What's the tale of ceramic brakes?

On 03/05/2020 07:44 AM, Scott Dorsey wrote:
> In article >, > wrote:
>>I'm not familiar with ceramic brakes, but they come with a lifetime warranty.
>>Are they really that good? Do they threaten any other brake system
>>components? Do they really last forever? Any informed comments appreciated.
>
> Pretty much all pads have some "ceramic" elements in them. The ones that
> are advertised as "ceramic" are usually low dust and relatively noisy.
>
> They don't have to last forever, they only have to last long enough for you
> to lose the paperwork that came with them.

Pep Boys seems to recognize their own lifetime parts. I needed an
alternator for my used car and was surprised when they told me it would
be free because my core was one of their lifetime alternators. I also
got free brake pads. It really gripes me that I drove my Sentra to the
knackers (Kalifornia Kash for Klunkers) with a LOT of lifetime parts.

--
Cheers, Bev
"I don't trust carry-out food. When you find hair in my cooking
you don't hafta worry about where it came from!" -- Dinette Set

On Fri, 6 Mar 2020 14:44:05 -0800, The Real Bev wrote:

> Pep Boys seems to recognize their own lifetime parts. I needed an
> alternator for my used car and was surprised when they told me it would
> be free because my core was one of their lifetime alternators. I also
> got free brake pads. It really gripes me that I drove my Sentra to the
> knackers (Kalifornia Kash for Klunkers) with a LOT of lifetime parts.

I suspect you have an "account" with Pep Boys, which is how they knew what
you had purchased...

Even so, does Pep Boys consider brake pads lifetime parts?

On 03/06/2020 05:30 PM, Arlen Holder wrote:
> On Fri, 6 Mar 2020 14:44:05 -0800, The Real Bev wrote:
>
>> Pep Boys seems to recognize their own lifetime parts. I needed an
>> alternator for my used car and was surprised when they told me it would
>> be free because my core was one of their lifetime alternators. I also
>> got free brake pads. It really gripes me that I drove my Sentra to the
>> knackers (Kalifornia Kash for Klunkers) with a LOT of lifetime parts.
>
> I suspect you have an "account" with Pep Boys, which is how they knew what
> you had purchased...

No, this was the alternator from a used car. They had no way of knowing
who had bought the thing unless it had a serial number (in which case it
wouldn't have been me), but the guy didn't look it up -- he just
recognized it by sight.

> Even so, does Pep Boys consider brake pads lifetime parts?

They used to consider ALL their parts as lifetime parts. Given that
brake pads are pretty cheap and last at least 40K miles, it's probably
good business to include even consumable parts.

I've always liked Pep Boys. They uses to claim 'coast to coast' because
they had stores in California and ONE store somewhere on the east coast
-- maybe New York. I think they have more now.

Remember when everybody sold 'lifetime' batteries? Some time in the
70s. We bought one for our 55 Chevy and one for our 68 van from
Penney's. We still have the van, and we've replaced the battery twice,
but it's kind of a bitch. Penney's sold all its automotive stuff to
Firestone before the first replacement. We had to take our paperwork in
to Penney's customer service to get an authorization to Firestone to
replace the battery for free. CS people had no clue about this, manager
had to be called...

Firestone guys then tried to convince us that it would be better to
exchange our cheap 'lifetime' battery for one of their new super-duper
3-year batteries. Nope. Also demanded that we bring in the van so they
could check out the charging system. Nope -- "Show us that requirement
in the warranty..." One wanted to take our paperwork into the next
room to copy it. Nope.

We haven't driven the van for a long time, but I still have the
paperwork and Firestone is still in business...

--
Cheers, Bev
=========================================
"Welcome to Hell, here's your accordion."

On Sat, 7 Mar 2020 09:11:01 -0800, The Real Bev wrote:

> We haven't driven the van for a long time, but I still have the
> paperwork and Firestone is still in business...

I know what you mean about being in business for "lifetime warranties".

I have a Sears "lifetime warranty" ratchet hand tool which I want to
replace but I can't seem to find a nearby Sears anymore.

Sears is "still in business" but not apparently in the Silicon Valley.
--
Usenet is so much more valuable, and pleasant, when people act like adults.

On 3/7/2020 3:04 PM, Arlen Holder wrote:
> On Sat, 7 Mar 2020 09:11:01 -0800, The Real Bev wrote:
>
>> We haven't driven the van for a long time, but I still have the
>> paperwork and Firestone is still in business...
>
> I know what you mean about being in business for "lifetime warranties".
>
> I have a Sears "lifetime warranty" ratchet hand tool which I want to
> replace but I can't seem to find a nearby Sears anymore.
>
> Sears is "still in business" but not apparently in the Silicon Valley.

Stanley Tools purchased the Craftsman line. Craftsman brand
warranties are honored at Lowes and most Ace Hardware stores.

Heron > wrote:
>On 3/7/2020 3:04 PM, Arlen Holder wrote:
>> On Sat, 7 Mar 2020 09:11:01 -0800, The Real Bev wrote:
>>
>>> We haven't driven the van for a long time, but I still have the
>>> paperwork and Firestone is still in business...
>>
>> I know what you mean about being in business for "lifetime warranties".
>>
>> I have a Sears "lifetime warranty" ratchet hand tool which I want to
>> replace but I can't seem to find a nearby Sears anymore.
>>
>> Sears is "still in business" but not apparently in the Silicon Valley.
>
>Stanley Tools purchased the Craftsman line. Craftsman brand
>warranties are honored at Lowes and most Ace Hardware stores.

However, the replacements aren't worth the trouble. Toss it and buy a
Wright or Proto.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

On 03/07/2020 01:04 PM, Arlen Holder wrote:
> On Sat, 7 Mar 2020 09:11:01 -0800, The Real Bev wrote:
>
>> We haven't driven the van for a long time, but I still have the
>> paperwork and Firestone is still in business...
>
> I know what you mean about being in business for "lifetime warranties".
>
> I have a Sears "lifetime warranty" ratchet hand tool which I want to
> replace but I can't seem to find a nearby Sears anymore.

What about K-Mart or Orchard Supply? Both deal in Craftsman.

> Sears is "still in business" but not apparently in the Silicon Valley.

You can get free 'rebuild kits' for their ratchets. Maybe they'd even
mail you one if you asked.


--
Cheers, Bev
"I wish I had more time to seek out the dark forces
and join their hellish crusade." -- Clarice

On 03/07/2020 06:05 PM, Scott Dorsey wrote:
> Heron > wrote:
>>On 3/7/2020 3:04 PM, Arlen Holder wrote:
>>> On Sat, 7 Mar 2020 09:11:01 -0800, The Real Bev wrote:
>>>
>>>> We haven't driven the van for a long time, but I still have the
>>>> paperwork and Firestone is still in business...
>>>
>>> I know what you mean about being in business for "lifetime warranties".
>>>
>>> I have a Sears "lifetime warranty" ratchet hand tool which I want to
>>> replace but I can't seem to find a nearby Sears anymore.
>>>
>>> Sears is "still in business" but not apparently in the Silicon Valley.
>>
>>Stanley Tools purchased the Craftsman line. Craftsman brand
>>warranties are honored at Lowes and most Ace Hardware stores.
>
> However, the replacements aren't worth the trouble. Toss it and buy a
> Wright or Proto.

Never heard of Wright, but Proto make the most beautiful tools ever. I
especially like the handles on the tiny electronic pliers -- they're
spread wide at the hinge (node? joint?) so you don't pinch your hand.


--
Cheers, Bev
"I wish I had more time to seek out the dark forces
and join their hellish crusade." -- Clarice

On Sat, 7 Mar 2020 20:59:37 -0800, The Real Bev wrote:

> Never heard of Wright, but Proto make the most beautiful tools ever. I
> especially like the handles on the tiny electronic pliers -- they're
> spread wide at the hinge (node? joint?) so you don't pinch your hand.

That's nice!

I have huge XXL-gloved hands where the strangely delicate "web" between
thumb and index finger always gets pinched by my Sears small needlenose
pliers!

Sometimes, when working in tight spaces on automotive engines, I wish I had
those tiny Japanese hands that made the parts in the first place.

On 7 Mar 2020 21:05:05 -0500, Scott Dorsey wrote:

>>> I have a Sears "lifetime warranty" ratchet hand tool which I want to
>>> replace but I can't seem to find a nearby Sears anymore.
>>>
>>> Sears is "still in business" but not apparently in the Silicon Valley.
>>
>>Stanley Tools purchased the Craftsman line. Craftsman brand
>>warranties are honored at Lowes and most Ace Hardware stores.
>
> However, the replacements aren't worth the trouble. Toss it and buy a
> Wright or Proto.

Thank you both for reminding me that "other" outfits replace Craftsman
handtools, where I had forgotten that I tried Orchard Supply Hardware (aka
OSH) here in the Silicon Valley (who was also purchased by Sears at one
point).

The problem with OSH was that they would only replace that _exact_ item
with an _exact_ replacement, down to the exact model number.

If they didn't have that _exact_ item and, invariably they did not since
they carried very little inventory, it was worthless.

I did NOT know about Lowes or Ace taking up the warranty, but if the
problem is the same, that it must be exact, then it's worthless since
you'll _never_ find the exact model number ever.

Certainly it's just a plain old six-inch 3/8"s ratchet; but everything
depends on whether they'll replace with 'something similar' or not.

As for quality ... I loved the Craftsman quality so that's something I'll
have to look at when/if I find a replacement (actually a rebuild kit would
do me perfectly).

I'll check out Lowes/Ace where what matters is...
a. Must they have the exact part number in stock to replace it?
b. Will they replace with something similar of similar quality?
c. Will they provide a rebuild kit instead (which is preferred)?

The great thing with Craftsman tools is they work great for automotive
repair since they're lifetime quality, even as some of the "moving parts"
tools (like ratchets) break over time.
--
Together we can learn far more than anyone of us can by learning alone.