Roman, once employed at a tire shop, discussed all recognized methods of divorce in the context of auto service and offered practical guidance for each scenario to help customers avoid being exploited.
Divorce 1. Clean the hubs
Regular hub cleaning is essential. Dirt buildup can prevent the wheel from seating correctly during installation and can accelerate deterioration. When hubs are very dirty, a capable tire technician may offer a pre-cleaning service for a fee. Clients can decide whether to accept that option.
Sometimes, shops fold hub cleaning into the total mounting price, spreading the service across all customers. Not every customer truly needs it, yet the option appears in many bills.
How to proceed?
In Moscow, hub cleaning costs around 500 rubles. Although the installer should perform it for free with every wheel change, only copper grease application is typically reimbursed. The process is quick: a few passes with a metal brush on each hub, followed by a spray. In practice, many shops charge for cleaning, sometimes pressuring customers by claiming corrosion or trouble with the hub. Listeners who are less skeptical are more likely to accept the offer without question.
Divorce 2. The drive and the claim that the disk is damaged
The tire technician may insist that a disk is no longer fit for use, offering to “restore” its geometry on a special machine—often after placing a discreet magnet on the disk. The price of this supposed restoration can depend on the shop’s appetite for profit.
There are cases where the disk is indeed damaged. If this is suspected, request a full demonstration of the repair process on the machine to verify necessity.
How to proceed?
A thin magnet could be attached to the back of the disk near the hub to create a visual illusion of misalignment, which the technician then claims to fix with a recent purchase. The reality is that correcting a wheel alignment on the machine is rarely straightforward and can require substantial time. Customers may be shown results on the wheel and told that the repair has already been completed, sometimes accompanied by praise for the technician’s work.
In many instances, a customer is asked to pay several thousand rubles for a listed item like “disk correction” and then the disk is returned in a supposedly improved condition. The assurance may be convincing, but the underlying manipulation remains in focus for attentive customers.
Divorce 3. Rusty bolts and the urge to replace them
While removing wheels, a technician may point to rusty bolts and claim many threads are loose, presenting the mounting situation as urgent. A common response is to offer a full bolt set for sale directly from the shop.
Agreeing to buy and replace bolts without a careful check may lead to receiving new bolts that simply shed a bit of surface dirt while missing deeper problems.
How to proceed?
Spotting a bolt replacement as a routine tactic is common. Before paying, ask the technician to show the exact problem. Look for corrosion and note if threads show visible wear. If claims describe a broken edge on a bolt or nut, request two nuts to compare. If the bolt thread has been compromised, it may need recutting or replacement rather than a quick fix.
Divorce 4. Adhesive weights versus standard weights
Balancing weights can be another source of revenue. Some shops promote adhesive weights to avoid disc scratches and to preserve the wheel’s appearance. The message emphasizes reliability and aesthetics as selling points.
How to proceed?
Remember that self-adhesive weights are not vastly more expensive than traditional weights, even if they seem more robust. The choice should be guided by actual need and long-term performance rather than fear of cosmetic damage.