For the most part, front suspension systems are straightforward to work on and get the alignment checked at a decent tyre centre afterwards.
Car related thread alert! MOT failure.
- Thread starter Brandane
- Start date
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For the most part, front suspension systems are straightforward to work on and get the alignment checked at a decent tyre centre afterwards.
Don't you need clamps to keep the springs compressed when dismantling and re-assembling though?
Last time I had to get an alignment check done (long time ago) I seem to recall it was about £50.. Then there is the MOT re-test at £50+, so it's eroding the savings away already and I still have to buy parts and do the job....
Probably not unless you are replacing springs or shocks.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Suspension components I'll let the garage do as the bolts often need a fair amount of persuasion. I'll do all the routine stuff and have the electronic service manual for the car. The only issues I've had with my 2002 Nissan Primera have been air con radiator (holed by road debris), new air con pipe - fractured, and a new cat. Unfortunately each of these jobs were £400-£600, but over the 13 years I've had the car it's not bad.
I do the routine stuff myself, and have done central locking motors on the wife's yaris and even changed the built in 'radio' when it went faulty - dash out job but it's a known issue, and I found a replacement OEM unit on ebay for £25.
Finding a good independent is sometimes tricky. Fortunately we have one very good garage that is very busy and seems to look after just about everyone's cars. I also use another specialist for air con.
Stuff needing big spanners goes to the garage.
There is a known issues with a number of Nissans - whilst the bodywork and underneath is well protected, the radiator support panel isn't - and it can rust to bits. Fortunately it's something I knew about and when it started to corrode, I hammerited the exterior and used spray grease in all the holes and coated the inside. This stopped the corrosion. I do regularly top up underseal on the suspension arms and struts under the car.
I do the routine stuff myself, and have done central locking motors on the wife's yaris and even changed the built in 'radio' when it went faulty - dash out job but it's a known issue, and I found a replacement OEM unit on ebay for £25.
Finding a good independent is sometimes tricky. Fortunately we have one very good garage that is very busy and seems to look after just about everyone's cars. I also use another specialist for air con.
Stuff needing big spanners goes to the garage.
There is a known issues with a number of Nissans - whilst the bodywork and underneath is well protected, the radiator support panel isn't - and it can rust to bits. Fortunately it's something I knew about and when it started to corrode, I hammerited the exterior and used spray grease in all the holes and coated the inside. This stopped the corrosion. I do regularly top up underseal on the suspension arms and struts under the car.
D
Deleted member 1258
Guest
I've never learnt how to maintain a car, dispite doing my own maintenance on the motobikes I owned as a spotty youth, now I'm retired and have time on my hands perhaps I should, a course would be a good way of filling a dark winter evening, the learning curve will start this summer though, I have some corrosion to deal with.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Funny that, my dad was a mechanic - doesn't bother now, just drops it into the local garage.
Vapin' Joe
Formerly known as Smokin Joe
- Location
- Bare headed cyclist, Smoker
Same here these days. I'm too old to go lying on my back in the cold and wet (Most things only go wrong when it's cold and wet). Simple stuff I'll still do, but even the things that used to be routine like starter motors and alternators are a real pain now as they are invariably accessed from underneath the car.
GrumpyGregry
Here for rides.
Acoustic Image Head and cab, Godin electric bass, and a cargo bike. Sorted.
I used to travel to gigs on the underground....
subaqua
What’s the point
- Location
- Leytonstone
Same for my pops too. Although he stopped professional spannering in 1970, when he went on the line at vauxhalls, for a lot more money.
I spent a good chunk of my childhood helping him fix the car we owned. At 12 I could strip down and rebuild a pinto engine and a crossflow ( Kent) engine . Made me a nice bit of money at 17 as mates knew I could fix cars.
