What a shame. How dishonorable is THAT? Situations like this give honest mechanics fits.

If this had happened to me, I would have driven back there in January with my receipt from September's work, and thrown it in their faces.

To do a Rube Goldberg repair on BRAKES puts your safety at risk. How absurd.

I wonder, since so much time has passed, if you can prove this. I'd still present my case in person, if for no other reason than to tell them personally you know what they did. I'd also give the "I'm going to tell all my friends about what your shop did" threat (and I would do it).

I still am shocked someone welded a brake part to disguise their error.