Ok ... I am not a mechanic, sorry for the misdirection, but think if there was one here on CP that he/she should start this topic.
I have my 97 Camry in for maintenance and am pretty sure I am going to need new shocks and(or?) struts. Every bump or Crack. On. Every. Road. is felt.
- Anyone have a guess as to the cost?
- My mechanic said I could probably just replace the "links" (he said links, I believe he was referring to struts ... maybe trying to dumb it down for me?) to cut down on the noise, as a cheaper solution. It is an older car and doesnt need to be perfect.
the 'links' are a small bolt/bushing set up at the ends of your stabilizer bar....when the bushings wear out, they are very noisy over bumps and turning.....this is probably what he is talking about.
your car would have struts on the front, more than likely shocks in the back dependant upon the rear suspension set up.
If you can see visible oil leaks from the shaft seal on the struts, replace them....quick check is just to push down hard on each corner of the car.....does it compress easy? bounce? replace them...if you have worn front struts, it affects everything from ride to steering to braking......new struts make a big difference, big
Check your strut mounts too. Open the hood and look at them while you bounce the car up and down and look for movement/ listen for noise at the strut mount. They tend to wear out and you get clunking noises.
If I was to replace them myself Struts are anywhere from 80-200 a piece, mounts/bearing 25-50 each, sway bar links around 25 a piece (jobber prices). Labour should be 2-3 hours and a wheel alignment after for another 100.
If you are just feeling the cracks in the road it is more than likely a link or strut mount. Possibly a control arm bushing or a ball joint. You really need to have someone help you bounce the car while you look for movement in the components.
If the car is bouncing around after you hit a bump then your shocks and struts are the culprit. If the car is sagging, bottoming out then the springs are compressed and have lost their 'bounce'.
I'm a bit opinionated on the subject because I am a car enthusiast. It frustrates me to no end to see crap boxes bouncing down the street, spewing smoke, screeching while braking or rattling and ticking to no end. If you aren't going to properly maintain your vehicle, sorry, keep it off the road.
But why spend $2000 on a suspension job when you could only sell your car for $2000? (honest question)
Huge dilema isn't it. I have a $2500 truck that needs close to a grand invested in the transmission. Is it worth it if I can get $1500 as is? Not from a pure investment perspective, but you will get the best part of the life out of the new parts, + you don't have the hassle of finding another vehicle and selling yours. Any car you buy will probably need some work so you may as well put it into the one you have. Unless you are looking for an excuse to get a new one......
p.s. for $2000 you could replace every suspension component on that car. Would be a nice comfortable ride then.
But why spend $2000 on a suspension job when you could only sell your car for $2000? (honest question)
If you sell the car, you have no car.
If you fix the car, you have a car that is in proper working condition.
Unless your mechanic has quoted you $2,000 for the parts (which sounds like he's attempting to forcibly enter your anal cavity), your repairs shouldn't be anywhere near that much.
Sell the car if you don't think it's worth it and buy something that doesn't have buggered suspension. But if you use the car a lot and intend on keeping it for a long time, then put the money into it.
A car with a clean bill of health will sell for more than one that bounces around on the road from shot struts, etc.
Get a better car or drive it into the ground, your car has now entered the beater stage of it's lifespan. Save your money it's going to turn into a money pit, it's a '97.
are there any honest garages out there? i went to silver springs certigard for a long time but they zapped my ipod charger/player during an oil change and refused to fix it.
hey my question is i am not sure what happend to my car yesterday, i was driving and would lose power as i could have 5000 rpm but the car only going 50 km/h.
then finally the car just wouldnt move forward only reverse. new transmission? what do you think?
__________________
POSTER FORMERLY KNOWN AS AJCGY
In the words of Ron Burgandy
"I am going to punch you rite in the baby maker, a shot right to the ovaries"
My charger, not the ipod. I have a simple link ipod charger/player that goes in thru the glove box to the back of the radio into the AUX. When I picked up my car the clock was reset, as if the battery was disconnected. From then on after my ipod would play in my car but not charge. Directly after too, it was working the day of the oil change.
Luckily futureshop replaced it for free but I'll never go back to that garage, they fought me tooth and nail and refused to fix it even tho it was clearly done by them shorting something during an oil change
I recently rented a car from some car lot and there's some sort of red liquid all over the inside of the trunk and the latch is sort of bent. Could this be some sort of fuel leak?
__________________
"An adherent of homeopathy has no brain. They have skull water with the memory of a brain."
I'm a mechanic, Go ahead and ask me anything
