In desperate need of advice.

[Gatt9]

Hey all, I'm in desperate need of advice. I just took my car to a Monroe to get checked out, and got a laundry list of fairly large issues. If you guys can take a read and give me your thoughts?

Springs: Right rear is rusted out, I saw the thing myself and it looks like crap. Going to have to replace, I should do the shocks at the same time?

Front Sway Bar: Cracked. Not much more I can say, except any suggestions for a decent replacement?

Brake line: One of the 3(?) break lines leading to the rear is rusted out, looks like it's ready to go any day now. Shop recommends that I do calipers too as the lines are oxidized into the calipers in the rear. Does this sound right?

He's *really* rough ballparking around $1200 for the brake lines and calipers, does that sound right? He's using a single line with the only bolts at the begining and end, rather than a piece by piece setup with connections in the middle he says is common.

Since I'm going to have to go in on the Springs and probably shocks, should I have the LCA bushings done at the same time and save costs? Anything else I should/could replace at the same time to save costs?

Last question, and I know it's not suspension, and I apologize. I was looking at the rear end and the cover facing the rear of the car is rusted pretty well with a gray area surrounding it on the rear end, am I leaking something there and do I need to consider replacing that cover?

Thanks anyone and everyone for fielding these questions, I know I'm looking at a fairly large bill for the work I gotta get done and just trying to figure out anything I can do to cut back on costs.

[elkindw]

Re: In desperate need of advice.

First of all. You shouldnt have to replace the whole differential cover. just the gasket. They are like $5.00 from Advanced Auto Parts. Im not sure about the brakes but you should be able to find a swaybar in the for sale area for pretty cheap. It would be a good idea to replace the front shocks when you replace the springs but if you are just replacing the rear springs and dont have a problem already with bottoming out and dont want to spend the money on shocks I wouldnt worry about the rear shocks. If you dont mind spending the money it would be a good idea to go ahead and replace the shocks but its no big deal if you dont as long as your just doing regular driving. The rear shocks are not that hard to replace compared to the front shocks. Are you doing all Springs are just the rear springs?

[Gatt9]

Re: In desperate need of advice.

Well, I'm thinking if I'm doing the rear springs I might as well do all of them, and then I'm thinking I might as well do the shocks too.

The thing that's got me thinking is the whole 1200 for a brake line and calipers, I really have to wonder about that, just sounds pretty extreme.

[bigbrian442]

Re: In desperate need of advice.

Go somewhere else and get another estimate. The brake line and calipers seems VERY high! A roll of brake line at the parts store is about $25 and fittings are a few $ each. calipers are $55 each. You only have one brake line going from the front to the rear of the car, then a brake hose going to the rear housing, and then another steal line going to each wheel. Seems like this guy is trying to send his kids to collage on one job.

For the sway bar get the 1LE or WS6 off ebay, makes a nice upgrade.

If the rear spring is rusting out it should be sagging big time. They can get rust on them and still be fine. Even if it looks like big flakes.

[Gatt9]

Re: In desperate need of advice.

Hey thanks BigB!

I'm glad it's not just me, that it is a really odd estimate. Something that might've clued me in is this shop is oddly pretty empty where it used to be fairly busy.

I am getting a bit of sagging on the right rear, just noticed it today, seems kinda pronounced. I've also been noticing an odd vibration at low RPM's that disappears with braking, and I'm starting to wonder if it could be that rear spring leaving that wheel floating a bit and pulling on the axle/driveshaft? There is a set of odd "Shiny" marks on the end of the driveshaft about 1/8" in width that the shop owner today told me was because the wheel was floating a bit and pulling the shaft out of alignment a little.

I'll take a look for that sway bar. Only in Pittsburgh can you crack one of these things I swear, we grow potholes like Kansas grows corn...