OMG! Dealer wants $350 for a brake job and $1,400 power steering rack!

[dumbusername]

HELP!

I found a leak the other day which I knew wasn't oil or transmission fluid. Figured I'd take it to the dealer for the "FREE" 100 point inspection. Turns out the leak is actually power steering fluid coming from a seal.

OK, I'm not a mechanic so I just sorta nodded my head while the service manager drew pictures of why I need to replace the power steering rack assembly, the high pressure power steering hose, front tension rods and alignment. The total price for a rebuilt aftermarket assembly and labor will be $1,400. He did call for a price on the rebuilt assembly and it was under $300. Do I have any other options? Is it me or is $1,400 steep?!?!

I knew I needed a rear brake job. And I figured I might even need new rotors. But DANG I never thought it would cost $350! And although I'd love to be able to do a brake job myself....I don't have the tools or the know how to do it.

My vert has 171,000 on it and well.......I LOVE HER! I want to keep her on the road as long as I can. (I'm an old High School teacher and the kids think I'm COOL because I drive 240sx vert!) Anyone know a decent mechanic in the Long Beach area that might do this types of repairs for less?

I wish my high school didn't do away with the auto shop classes! No Child Left Behind SUX

[BiXLL]

I have not done one on a 240SX, but have done a few on other cars. (racks) While some are time consuming, they are not that hard to do, pretty straight forward and common sense mechanics.

The brakes you should be able to have any shade tree mechanic friend of yours do.

[premo-s12]

the rack sucks to replace without a lift. where in socal are you located?

[premo-s12]

*nevermind, just saw that you're in long beach*

[dumbusername]

But I can drive to San Diego!

Actually, that's a good question. Am I damaging the car more by driving it? I don't have another car. So how long do you think I can go before I have to find someone to fix it.

[Florida240sx]

I'm in steering suspension class right now. You might not need the rack, you may just need the high pressure hose. My turboed 240 I took away the power steering. I like it better wihtout.Take a look at the power steering lines if th ehigh pressure is wet then could be the dealer screwing you or thye don't know jack.There's places that do brake jobs for $100 TOTAL They get pads and thne turn your rotors if needed.Worst case scenario I get pads and rotors al the way around for like $80 and take sme an hour to swap out. If it's just pads then $30 and 30minutes.

[ishkabibble]

If you need to replace the rear calipers, that's a normal price. 240SX rear calipers are expensive. If it's just rotors and pads, that's a total rip-off.

I'd take the car somewhere other than the dealer - find a hole in the wall shop that specializes in Japanese cars, and (if possible) is staffed by Japanese guys.

[redtop91]

You don't need tools to reassemble the rear brakes. Just a 14mm socket wrench and some pliers...

[ishkabibble]

You don't need tools to reassemble the rear brakes. Just a 14mm socket wrench and some pliers...

Er, those are tools, ya tool...

[BiXLL]

Er, those are tools, ya tool...

ROFLMAO

[redtop91]

Pffft. Negative. My mom has those. She has no tools.

[ishkabibble]

Pffft. Negative. My mom has those. She has no tools.

Sweet. I'm going to have your mom do my brakes.

[dumbusername]

Trust me, if I could do it myself, I would. Or at least I'd like to learn.

Chances are, I'm old enough to be your mother !

Sometimes I get the feeling that when a mechanic sees a lone female with a car problem, repairs get more extensive and more expensive!

I've learned sooooo much from this site. You guys know your stuff and are amazingly helpful! I don't think my car would still be on the road without you!

[cmkelly]

My power steering leaks too. I'm pretty sure it's the high pressure hoses. I'm looking online to see the cost of the hoses but so far it looks less than $165 for the parts.
Modified by cmkelly at 2:15 PM 10/14/2007

[dumbusername]

cmkelly,

Thanks for the info. The service manager called for a rebuilt section that includes the whole steering rack assembly and that was under $300. But he said that was the wholesale price and there would be a markup, naturally!

Here's what else he told me. There are rubber boots that keep dirt from getting into the system. My boots are completely stripped so the arms are now filled with dirt and have to be replaced. He said you can't just replace the boots and the seals. Unfortunately, I'm not in any position to argue!

I don't mind paying for what is needed. I just want to be sure I'm not paying for what I don't need. Any money I save on this repair will be used for the NEXT repair! LOL

[Florida240sx]

Lol the boots are just ziptied on. The seals are part of the rack and pinion which in that case you need a new rack and pinion.

[Florida240sx]

No1 in CA going to help out? At least a lookover

[dumbusername]

Thanks of the info Florida. I feel better knowing the replacement is necessary. The price also includes high pressure power steering hose, front tension rods and alignment. Is that worth the $1,400?

The inspection also calls for a transmission flush ($120) and valve cover gasket ($158).

And he said the transmission flush on a car with high mileage (171K) might result in the transmission failing. So why would I want to do it?

[Florida240sx]

Don't do a transmission flush. Change the filter but not swap fluid.Valve cover gasket cost $20 an dis a 30minute job.... but car needs to sit a couple hours... to let the gasket dry. I've driven right away and no problems though Let me price out the parts. Don't know why he is selling you new high pressure hose. Because in racks it's usually the high pressure hose that leaks or the the seals..... Soemthing is strange...

[S13xCrazy]

Although you may not have any tools right now, i think it would be very cost effective to just go ahead and buy a few. I mean, you would save yourself easily 250$ even AFTER buying the tools for the brake job.

The brakes on our Nissan's are quite easy to work with, and any *tool* (including redtop) could do a brake job.

Although the steering rack may be a little more complicated, and you may want to go ahead and let professionals or someone you know do it. Although, personally i wouldn't pay 1,400$ for it The price for the steering rack is about right, as the autozone price is about even with it. (400ish before core return, about 315ish after)

Although, at 75$ an hour, with the price they have for you (about 1000$ in labor) they are looking at about 13 hours of wrench time.

Might be a little steep, but not outrageous i guess. It was just an estimate though so who knows.

Gotta make a living you know *shrugs shoulders* Hate to stand up for mechanics price, but some things have to happen to be able to stay in business.

[SoCal-s130]

Go to a pep boys I have already got prices because I am replacing my rack and pinion as well. They are $320 but when you bring your old one in they give you a $100 bucks back for the core. The rack and pinion is not hard at all to change on the s13's. Just do it yourself!

EDIT** lifetime warranty too!!!11!1!

[94_240sx]

I have a pair of like new condition Nissan OEM front tension rods for sale. Let me know if you need them. I can give you way cheaper than dealership price.

I also had streering oil leak. One from the pump and the other one from high pressure line. I tightened some bolts on steering pump and leak stopped. I was lucky on that one. On the other hand, I had to replace high pressure hose. OEM hose was expensive and not that easy. I could have used cheaper aftermarket pressure line, but saw aftermarket hose busted on babowc's car, so...

You don't have to take it to dealership. If you can find a place dealing with many 240s, they can do a good job and will be cheaper.