Paul Matty steering rack

[jimj]

So, with a touch of wear and steering being so important I didn`t buy a Triumph rack and change the Lotus bits, I went for a "proper" rack from Matty`s.........at twice the price. As you`re supposed to never regret buying the best I also had High Peak Classic Auto Services fit it, steering still being so important !
So, on one lock the tyre was fouling the anti-roll bar and on the other the turning circle was enormous. I rang Matty`s and the parts man said he`d ask in the workshop and ring back. He didn`t. I rang again and he apologised and would ring back. He didn`t. That night I e-mailed them, no response.
So, the following Monday I rang again. He suggested the rack had been fitted in the left hand drive holes but this isn`t possible. I suggested the spacers were incorrect, he didn`t know.
So, I unfastened the gaiter, had a look and e-mailed the photos showing each of the "spacers" to be flimsy aluminium tubes, each 3/4" long. "Something`s not right" he said and forwarded the pics. to the rack manufacturers. I rang again,again and he offered to send out a new rack. Fair enough, "but will you pay for High Peak to change the racks".........."errrrr" ! I said just send the proper spacers which they did and I`ve had them fitted and all is well.
So will they pay the labour? forget the inconvenience. We`ll see.
So..........................
Jim

[ppnelan]

So..........................

...if you want to make sure a job is done properly, do it (or at least check it) yourself...?
Annoying isn't it - looks like you should have gone down the Triumph rack + Lotus spacers route after all...

Matthew

[alexblack13]

Unbelievable! But pretty common. Lots of the parts I bought when doing the resto' did not fit. They all needed fettling. Handbrake cable 80mm ish too long for eg. Handbrake rods not long enough! I have quite a long list.

Check everything yourself. A decent home diy mechie could do better than a lot of those pros's 'caus the dont give a toss.

Alex B....

[andyelan]

Hi Everyone

I been buying stuff from Paul Matty for over 20 years and I've never had any problems with them and always found them very helpful. I guess to be fair they are to some extent at the mercy of component suppliers but that not really any excuse. All in all I'm a little disapointing to hear this but hopefully it's just a one off

Andy

[EMA7K]

I'm sure everyone at sometime has a bad time with a specialist. The addage 'if you want it done right do it yourself' does not always apply if you do not possess the mechanical skills. Over the years I have attempted many things (including a complete chassis off re-build) but as I get older and have less free time to work on cars I have come to rely on specialists. I have used 4 recognised specialists in the UK and had problems with 3 of them. I have been using Paul Mattys for the last 8 or 9 years. They have serviced and repaired my cars and rebuilt one engine and recently supplied and fitted a 150BHP engine to one of my elans. At all times they (and in particular Roy Bury and Paul) have been helpful. One thing that I have found very important with Paul and Roy is that they are honest people. They have never misled me on any of my dealings with them (unlike the other 3 specialist companies). I'm sure that if what they supplied was wrong they will put it right. As with everything, a little diplomacy goes a long way.

Gareth

[alexblack13]

Hi Guys,

I deliberately never said who I delt with. I believe all the people involved are very honest and very reliable. BUT.... Another example.. Complete s/s exhaust. For a sprint. Main long down the chassis tube ''has to be 'trimmed' to length'' OK can live with that... Main tube to silencer connection... enlarged and slotted section about 5 mm over diameter!!!! Impossible to get a seal clamping it up. Way to big. This required a modification to get it to fit.How do people without the right gear get round this?? For god's sake..Both from the same (NAMELESS) supplier. Both in the same package/delivery. And they dont fit!!!!. Tel' call to supplier met with complete indifference. Not interested really. The manifold was so bad it was returned and I repaired the existing. It was awfull. The pipe to flange welding was terrible and the pipes overlapped the flanges by quite a bit. It did not fit the studs either.

Apart from that it was well made.

I had lots of situe's like this. Probably better than parts not available though I suppose.

Even worse with bits for Lambretta's. Most of which is cr*p from India...



AB.....

[MintSprint]

I'd echo what Gareth says. The parts team have always been helpful and honest with me and they're probably the only second-hand car dealer I'd trust.

[jimj]

Faith restored, Matty`s have refunded in full the cost of fitting the proper spacers. Credit where it`s due.
Jim