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]

Originally Posted by 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

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!

Originally Posted by camcojb

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]

Originally Posted by jhiphopjunky

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

I understand that.

[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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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!

Originally Posted by 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.

[Rod P]

Originally Posted by jhiphopjunky

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

agree here 100%

Originally Posted by camcojb

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