I know just enough about cars to get in way over my head.

Long story short, I have a '99 Accord EX-L 4cyl and got new front axles, bearings, pads, rotors and ball joints. Not Honda parts...maybe Mopar?

Bearings were noisy and the alignment was off before I got the work done. Other than that no weird sounds.

After, the right front brake rubs. I took it back to the shop and told them it squeaks. They spent all kinds of time on it, switched out the parts, I come back and they say they can't figure out why the brake rubs or fix it.

They show me the right front wheel with the tire off, and each time it turns, the caliper is floating side to side. It used to squeak every time that wheel went around. I suspect the pad wore off enough that now it's only when I brake it squeaks with each revolution of the wheel. The sounds it makes are getting worse the longer I go with it, sometimes it makes a crunching sound.

I'm about ready to trade it for a used Civic, the body is shot and the engine needs more work than the value of the car. but I'm dying to know what the hell they did to it. Any theories? I know for a fact they used an impact gun when they did all the bolts, but that is my only guess.

 

I doubt Dodge parts will fit a Honda. You may need to go to a different shop and get an estimate on what needs to be fixed if the first shop messed up that badly.

 

Mopar makes replacement parts for a lot of vehicles.

Rubbing immediately following a brake service is normally a splash shield rub, and depending on how badly it is bent, the noise will change pitch from a light scrap to a heavy metallic grind.

This vehicle uses a floating rotor, meaning if the wheel is removed, the rotor will flop around as the wheel rotates. To test for noises in the lifted position, the wheel nuts need to be reinstalled without the rim, to square up the rotor. This too simple for any shop not to do to evaluate a noise complaint.

I would take it to a second shop for evaluation. Often times having the same set of eyes on a problem car gives the technician tunnel vision. At this new facility, have them check the fitness and condition of the new parts. It is possible a wheel bearing was not installed or tightened all the way.

 

Thank you for the reply. I've considered having it evaluated at another shop, but they labor they'd charge me to fix it is probably worth more than the value of the car at this point.

 

No they don't. Mopar has been a house name for Chrysler's service and parts network since the 1920s. At the most it's a general tag for anything made by the Chrysler Corp/FCA/whatever they are this week. Everything else in your post is good advice though.