Jump to content
CaddyInfo Cadillac Forum

Front End Work? Time Sensitive!


WarrenJ

Recommended Posts

I'm kinda new in my neighborhood and haven't yet found a reliable mechanic. That's sad, because thirty miles from here I had a GREAT mechanic.

Anyway, I just dropped off my baby at a (new-to-me) local garage for a number of repairs. The BIG one is a calunkity-clunk (sp?) noise in the front at virtually any speed. Stearing is tight. I'm guessing I'll be phoned with an estimate for CV stuff.

Can anyone suggest a fair price for non-dealership repair?

I'm not cheap, but I'd prefer not to be ripped off. :rolleyes:

Regards,

Warren

Posted Image

There is no means of avoiding the final collapse of a boom brought about by credit expansion. The alternative is only whether the crisis should come sooner as the result of a voluntary abandonment of further credit expansion, or later as a final and total catastrophe of the currency system involved. - Ludwig von Mises

Link to comment
Share on other sites


That's sad, because thirty miles from here I had a GREAT mechanic.

IMHO a great mechanic is worth driving thirty miles or even more.

The saddest thing in life is wasted talent

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is going to sound WACKY but, as you know I live in Smithtown on Long Island, I get my haircut in Sunnyside, Queens......, its 45.4 miles according to MS Mappoint! :blink: Many people laugh at me when I tell them I drive 45 miles to get my haircut. But I'm a handsome dog and have perfect confidence in a haircutter I have had since 1978! B) I just schedule my haircuts around other things I need to do in the area..... (and sometimes my hair gets shaggy, but I eventually get there)

As Adallak said 30 miles? :blink:

Good, honest, mechanics are harder to find than good haircutters! :lol:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is going to sound WACKY but, as you know I live in Smithtown on Long Island, I get my haircut in Sunnyside, Queens......, its 45.4 miles according to MS Mappoint! :blink: Many people laugh at me when I tell them I drive 45 miles to get my haircut. But I'm a handsome dog and have perfect confidence in a haircutter I have had since 1978! B) I just schedule my haircuts around other things I need to do in the area..... (and sometimes my hair gets shaggy, but I eventually get there)

As Adallak said 30 miles? :blink:

Good, honest, mechanics are harder to find than good haircutters! :lol:

Mike,

I'm happy for you that you have hair ! CI BTW. :D:D

Have you checked out http://maps.google.com? You'll find your barber there.

**********************************

Adallak,

I'm a year here and then some. I've been travelling to my old mechanic for a year plus. Generally speaking, I make the 60 mile round trip for anything of import. Nonetheless, I'd like to find a qualified mechanic a little closer to home. I'm sure you'll understand. A morning's flat tire; a dead battery etc. I'd like to develop a relationship with a mechanic nearer home. This is my first "test" of a local.

Regards,

Warren

Posted Image

There is no means of avoiding the final collapse of a boom brought about by credit expansion. The alternative is only whether the crisis should come sooner as the result of a voluntary abandonment of further credit expansion, or later as a final and total catastrophe of the currency system involved. - Ludwig von Mises

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mike,

My barber is in Elmont, about 20 miles from home. http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=40.688971,-...04088&t=k&hl=en

Regards,

Warren

EDIT: That's Dutch Broadway E-W BTW.

Posted Image

There is no means of avoiding the final collapse of a boom brought about by credit expansion. The alternative is only whether the crisis should come sooner as the result of a voluntary abandonment of further credit expansion, or later as a final and total catastrophe of the currency system involved. - Ludwig von Mises

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have tried others, I am spoiled, like I said, I have used him since 1978.... The first time I went someplace else I got scalped...

Yeah, GREAT! But who?

Near Me???

Regards,

Warren

Posted Image

There is no means of avoiding the final collapse of a boom brought about by credit expansion. The alternative is only whether the crisis should come sooner as the result of a voluntary abandonment of further credit expansion, or later as a final and total catastrophe of the currency system involved. - Ludwig von Mises

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In Smithtown, your basic $7 haircut.... :unsure: Scalped

So the moral to the story is, and to get this back OT.... If you have a good mechanic..... keep him... Find someone locally for flats, oil changes, etc, but keep the mechanic

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In Smithtown, your basic $7 haircut.... :unsure: Scalped

So the moral to the story is, and to get this back OT.... If you have a good mechanic..... keep him... Find someone locally for flats, oil changes, etc, but keep the mechanic

Mike,

I'm afraid I misunderstood altogether !!

I thought you were speaking about a reliable mechanic. Lemme know if you are aware of one in our area.

Regards,

Warren

Posted Image

There is no means of avoiding the final collapse of a boom brought about by credit expansion. The alternative is only whether the crisis should come sooner as the result of a voluntary abandonment of further credit expansion, or later as a final and total catastrophe of the currency system involved. - Ludwig von Mises

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I thought you might be talking about mechanics. I used to know a good mechanic in Rocky Point, but that is also about 25 miles. I try to find specialists for anything I can't do myself. I use Walt's Radiator in Port Jeff for my radiator and AC charging. ABA in Amityville for inspections. BJ's (Exit 58 LIE) and Costco for tires and tire repairs. And Smithtown Auto Detail in St James for physical repair work, vinyl, tops, seats, window tinting, pin striping, etc.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I thought you might be talking about mechanics. I used to know a good mechanic in Rocky Point, but that is also about 25 miles. I try to find specialists for anything I can't do myself. I use Walt's Radiator in Port Jeff for my radiator and AC charging. ABA in Amityville for inspections. BJ's (Exit 58 LIE) and Costco for tires and tire repairs. And Smithtown Auto Detail in St James for physical repair work, vinyl, tops, seats, window tinting, pin striping, etc.

Mike,

Thanks, that's good to know.

Regards,

Warren

Posted Image

There is no means of avoiding the final collapse of a boom brought about by credit expansion. The alternative is only whether the crisis should come sooner as the result of a voluntary abandonment of further credit expansion, or later as a final and total catastrophe of the currency system involved. - Ludwig von Mises

Link to comment
Share on other sites

warren J...

I just got done with cv's on my 93 sts.. Pepboys parts and labor was $300 out the door. (you dont need the alignment) It only fixed one of the two noises I heard. If you had a good guy 30 miles away keep going back to him. A good mechanic is like a good woman, hard to find when you dont have one..

scotty,

As far as the hair cut I travel from houston to daytona to get my hair cut. I might not be as a "handsome dog" as you, but I do know a good haircut when I see/get one. Thank god travel is free or that would be one hella expensive haircut.

Mike D

Cop didn't see it, I didn't do it!

93 STS 225,000 Miles

99 STS 111,000 Miles

Link to comment
Share on other sites

scotty,

As far as the hair cut I travel from houston to daytona to get my hair cut. I might not be as a "handsome dog" as you, but I do know a good haircut when I see/get one. Thank god travel is free or that would be one hella expensive haircut.

Mike D

You are making me look good! Yes that would be an expensive haircut! See once you find a good service keep it! I am dredding the day that my haircutter moves to Florida.... he is considering it...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Okay, got the car back from the local "test" garage. I guess I gotta go back to the 30 mile away guy.

I wasn't specific in my first post, so let me take a moment to be more so this time around.

When I dropped the car off I complained of three things:

1) A "Clunkity-clunk (sp?) sound from the front end. Steering is tight.

2) A "squealing" noise @ 1700RPM when the AC was on.

3) RF tire required air every four days.

For $82.00 I learned the following:

1) I need active front struts @ $1400.94/each plus install labor ($246).

Interestingly, my vehicle doesn't have RSS.

2) I need a new AC compressor @ $1104.95. (The "squeal" is from the pulley bearing).

3) I need brake pads @ $154.95 and rotors @ $331.75. (Brakes were done less than 1,000 miles ago).

4) Tire Fix: $13.00.

Ship High In Transport,

Warren

Posted Image

There is no means of avoiding the final collapse of a boom brought about by credit expansion. The alternative is only whether the crisis should come sooner as the result of a voluntary abandonment of further credit expansion, or later as a final and total catastrophe of the currency system involved. - Ludwig von Mises

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would take off the front wheels to see what is wrong with pads. They are most likely fine and if rotors were bad you would have pulsation which is hard to overlook. :angry: The rest is classical stealership talk as well...

The saddest thing in life is wasted talent

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would take off the front wheels to see what is wrong with pads. They are most likely fine and if rotors were bad you would have pulsation which is hard to overlook.    :angry: The rest is classical stealership talk as well...

YES, as I noted, the brakes had been done less than 1,000 miles previously. There was no reason to have at them again!

Regards,

Warren

Posted Image

There is no means of avoiding the final collapse of a boom brought about by credit expansion. The alternative is only whether the crisis should come sooner as the result of a voluntary abandonment of further credit expansion, or later as a final and total catastrophe of the currency system involved. - Ludwig von Mises

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE (adallak @ Apr 20 2005, 05:36 PM)

I would take off the front wheels to see what is wrong with pads. They are most likely fine and if rotors were bad you would have pulsation which is hard to overlook.    mad.gif The rest is classical stealership talk as well...

YES, as I noted, the brakes had been done less than 1,000 miles previously. There was no reason to have at them again!

Regards,

Warren

Warren, brakes can go bad even in 500 miles if say caliper pins are bad or bushings are not properly lubricated, the caliper is frozen etc. But if the brake job was done by your trusted mechanic it is unlikely they would fail that fast. Just an easy test to make sure those guys are liers.

The saddest thing in life is wasted talent

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The compressor pulley bearing can be replaced with the compressor on the car and you don't need to mess with the refrigerant charge. You do need a few specialized tools but many parts stores rent them...

Nobody wants to replace a $20 shaft seal or a pulley bearing anymore....they always want to replace the compressor to the tune of $1000.....

I'm pretty sure your '95 Eldorado has electronic struts but $1500 is pretty steep. About the only estimate that was the tire repair.....

Kevin
'93 Fleetwood Brougham
'05 Deville
'04 Deville
2013 Silverado Z71

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The compressor pulley bearing can be replaced with the compressor on the car and you don't need to mess with the refrigerant charge.  You do need a few specialized tools but many parts stores rent them...

Looking back on my post I see that I wasn't clear at all. The noise is coming NOT from the compressor, but rather from the tensioner pulley bearing. Certainly not an $1100 repair. ;)

Regards,

Warren

Posted Image

There is no means of avoiding the final collapse of a boom brought about by credit expansion. The alternative is only whether the crisis should come sooner as the result of a voluntary abandonment of further credit expansion, or later as a final and total catastrophe of the currency system involved. - Ludwig von Mises

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...