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#11
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You should be able to do the struts yourself, then get an alignment.
At least on my car I don't even need to use a spring compressor to do tha back ones, so I should at least try to do those (when the time comes). I also think air bags are a waste of money. I'd also add anti-lock brakes and a few other federally mandated things. |
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#12
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Nate Nagel wrote:
A strut type suspension also allows more room for stuff in the > engine bay, which IMHO is a Good Thing > Gotta disagree, there. Those big strut towers invade WAY into the engine space. Of course, I'm used to torsion-bar front suspensions that put the spring underneath the car and can completely eliminate the intrusion caused by a coil spring (look under the hood of a Mopar and compare it to a similar vintage Ford or GM or a strut setup). |
#13
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"Alex Rodriguez" > wrote in message
... > In article >, > says... > > >Why do so many car manufacturers make cars that require struts these days ? > > Cost and packaging efficiency. You can eliminate some suspension parts > by using struts. Strut suspensions also tend to take up less space. > > >Shocks are about 15 to 20 times cheaper to install. > > That's abit of an exageration. I doubt it is more than twice the price. The non-dealer ( tire shop ) quoted me about $800 in Ohio to do just the front the struts on a Saturn, and wont install the struts I already bought ( and said thats cheaper than a hospital bill ). I got the struts cheap enough for name brand. Maybe I will do it very slowly and carefully in the spring, but if I do, will also buy a better spring compressor, so I can do it safer. ( and keep my hands clear of where the spring will let go, if the spring compressor(s) slips ). Progress = a pain in the butt, sometimes. |
#14
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Tim Kett wrote:
> > The non-dealer ( tire shop ) quoted me about $800 in Ohio to do just the > front the struts on a Saturn, and wont install the struts I already bought > ( and said thats cheaper than a hospital bill ). I got the struts cheap > enough for name brand. Maybe I will do it very slowly and carefully in the > spring, but if I do, will also buy a better spring compressor, so I can do > it safer. ( and keep my hands clear of where the spring will let go, if the > spring compressor(s) slips ). > > Progress = a pain in the butt, sometimes. > > If you're worried about the whole thing coming apart, do what I do with coil springs and struts - wrap a chain around the spring and through a hole in the frame. (Don't forget to bolt the ends of the chain together.) That way, even if the crappy spring compressor comes off (seen it happen) you still prevent the spring from launching anywhere. Ray |
#15
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"ray" > wrote in message
... > Tim Kett wrote: > > > > The non-dealer ( tire shop ) quoted me about $800 in Ohio to do just the > > front the struts on a Saturn, and wont install the struts I already bought > > ( and said thats cheaper than a hospital bill ). I got the struts cheap > > enough for name brand. Maybe I will do it very slowly and carefully in the > > spring, but if I do, will also buy a better spring compressor, so I can do > > it safer. ( and keep my hands clear of where the spring will let go, if the > > spring compressor(s) slips ). > > > > Progress = a pain in the butt, sometimes. > > > > > > If you're worried about the whole thing coming apart, do what I do with > coil springs and struts - wrap a chain around the spring and through a > hole in the frame. (Don't forget to bolt the ends of the chain > together.) That way, even if the crappy spring compressor comes off > (seen it happen) you still prevent the spring from launching anywhere. > > Ray Thank you Ray !!! :-) |
#16
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"Tim Kett" > wrote in
: > "Alex Rodriguez" > wrote in message > ... >> In article >, >> says... >> >> >Why do so many car manufacturers make cars that require struts these >> >days > ? >> >> Cost and packaging efficiency. You can eliminate some suspension >> parts by using struts. Strut suspensions also tend to take up less >> space. >> >> >Shocks are about 15 to 20 times cheaper to install. >> >> That's abit of an exageration. I doubt it is more than twice the >> price. > > The non-dealer ( tire shop ) quoted me about $800 in Ohio to do just > the front the struts on a Saturn, and wont install the struts I > already bought ( and said thats cheaper than a hospital bill ). I got > the struts cheap enough for name brand. Maybe I will do it very slowly > and carefully in the spring, but if I do, will also buy a better > spring compressor, so I can do it safer. ( and keep my hands clear of > where the spring will let go, if the spring compressor(s) slips ). > > Progress = a pain in the butt, sometimes. > > > $800 to do *JUST* the fronts?......find a different shop. Local shop here....front end specialist 30 years experience... 94 Sundance... front struts, both half-shafts, both front hub bearing sets, both tie rod ends, and a 4 wheel alignment, $130 labor total. He quoted me today, $110 labor to put in 4 new ball joints check the U- Joints and do an alignment on my truck... -- Anthony You can't 'idiot proof' anything....every time you try, they just make better idiots. Remove sp to reply via email |
#17
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#18
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"Anthony" > wrote in message
... > "Tim Kett" > wrote in > : > > > "Alex Rodriguez" > wrote in message > > ... > >> In article >, > >> says... > >> > >> >Why do so many car manufacturers make cars that require struts these > >> >days > > ? > >> > >> Cost and packaging efficiency. You can eliminate some suspension > >> parts by using struts. Strut suspensions also tend to take up less > >> space. > >> > >> >Shocks are about 15 to 20 times cheaper to install. > >> > >> That's abit of an exageration. I doubt it is more than twice the > >> price. > > > > The non-dealer ( tire shop ) quoted me about $800 in Ohio to do just > > the front the struts on a Saturn, and wont install the struts I > > already bought ( and said thats cheaper than a hospital bill ). I got > > the struts cheap enough for name brand. Maybe I will do it very slowly > > and carefully in the spring, but if I do, will also buy a better > > spring compressor, so I can do it safer. ( and keep my hands clear of > > where the spring will let go, if the spring compressor(s) slips ). > > > > Progress = a pain in the butt, sometimes. > > > > > > > > $800 to do *JUST* the fronts?......find a different shop. > > Local shop here....front end specialist 30 years experience... > 94 Sundance... front struts, both half-shafts, both front hub bearing > sets, both tie rod ends, and a 4 wheel alignment, $130 labor total. > > He quoted me today, $110 labor to put in 4 new ball joints check the U- > Joints and do an alignment on my truck... > WOW !!! I will check around ! > > > > -- > Anthony > > You can't 'idiot proof' anything....every time you try, they just make > better idiots. > > Remove sp to reply via email |
#20
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Anthony wrote: > "Tim Kett" > wrote in > : > > > "Alex Rodriguez" > wrote in message > > ... > >> In article >, > >> says... > >> > >> >Why do so many car manufacturers make cars that require struts these > >> >days > > ? > >> > >> Cost and packaging efficiency. You can eliminate some suspension > >> parts by using struts. Strut suspensions also tend to take up less > >> space. > >> > >> >Shocks are about 15 to 20 times cheaper to install. > >> > >> That's abit of an exageration. I doubt it is more than twice the > >> price. > > > > The non-dealer ( tire shop ) quoted me about $800 in Ohio to do just > > the front the struts on a Saturn, and wont install the struts I > > already bought ( and said thats cheaper than a hospital bill ). I got > > the struts cheap enough for name brand. Maybe I will do it very slowly > > and carefully in the spring, but if I do, will also buy a better > > spring compressor, so I can do it safer. ( and keep my hands clear of > > where the spring will let go, if the spring compressor(s) slips ). > > > > Progress = a pain in the butt, sometimes. > > > > > > > > $800 to do *JUST* the fronts?......find a different shop. > > Local shop here....front end specialist 30 years experience... > 94 Sundance... front struts, both half-shafts, both front hub bearing > sets, both tie rod ends, and a 4 wheel alignment, $130 labor total. > > He quoted me today, $110 labor to put in 4 new ball joints check the U- > Joints and do an alignment on my truck... Is this a repair business or a building in someone's back yard?.. With labor rates in this area, $130 is less than two hours labor. The Lexus dealer is at $100/hr, Range Rover is higher, and even the local Ford - Case - New Holland (farm tractors and equipment) dealer is $78/hr. Regards, Jim > > > > > > -- > Anthony > > You can't 'idiot proof' anything....every time you try, they just make > better idiots. > > Remove sp to reply via email |
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