Hey guys/girls,

I've been looking at selling my 97' TF Executive for a while now, and have decided to begin servicing it ready for sale.

Given the modifications, odometer and condition, I expect I can probably sell it for around 7500-8000 with the right buyer.

So I booked it into Ultratune today, and got the report back for a RWC.

Aside from some small $20 items that I can manage myself, I have a couple of major issues:

I noticed a clunk in the steering recently, and assumed it was the CV's in some way, however Ultratune @ Strathpine has told me that I need a replacement steering column (both parts of the assembly), and have quoted about $830 fitted.

Also, my front suspension bump stops are worn down, and need to replaced. - Quoted $600+Labour

Finally, my hand brake shoes must be replaced. - No Quote


So, my question is, do you guys know of anywhere that can do such repairs at a better/good price, or perhaps an alternative fix? IE. I'm unsure what in the steering column would require BOTH parts replaced entirely, however the car remains unaffected besides a clunk noise when steering from left to right?

If you guys have any ideas, fixes or just general input, it would be greatly appreciated.

How you going, whilst this may not be specific, but before you do those things for the prices from Ultratune try and shop around first.

Remember thats there fixed prices and the labour fee's are high, try find an independant service centre (ie not ultra, mitsubishi, midas , kmart auto etc)

When I use to take my car to mitsubishi would cost me no less then $500 each time, which is really annoying.. Now I take it to a place where they do it for a good price and let me pay it off slowly - they also do Vics Ambulances in the west and cop cars etc

So its all about shopping around and getting quotes, don't waste money at Ultratune.

Hope this helps, it may take some extra time, but at the end of the day its your money and im sure you would like to keep most of it.

For anyone in melbs west, try Cobra Motors in Sunshine.

Good luck

Go to someone else for a checkup and dont tell them about ultratune.
See if they come up with the same diagnosis.:D

Go to someone else for a checkup and dont tell them about ultratune.
See if they come up with the same diagnosis.:D


:stoopid:
i was going to say the same thing

sound like a rip off mate, $600 for bump stops + labour, thats rediculious, try like $100 at most plus labour 1h max at $80 so absolute max $180 for that job.

sound like a rip off mate, $600 for bump stops + labour, thats rediculious, try like $100 at most plus labour 1h max at $80 so absolute max $180 for that job.

Exactly bumstops are a peice of piss, they must be gold plated.

:gtfo::bowrofl: ...$600 to replace the bumpstops??! ...and i had thought id heard it all!:nuts:

i don't think even pedders could quote that servely :bowrofl:


with the steering take it somewhere else and get it checked could be as easy as lubing the bearing up on the shaft,

and hand brake shoes are a breeze, i would do mine myself, but for someone who's not confident i would get someone else to replace them shouldn't be much at all,

Thanks people.

I will try and book it elsewhere, an independent mechanic hopefully, next week, and see how that goes.

I found it interesting, because he franchise owner didn't specify what was wrong with the steering, just that both parts had to replaced, he also said it was a common Magna issue. Furthermore, he said that I would need to have it done very soon to even keep the car for myself, let alone sell it, which is unusual given that this "clunk" has not had an adverse effect on the car aside from the sound itself.

And yeah, I called about the bumpstops, and he said that he was going to replace a strut aswell, but I still don't know if that's a good deal?

Thanks everyone, I'll keep you updated.

if it is clunking it may not pass
put yourself in the place as if you were buying your car ?

go to better suspension and automotive unit 6/7 leonard cresent Brendale
pm stagma he knows the fellow he is not so tough his labour rate may be less

I understand why it won't pass for RWC if the steering clunks. However, I struggle with the notion that my ENTIRE steering assembly has to replaced without any specific reasons, or more so, while my car is entirely driveable and not adversely affected at all.

...Ultratune @ Strathpine has told me that I need a replacement steering column (both parts of the assembly), and have quoted about $830 fitted.

Also, my front suspension bump stops are worn down, and need to replaced. - Quoted $600+Labour

Finally, my hand brake shoes must be replaced. - No Quote
New steering column on a 10yr old car?!? :doubt: hell, I got a 51yo car pretty sure still on its first!!

Bump stops worn out... what, you drive without springs?! how do they get worn out...
again, my 51yr old MG has some dodgy bump stops 'cos they're rubber & got crumbly
with age... I should change them some decade soon.

Handbrake shoes?! umm, does your handbrake work...?

I'd be wary of that Ultratune, they might wanna charge you extra for
topping up the gas in your shock absorbers. lol

Do you live in Brisbane???

If yes, there is 2 tech shop in Bishop street, kelvin grove. Try those. I went to ultratune to service my car. To me they just charge a hell lot. Cost me 950$ to service my car. Later I found that it would cost me only 350$!!!
Cheers

Go and see Shaun at Goodyear at strathpine. Great prices and he wont give you the run around. Just say you are a QMD member and he'll look after you. He has my TE Advance in there as we speak.

Good luck.

i don't think even pedders could quote that servely :bowrofl:


with the steering take it somewhere else and get it checked could be as easy as lubing the bearing up on the shaft,

and hand brake shoes are a breeze, i would do mine myself, but for someone who's not confident i would get someone else to replace them shouldn't be much at all,

$730 at pedders. They pretty much told me the same thing about the steering sayin i needed a new steering rack.
My local mechanic told me it was BS, could put in a reco steering rack and it would probably still make the same noise in 6 months or so.