JP,
 I should have given you rule number two which is actually a correlation of
rule Number #1. It is basically to never buy parts from AutoZone, Pep Boys,
Advance or any of the other chains including Midas, AAMCO etc, etc, etc.
(for your jag, for your Chevy they are OK)  A sub-rule is to make sure the
parts you buy are Jag parts or of better quality.  Why should I pay $100
plus for the Jaguar name on a Zimmerman OEM rotor when I can get the same
rotor for $40.  It isn't like you can turn these rotors (or ever should).
   One of the reasons that Independent Jag shops like yours do so well is
because of the lousy service the dealerships give.  I am sure you can cite
thousands more examples of poor service from dealers than I ever thought
of!!
   Any part, including Brembos, are only as good as the installation and
the pads that go with that installation.  I learned the hard way that you
have to have tempered rotors when you use ceramic pads.  Fortunately, the
vehicle as a Dodge van and the new set of rotors and pads only ran me $60.
       When I first got my '88 XJ40, I went through the entire
undercarriage replacing rotors, pads, accumulator, steering rack, shocks,
bulbs, bearings, differential shaft bearings and a few other items.  I spent
$1100 (roughly) and got all JLM (Jag) parts or better. (Brembo rotors and
pads, Timkin bearings).  I did all the labor. I went to the local dealership
and asked for a quote on the same thing to see what it would have cost from
them (including labor)  -- $6500 (roughly).
   I later went to the Jag dealer to see if they could put new Stub axle
bearings on the stub axle of my 420.  Not only would they not do it because
they said they could not get the parts, but they had no tool to take the nut
off.  It needs a  1 7/8" socket 8" deep in order to get the nut off.
   I have owned Jags since 1973 and all over the country east of the
Mississippi.  The dealership here is not a exception but closer to the rule.
I even ran into a woman who had the dealership tie up her car for 4 days on
a routine warranty service.  The reason:  She had bought the car from
another dealership in California --- then moved here.  Since the car wasn't
purchased from our dealership -- every time a regular customer came
in --they put the dealer's customer first.
   There are too many decent places to buy top quality parts from across
the country that specialize in Jags parts.  Xks, Barratts, Manners, Terry's,
Welsh, HD Rodgers, and on and on and on.  Why settle for less quality and
higher price with a dealership?

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