P38A How Much? !!!

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DanClarke

DanClarke

Well-Known Member
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Benfleet, Essex
Just had my usual (very good) garage on the blower about the works proposed for the car next week.
>£1,000 :( Apparently it needs new upper & lower ball-joints and track rod. Apparently the parts are non-returnable and special order because of the age of the car and its 6-hours of labour to replace. I really don't know what to do. That's a lot of money.
The car drives fine. All I can see on the last service advisory that kicked this off is that there are split dust-covers on the rear drag link and that the O/S/F and N/S/F upper & lower ball joint dust covers are split.
 
DanClarke said:
Just had my usual (very good) garage on the blower about the works proposed for the car next week.
>£1,000 :( Apparently it needs new upper & lower ball-joints and track rod. Apparently the parts are non-returnable and special order because of the age of the car and its 6-hours of labour to replace. I really don't know what to do. That's a lot of money.
The car drives fine. All I can see on the last service advisory that kicked this off is that there are split dust-covers on the rear drag link and that the O/S/F and N/S/F upper & lower ball joint dust covers are split.
Click to expand...
I have done all those jobs on both mine. Really not difficult to DIY if you buy the swivel removal tool.
 
Mark Piercy said:
We all know those parts aren't special order don't we. Can you get a quote or second opinion. The amount of labour I understand but special order🤔😔
Click to expand...
It's not so much that they are "special order" I think, it is more that they are non-returnable if you don't use them.
Which says to me that in all likelihood it's just the ball-joints & associated gaiters that really need replacing and anything else is just "insurance" (and profit) for them that makes sure the job gets done in one hit.

Though it pains me to have to do it, I'm going to resign myself to letting my state pension pay for it this month and I will make up the remainder. MOT due on the 2nd Sept.
 
DanClarke said:
Just had my usual (very good) garage on the blower about the works proposed for the car next week.
>£1,000 :( Apparently it needs new upper & lower ball-joints and track rod. Apparently the parts are non-returnable and special order because of the age of the car and its 6-hours of labour to replace. I really don't know what to do. That's a lot of money.
The car drives fine. All I can see on the last service advisory that kicked this off is that there are split dust-covers on the rear drag link and that the O/S/F and N/S/F upper & lower ball joint dust covers are split.
Click to expand...
I was quoted 400 quid to do the tracking and lower ball joint replacement. Hence that emotional Monday when I was trying to do it. That was just for one ball joint replacement. See if you can source parts yourself and just pay them for labour.
 
marjon said:
When they/you/anybody are in that far then making sure you give it another 20years is not a bad thing.
Just changing the gaiters at that point makes no sense at that age of joint, to me.

Live long and prosper and spend your money before the kids do :p.

J
Click to expand...
2nd that spend your money on yourself for once
 
WhiskyLassie said:
I was quoted 400 quid to do the tracking and lower ball joint replacement. Hence that emotional Monday when I was trying to do it. That was just for one ball joint replacement.
Click to expand...
A good comparison. My garage is generally very good to me and always discusses everything first. So I find them pretty trustworthy TBH.
 
DanClarke said:
A good comparison. My garage is generally very good to me and always discusses everything first. So I find them pretty trustworthy TBH.
Click to expand...

Maybe they are working worst case, cos they want to keep your custom and it will come in less.

Ask them what parts are needed and what make?

J
 
WhiskyLassie said:
I was quoted 400 quid to do the tracking and lower ball joint replacement. Hence that emotional Monday when I was trying to do it. That was just for one ball joint replacement. See if you can source parts yourself and just pay them for labour.
Click to expand...
My advice would be let them source the parts, if they fail it's their fault.
You can send a link to the parts, that way they know that you know how much they cost.
 
Anaconda said:
My advice would be let them source the parts, if they fail it's their fault.
You can send a link to the parts, that way they know that you know how much they cost.
Click to expand...
Oh absolutely however before a previous garage got taken over by new management I used to source parts and I'd pay labour and they were happy with that. Also it was right next to a parts place.
 
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