So my Magna just came back from a service and as I am not mechanically minded it says on the invoice that the tappet cover gaskets are leaking, they quoted me $445 including the platinum plugs for the rear gasket.

Is this a bit steep? I thought gasket's were cheap but is replacing them easy?

Also my left tyre is worn from the inside due to a Hydraulic Control Arm Bush which is leaking, they also quoted me $578 to fix, is this repairable at home?

How dangerous is it to leave the control arm bush for awhile? As I can't afford to repair it at the moment,

:(

The gaskets themselves are only about $35 each (you need two).
The bulk of the cost would be the labor to change them, especially the rear as the intake manifold comes off, however I think though $445 is a bit much for that job. I'd expect it to be around $250ish (say, $70 for the gaskets, 2 hours labor) and I am unsure how much platinum plugs go for.

We charge $135 inc the Gasket and labour kit for the rear rocker cover gasket

3 Platinum plugs come to $85 (retail) so with plugs and rocker cover gasket done should be around the $220 mark, perhaps even allow $30 for them to unscrew the rear plugs and screw the new ones back in so lets be generous and say $250

The bush, I assume you have a model where the bush has the large nut holding it on, if this is the case (would have to be if leaking) from Mits brand new the complete bush and bracket is $145 and lets again be generous and say $150 for a wheel alignment and fitting (is a 45 min job including putting the car on the hoist but like most we charge a min of 1hr to cover costs) so there you have $295.00

Now I would recommend if replacing 1 bush to do 2 bushes. This will add another $145 but should not add labour as we are charging for 1 hour min anyway so total is now $440 for both GENUINE bushes done (forget poly etc as they are all crap for suspension)

Thanks guys, so they're a bit steep.

I have a 96 TE Magna with the 3.0L engine, i'm considering changing the gaskets myself it seems like an easy job but just takes time, i've read a few things on the gaskets on AMC.

But my main concern is the bushes, Al most $600 is steep for one bush so I may have to search elsewhere and get some quotes.

I did the gaskets on my car. It wasn't a hard job but I took my time to be meticulous. Also I bought a torque wrench.
My fuel economy got better by about 10% after that too

Bush you can do yourself, you will need to get under the car, will need 17mm and 24mm spanner for the large nut on the end of the arm, they are easy to remove. We do stock them for a little less than Mits do them for. Make sure that you have the weight of the suspension back on the car when you tighten the nut up so as not to end up where you began with a cracked bush

Okay thanks for that.

But how long can I drive with a leaking bush? It's already starting to make my front left tyre bald on the inside, I was considering doing a tyre rotation to get some more time I also have a spare but it's a different tyre and having different tyres on the same axle isn't good for handling.

I can't really fork out money to get this fixed yet but would it be horrible if I just left it? Or stuck the spare on it? Or would a rotation be better in the mean time?

Well if it is cracked and you can not afford to fix it catch the bus

Simple fact, to own a car yo need to maintain it, if you cant maintain it and the issue is now scrubbing tyres then it is telling you the issue is bad and dangerous and the car should not be driven until fixed

The bushes are leaking in my Verada too, do you have to remove the whole lower control arm to replace the bushes?

What Mal said two posts above :yeahthat: is spot on.

Sorry to be harsh, but if you can't afford to fix it, catch the bus until you can.

If you want to risk your own life with a bald /scrubbed tire that's fine, but the reality is you are risking the lives of everyone else on the road - and that's not your decision to make.

You're forgetting your mechanic doesn't work on this car day in day out like madmagna, hence higher prices, you need room for error. However i still think you can find a better deal.

Thanks guys, I do agree that it is dangerous and it's a main priority to get this fixed.