City Tyre Services (Norwich) Ltd

Images and photos

Reviews about City Tyre Services (Norwich) Ltd

•  

  Paul Baum Review added: 2018.10.03

  ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
  I recently took my Vauxhall Corsa to City Tyre Services for it’s MOT, it needed a new hand brake cable, couple of bulbs and a front spring.  Repairs were carried out, the MOT issued and the following day I made my weekly drive from Norwich to Great Yarmouth. .
  I was approaching the Acle roundabout at 50mph when time slowed down.  I felt the rear of the car sink a little, a flat tire I thought?  It sunk more, perhaps the mechanic didn’t tighten the wheel nuts? I saw the wheel pass me, I gently attempted to touch the brakes but the brake drum had left the car with the wheel. After what felt like a long time, I came to a halt in the left hand lane on the dual carriageway, around a somewhat blind curve.
  After calling emergency services I had a quick look, stub axle was sheared off, blued with heat.  I retrieved the wheel, the brake drum and outer bearing all still attached, the bearing was cooked.  This was caused by the over tightening of the bearing (it’s tapered and does not require any serious torque).
  Why? Who knows, perhaps he tightened it and then forgot to back it off, perhaps he thought it was another car (some bearings require substantial torque). Either way I was a lucky guy that Friday morning.
  The ensuing 6.5 hour nightmare to get the car back to City Tyre Services was met with a subdued and apologetic response, rightly so. I collected my ‘repaired’ car a week later. They did the absolute bare minimum to get the car roadworthy. The brake backplate had been hammered into enough shape where the brake drum would fit on, the mud-flap held on now with a couple of ill-fitting spring nuts. The car is old but the black paint on the wheel arch trim took a beating as the wheel departed, it wouldn’t have taken much to grab a can of spray paint, or at least wipe off the grease that sprayed from the bearing as it disintegrated. There was no offer of a refund for the work and insult to injury, the brakes had sucked up some air and I was forced to bleed the brakes a day later (safer to do it myself).
  The owner of City Tyre Services admitted the mistake and apologised, I believe he is an honest decent man. However, when I saw my wheel pass me and the flood of adrenalin kicked in, I didn’t consider whether he was decent, I simply thought he had hired a dangerous mechanic.

Add review