02 repair... good deal?

[haggisgood]

Just had both my struts done (front) along w/ the stabilizer links done at Kearny Mesa Infiniti .. cost $1400 car has been in shop for 3 days now.. should have been done today.. makes me feel (as most others do say) that the work is more involved than expected.. also got an 07 G35 courtesy car in the meantime.. boy thats a suprisingly quick car!Any thoughts into if this was a good deal for the service? or too high..Got the piece of mind knowing it was done at dealership.ThanksHaggis

[maxnix]

Any thoughts into if this was a good deal for the service? or too high..Got the piece of mind knowing it was done at dealership.

Don't know about your inner peace, but I think the dealer got a piece of you. But in the Kalifornia Republic, labor is not cheap. Usually it is the rear that wear first, so I am surprised those are not being replaced. Hopefully they are using all new parts including bearings and gaiters on the front.

Are they also replacing the tension rod, sway bar and end link bushings? The job is not that difficult as MacPherson front ends are very common occurring in even BMW and Porsche besides Tauri. But the common unversed mechanic will often screw-up the speed sensor.

Why you would not employ http://www.jerrytucker.net is a mystery to me.

[haggisgood]

actually went to Jerrys shop (new owner now),, got quote of labor of $340 + parts off of Infiniti Parts USA ($221.??) x 2 plus links $48 and $53 plus S/H.Total is pretty much $1000Car was in Infiniti shop for diagnostic ($115) would have to pay that if I took it out without having service done.. Got 3 days rental of an 07 G35 included...Needed the rental car for work..So all in all I would have prob saved about $200 or so.. Guess I was just comfortable knowing dealer did it.. not to bag on All Import Service.. I am sure their work is just great!Haggis

[maxnix]

Maybe Jerry's shop (now in name only) will do a little diagnosing for free for a regular customer. Job should be done in one day easily.

Please tell me they replaced the gaiters and front strut bearings also at the minimum?

Now about the rear shocks????

[haggisgood]

not to much of a car parts terminology guy, but if you mean by gaiters the boots.. yes they were replaced.Bearings checked out fine..Rear shocks are fine .. were checked .. I must say now I have driven the car (only 20miles), but I can certainly feel a smoother ride.. perhaps cause I got out of that G-car!Anyways thanks for the input maxnix!Haggis

[maxnix]

Bearings checked out fine..Rear shocks are fine .. were checked ..

The bearings are usually replaced at he same time because they don't last 180K miles. The labor to replace them is exactly what you paid + any increases in the labor rate and price cost.

Usually the rears wear out first. All four are usually replaced simultaneously because wear rate on remaining set means they are way out of specification compared to the new set.

Keep your eyes open and senses finely tuned.

[haggisgood]

had the car back for a couple days.. noticed the same knocking noise again but more subdued.. my thoughts is that the issue has not been resolved and the new struts are taking a beating by absorbing more than they should seeing that the noise is still there..Went back to dealer and the same service writer seemed confused.. so today he went for a test drive w/ me .. he seemed to think the noise was coming from the rear.. who knows how that is possible as it is clearly from the drivers front. Anyways.. they took it in for another inspection...My concern is that the dealer is going to tell me its another problem and of course want to charge me for it..When I first took the car in, I told them there was a knocking noise.. so they did a vehicle diagnostic check/inspection.. and thats when they told me it was the struts and stabilizer links..I dont think I should be paying for anything else seeing they told me it was struts and I paid them for that when its something else.. maybe the struts were worn.. however problem is still there.Any ideas or ways to approach the dealer concerning this issue?ThanksHaggis

[maxnix]

I agree with you, but they say this is our best guess, do you agree to pay for our attempt to solve it? When you say yes, they are off the hook legallly.

Why not at least give Jerry Tucker's old shop a shot at it? Like I noted before, dampers and struts anr alllmost never replaced in pairs, but all to gether.

You never commented if they used new bearings for the front strut inserts or if they replaced the tension rod bushings or other worn rubber on the front anti sway bar or its links.

[haggisgood]

maxnix...Dealer now has told me that upon inspecting the vehicle they found the flange on the exhaust wired.. basically was wired open for more flow..anyhows.. how do u possibly associate this w/ the suspension noise in the car?? I asked about all parts including bushings..etc .. all came out good..I have arranged a thorough test drive w/ mechanic b4 I accept that this was the noise..Does the exhaust only make noise over bumps? hardly likely unless it was wired higher than the original mounts..lol..Sounds like dealer is just looking for anything?

[mcrews]

Hve 02f50 w 140kreplaced lower a-arms on front suspenion because of noise over bumps.Big difference w/ new a-arms.still a little noice going over bumps.unhooked the links on the front sway bar (they are attached to strut tower with little swivel ball joints) noise stopped.replaced both.Car drove noiseless 1500 miles back from texas to ca.

[maxnix]

Listen to Mark. Is your dealer's technician a senior technician? I think they are grasping at best. Get a second opinion at

http://www.jerrytucker.net

The wired open exhaust deflector is a specious modification for owners who lliked the sound of two cards in their bicycle spokes when they were kids, and I guess still are.

[ahmed_wasim]

My 02 with 110k miles (185k km) on it has the same kind of noise from front. I replaced the whole front suspension (got parts list form Joe). The noise was due to broken coil springs.I can feel big difference in ride. I am also replacing the rear suspension in couple of weeks. I was planning to replace the front and rear at the same time but some parts for rear were on back order.

[mcrews]

The wired open exhaust deflector is a specious modification for owners who lliked the sound of two cards in their bicycle spokes when they were kids, and I guess still are.

Brian, just when you had started to act better you throw this uot!!!!!

Several F50 owners have improved fuel consumption by wiring that valve open after removing the rear suitcase muffler. of course losing a 45lb wieght in the rear didnt hurt.

I just drove to Dallas, tyler, College Station, Hico & Abilene and then back to Sacramento ....more than 3,000 miles over the last 3 weeks.I got 23.3 average over the whole trip. documented by my gps and gas reciepts.( the car computer showed 22.5....the difference being the 255 instaed of 245 tires.....you know the square kuhmos that aren't worth a crap )

[maxnix]

Sorry, Mark, but i trust Nissan engineers more than unschooled consumers.

And there is no documented back to back tests showing any increase in fuel economy. Anecdotal testimony is not evidence.

Kum-Hos are teh offical tire of teenie 240SX drifters and hiphop celebrities!

I tolerate none of them.

[mcrews]

Well,you and I see eye to eye on the value of the infiniti engineers...........

however, the valve is there because the rear muffler is there.the rear muffler is there to reduce sound in a luxury car.

if the muffler is removed, the the valve's value can be questioned.

if the muffler is still there - as in this thread - then I would tend to agree w/ you.

as i side note and to somewhat validate you point AND mine:my resonator had an exhust leak. It was actually cracked at the back where the pipe came uot. The exhaust shop did have a replacement....infiniti has it all as one long piece......I had them install a straight pipe.result? a little too much low droning AND a slight reduction in MPG.

so whilw the muffler trick works....removfing the resonator doesnot.