do take responsibility for test driving the car with the sound. Now i know to never cut corners when it comes to quality and customer service. Lesson learned!
Frankly I don't know how you could install bolts that were so long they ran into the rotor --- and not have noticed that the rotor was locked up tight.... How would you even adjust the wheel bearings etc if you couldn't / didn't spin the rotors... or check for rubbing issues or any of that...


I agree that parts should be correct - but I think that if you're doing the work you also have to accept responsibility for checking to see that things are right. It's your car - it's you doing the work - and the only guy that's ultimately responsible is going to be you.

It's hot rodding -- the guy putting the stuff together is the guy that needs to be the one with the eyes on the job.

Sorry it happened -- but.... we all know there's way too many parts and pieces out there being put together in so many configurations. And parts get shipped that are wrong.

[EBMC]

I always tell my guys to just assume the new parts won't fit, they're the wrong ones or defective so scrutinize everything as it comes apart and goes together If it is right, its a pleasant surprise! Don't want to sound negative but that's the reality of hot rod parts.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

I always tell my guys to just assume the new parts won't fit, they're the wrong ones or defective so scrutinize everything as it comes apart and goes together If it is right, its a pleasant surprise! Don't want to sound negative but that's the reality of hot rod parts.

hot rodding 101 :D

if it don't fit, cut the motha

[Vega$69]

Just a thought but knowing the rotors may not be available down the road why not buy a new set now and put them on the shelf so they'll be there when you need them?

[HEEP]

I just had a conversation with a Japanese manager here at work yesterday when he was asking about my hobbies and family. I showed him my car and told him about it. He stated that I am the design department, the purchasing department, the QA, the assembler, and will be final QA when the project is done. I guess when he put it in that perspective, it really brings a whole new light to what we do.

It also means as has been stated, that we have to look at every part as we build.

[Al Moreno]

I just had a conversation with a Japanese manager here at work yesterday when he was asking about my hobbies and family. I showed him my car and told him about it. He stated that I am the design department, the purchasing department, the QA, the assembler, and will be final QA when the project is done. I guess when he put it in that perspective, it really brings a whole new light to what we do.

It also means as has been stated, that we have to look at every part as we build.

Great analogy, you can also add to the list, research and development, fabricator, most important........ frustrater, There's probably a few more titles, LOL

[jhiphopjunky]

I thought the same thing but they don't have any rotors in stock. Ive been talking with Tobin at KORE 3. I think i will get rid of this kit and do it the right way. KORE 3 = GREAT PARTS AND EVEN BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE!Just a thought but knowing the rotors may not be available down the road why not buy a new set now and put them on the shelf so they'll be there when you need them?

[MCB Matt]

Sounds like a bunch of crap to me, that's just sad you were treated that way!! Rotor design change? Doubt it!!

Did you buy a "Stock" style kit? If so, I REALLY doubt they changed the rotor design!

Telling you that you need to buy a new kit to get new rotors? Really? Ahole Customer service all the way!

Send me a link to the kit you bought and I will see if I can identify the rotors for you, they are probably off-the-shelf local parts store pieces that will cost you $20-30 ea.

Matt

[HEEP]

Great analogy, you can also add to the list, research and development, fabricator, most important........ frustrater, There's probably a few more titles, LOL

Scheduler also comes to mind. HAHA and we all know that guy is a waste of our hard earned money.

[jhiphopjunky]

I appreciate the empathy. Here is a page from the website. Thank you for offering a helping hand!

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g207/jhiphopjunky/FINAL032_6263nova_kits.jpg
Sounds like a bunch of crap to me, that's just sad you were treated that way!! Rotor design change? Doubt it!!

Did you buy a "Stock" style kit? If so, I REALLY doubt they changed the rotor design!

Telling you that you need to buy a new kit to get new rotors? Really? Ahole Customer service all the way!

Send me a link to the kit you bought and I will see if I can identify the rotors for you, they are probably off-the-shelf local parts store pieces that will cost you $20-30 ea.

Matt

[GregWeld]

Many people learn these lessons the most costly way possible --- buy cheap crap trying to save some money - only to find out it's just that.... and then buy the CORRECT stuff -- and soon discover why it costs more and also discover they would have been happy as hell to just buy the good stuff in the first place.


There's an old saying about the savings being a short term "high" versus the LONG TERM happiness with quality. Can't remember exactly how it goes but you get the drift.

[MCB Matt]

I appreciate the empathy. Here is a page from the website. Thank you for offering a helping hand!

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g207/jhiphopjunky/FINAL032_6263nova_kits.jpg

I will PM you to get some details, if you can get new rotors and the right bolts at least you can craigslist or swapmeet the kit and get some cash back!

Matt

[wiedemab]

My grandpa had a saying (that he probably got from someone else, I'm sure)

"If you can't find the time to do it right the first time, how the hell are you going to find the time to fix it later?"

You can substitute money for time - -- same idea........

Hopefully you can get it worked, out. I'm not trying to pile on, but we've all been there and this type of lesson is a tough one to learn.....especially for frugal people.

[jhiphopjunky]

I wouldn't call myself frugal. I was just trying to find a simple set up so i could putt my project around while i figure out my final suspension/brakes/wheels. Ill get it worked out. I always do.

My grandpa had a saying (that he probably got from someone else, I'm sure)

"If you can't find the time to do it right the first time, how the hell are you going to find the time to fix it later?"

You can substitute money for time - -- same idea........

Hopefully you can get it worked, out. I'm not trying to pile on, but we've all been there and this type of lesson is a tough one learn.....especially for frugal people.