Fortunately under an extended warranty, I had my 2017 F-type SVR serviced for oil leaks. I was told they needed to drop the transmission, and I assumed the front axel as well, to get to all the places they needed to for the oil leaks. I get the car back and there is this horrible grinding noise. They said it was due to the front brakes being metal on metal. I knew the brakes were due, but car show no signs of a "metal to metal" condition of the brakes and the Low brake pad sensor never went off. I drove home thinking, even if it WAS metal to metal on the front brakes, it would not sound like THAT. However there was a pretty good gouge in the front rotor...I didnt remember that being there as it would have gotten my attention. I have done 100s of brakes in my life as an amateur and told them that, I would do the front brakes and return the car to them.

I got into this weekend and as soon as I loosed up the calipers, the rotor started wobbling. Hurray! the rotors not rusted onto the hub for once!......wait a minute, its not the rotor wobling, it is the whole hub! I aslo noted the axel bolt (the big one that holds the hub on) was missing two or three threads....stripped. Removed Caliper and caliper mount, and then rotor. Hub definately has a 1/4" to 1/2" play in it. and what I would call spherical play. Not just one dimesion or just backa and forth. All dimensions have this wobble.

SO here is my question. Can anyone confirm that the front axel would probably be removed for typical f-type oil leaks and that they would have been messing with the knuckles/hubs. I videod everything and will be talking to the service manager on Monday. I want to be fully knowledgeable as they were trying to pin everything on warn brakes. Oh yea, the ABS, EPB, Traction control, and EDF error codes were all lit as well. Again, they said because of the front brakes being mtal to metal. Also, brakes were difinitely due, but not metal to metal. Probably 3000 miles before true metal to metal.

I can't wait for the service manager to explain to me why the ABS system needs to be purged and the EPB system recalibrated (rear brake system) due to worn front brakes. Trust me their NOT. there is no mechanical, electrical, or computer program to activate those errors due to even "metal to metal" worn brake pads.

 

@bigbadorange Could you not tighten down the axle nut because of the stripped axle bolt? Any damage to the bearings?

Great detective work, with evidence gathering etc.

Obviously this is not a coincidence. Expect deny, deflect, delay but your evidence is clear.

Good luck and report back!

 

Well, for now good news. I videoed all my work and emailed to my service rep. I get a call about an hour later and they towed car back to shop, promised to fix the hub and any other damage that may have occured related to the improperly reassembled Knuckle...AND do the front brakes for free. Yes, it only costs me about $400 for parts, but they will use OEM and in there shop, that is a $2000 brake job. So, for now it looks like they are taking ownership of their mistake and giving me a free front brake job for my troubles. They also noted that they will not be using the same tech that did the original work.

I can't really ask for more than that if it really all works out. I still might have a independent mechanic inspect the whole front axel/suspension assemblies just to make sure.............


Oh yea, the gouges in the rotor were from the rotor scraping against the caliper mount, that is how much it was wobbling. Brake pads were at 3mm. Definitley time for new ones, but no where near "metal to metal"

 

Glad they are fixing it correctly for you. There are many reasons the front axles could have been removed, but putting them back together incorrectly and destroying the front bearings is unacceptable. They should have replaced the parts that were damaged if they could not reassemble them properly. Glad nothing more severe came of it, i'm sure it will be good as new once you get it back.