Complete Replacement or Just the Bolt

[HolySh*t]

I'm dropping my car off at the dealership on Monday (they're full Friday and Saturday) to have my right rear shocks fixed. The shop that I took it to initially said that the bolt the connects the shock to the car (behind the seat) snapped in half.

Will I need to replace the shocks or should they be able to replace just the bolt? Is this covered under warranty? I just kind of want to know what to expect.

For those of you replacing your shocks are you going with factory or after-market.

I have a 2003 Infiniti M45 with under 53K miles on it.

[szh]

I'm dropping my car off at the dealership on Monday (they're full Friday and Saturday) to have my right rear shocks fixed. The shop that I took it to initially said that the bolt the connects the shock to the car (behind the seat) snapped in half.

Yikes! That seems pretty amazing to me. Was it loose and stressed by some accident or event?

Will I need to replace the shocks or should they be able to replace just the bolt? Is this covered under warranty? I just kind of want to know what to expect.

I have a 2003 Infiniti M45 with under 53K miles on it.

Do you have an Extended Warranty? If not, then you may not be able to get this done free unfortunately - since the time part of the original warranty is over.

For those of you replacing your shocks are you going with factory or after-market.

Short of going for coil-overs from Japan (maker is called Insurance or some such name - I can look it up if you want), there is no after-market shocks for the Y34 that will fit - at least, nothing that I have found with some searching. Argh!

So, you have to do OEM shocks. Cheapest source is http://www.everythinginfiniti.com ... and they ain't inexpensive! Will cost nearly $1k in parts alone.

Z

[HolySh*t]

I'm assuming it was loose. During 2 of my normal maintenance visits to the dealership i asked them to check a squeak that I hear whenever I am driving over a road that is not completely smooth. I had been hearing the squeak for about a week but didnt have time to take it in. Yesterday I went over a pothole and thats when I heard rattles. I pulled into the first auto shop I saw which was a Merchants. I wish I would have asked them what the squeak was after the first 2 times.

Yes, i have an extended bumper-to-bumper warranty. I hope this sort of thing is covered though. There's always something about these warranty's.

$1,000. WOW!!!! That made me laugh. Is that for one or a pair? I wonder how much labor would come out to. If for some crazy reason this isnt covered under my warranty, i hope i can just replace the bolt.

Yikes! That seems pretty amazing to me. Was it loose and stressed by some accident or event?

Do you have an Extended Warranty? If not, then you may not be able to get this done free unfortunately - since the time part of the original warranty is over.

Short of going for coil-overs from Japan (maker is called Insurance or some such name - I can look it up if you want), there is no after-market shocks for the Y34 that will fit - at least, nothing that I have found with some searching. Argh!

So, you have to do OEM shocks. Cheapest source is http://www.everythinginfiniti.com ... and they ain't inexpensive! Will cost nearly $1k in parts alone.

Z

[GJEMD]

bolt is $7.50 rear shocks are $175 each. Should not take more than 1 hr labor to replace both rear shocks. Z must be referring to replacing the front struts as well.

[HolySh*t]

bolt is $7.50 rear shocks are $175 each. Should not take more than 1 hr labor to replace both rear shocks. Z must be referring to replacing the front struts as well.

That is much better news. I guess the bolt is replaceable since it can be purchased. I wonder if the dealership will be honest and tell me that the the entire shock needs to be replaced.

I may get the shocks replaced since i'm nearing 60K. I may hit that around the end of the year.

[HolySh*t]

http://www.infinitipartsusa.co...gid=0

The bolt that is broken is one of the bolts that go up through 16 and 13. Do you think I will need to replace the entire shock?

[szh]

Z must be referring to replacing the front struts as well.

Yes. My estimated cost was for all four shocks. Sorry for the scare!

Z

[szh]

I may get the shocks replaced since i'm nearing 60K. I may hit that around the end of the year.

Good idea.

The performance of all shocks degrades gently over time, and it is not always easy to tell that they need replacement to get back to better/original handling. The results are almost always evident after the shocks are changed!

60k miles is a decent life for shocks. I am now pushing it a bit farther than I should ... my Y34 is at 76k miles and has clearly needed shocks to be replaced for a few miles now. I can tell that the handling has degraded over certain curvy roads that I used to take at high speeds and feel less comfortable being at those speeds now. The wheel hop and slight sideways lurch on some bumps on curves is worse.

Z

[szh]

http://www.infinitipartsusa.co...gid=0

The bolt that is broken is one of the bolts that go up through 16 and 13. Do you think I will need to replace the entire shock?

It looks to me like the center shock rod goes through the center of those two parts mentioned above. I would have thought it was part number 4 that was broken on your car? If so, the shock is probably still fine.

By the way, when you get the shocks replaced (in the future), make sure to inspect the dust boot, that it is intact without tears - part number 8 on the diagram above. If torn, replace it ... helps prevent problems with dirt on the shock rod and early degradation/failure.

Z

[jbillion]

I'm at ~73K myself. Extended Warranty is though 79,8ish, so I'm hoping to have all shcoks replaced before than. I'm going to mention it when I go in for the alignment and wheel balance on 6/15.