SHOCKing...advice please!

[dawnrazor]

The cage was dropped in for its WOF today. Had a bad feeling about it because the "check engine" light has been coming on and going out alot recently...By all accounts the "check engine" light is faulty, WTF.

Anyway I digress, it failed the WOF, seemingly the shocks are rooted. Balls.

There are aftermarket jobbies on it atm (no clue as to what kind, they came with the car) and the garage said it would cost $400 for the front and $600 for the rear ( I assume thats for a set, front and back), to replace them with similiar items.

Can anyone in the know tell me how much new shocks for a WRX should cost!

I realise, like everything, there will be different choices here from "bog standard" to "cor blimey". So any indication as what decent shocks should cost would be great

Thanks

[Colapop]

'bout that, depending on where you go...

[Edbear]

Call Tim, (Classic_Z), 09-424 0477 and tell him you're a KB'r. Might help?

[Jonny Rotten]

ah well.....just to give you an idea....my flat mates jeep cherokee was goin to cost 600 for the rear shocks to be replaced....i priced up some munro gas shocks for it at $180 for the pair and it took me about 2 hours to fit them.... so if you think your willing and able id say do it yourself it will save you alot of money....other wise try sending classic zed a pm...he owns a workshop in whangaporoa he'll look after you

[Sniper]

I presume they are quoting you for the entire struts including fitting. Bloody ridiculous pricing. You should be able to get the entire set of shocks done for a shit load less. Shop around mate

[Kickaha]

I presume they are quoting you for the entire struts including fitting. Bloody ridiculous pricing. You should be able to get the entire set of shocks done for a shit load less. Shop around mate

That would depend entirely on what type and brand they are pricing on, it wasn't uncommon for us to fit sets that were $1400 + if they are quoting on OE Subaru I'd expect prices like that

Something like munros I wouldn't expect to pay more than around $500-600 a full set fitted, with a WRX I wouldn't expect it to take much longer than an hour to do as like most jap cars they're pretty simple to work on but you'd need an alignment afterwards as well

If they are aftermarket They may be rebuidalbe so you could try George Stocks or Autolign who both offer a rebuild service although that option means you're without a car for a few days

[elle-f]

We had a problem a couple of years back with the check engine light coming on and it turned out to be something easy......i think it was the brake fluid that needed to be filled up again.

[Motu]

$400 per end is a normal price,the rear are priced higher so I presume they cost more.If you want cheap you could try 2nd hand,but that's a bit pointless.I use KYB mostly,they are OE and priced well.

The Check Engine light means the computer has picked up a problem with a sensor,best you find out what's wrong,before you do find out what's wrong.....dark night,rain...y'know.....

[dawnrazor]

The Check Engine light means the computer has picked up a problem with a sensor,best you find out what's wrong,before you do find out what's wrong.....dark night,rain...y'know.....

Well, when they hooked up the dianostic computer thing, it told them that the 'light senor' had failed!

[dawnrazor]

Thanks folks, had a chat with Lou about this last night as well...

Will touch base as to end result when I have talked to the garage, but at this stage its looking like a trip to a shock shop and/or an independent opinion for starters.

[Motu]

Well, when they hooked up the dianostic computer thing, it told them that the 'light senor' had failed!

That's a new one on me.....if the light sensor failed surely it would fail to light?

Shocks will fail on lack of damping,oil leaks or noise,there will be a reluctance to fit only one side as the otherside may then be weak....and this will come back on them.Still,it's only your safety afterall - I don't care if you die,but I will be pissed off if you take out one of my family....

[dawnrazor]

That's a new one on me.....if the light sensor failed surely it would fail to light?


no sorry, not making myself clear....the sensor that triggers the light was not working properly, hence it kept firing on and off for no reason, the light is fine...at least thats what the garage said

[dawnrazor]

Still,it's only your safety afterall - I don't care if you die,but I will be pissed off if you take out one of my family....

Have I somehow given you the impression that I have no intention of replacing the shocks?

When in fact the opposite is true, and in all likelihood I'll replace all four shocks tommorrow, I simply want to be armed with some prior knolwedge before talking about something I know very little about...no harm in that is there!

[dawnrazor]

Couple of quotes for anyone interested:

Pitstop

$1033 for 4 monroe shocks fitted inc. GST and labour and wheel alignment

Shock shop

$350/ shock (I didn't get any further with this for obvious reasons)

Wingers

1000 for 4 shocks (fitting/labour/GST/wheel alignment ALL extra)

interesting eh! Not cheap, but not as bad as a bike though!

[Motu]

Have I somehow given you the impression

You somehow gave me the impression you were contesting their decision that the shocks were faulty.

The thing that triggers the light is the computer,part of it's self diagnosis.There is no sensor to activate the lamp.

Stay away from the franchise dealers,their prime motive is to make lots of money.Go to a local garage - they will buy the shocks from Stocks and charge you retail,and charge labour as time on the job.

[dawnrazor]

You somehow gave me the impression you were contesting their decision that the shocks were faulty.

No, I just decided to get the work done elsewhere unless they can match the pitstop quote...


The thing that triggers the light is the computer, part of it's self diagnosis.There is no sensor to activate the lamp.

So what do they mean by telling me that nothing was wrong, only the senor system was malfuctioning?


Stay away from the franchise dealers,their prime motive is to make lots of money.Go to a local garage - they will buy the shocks from Stocks and charge you retail,and charge labour as time on the job.

I have since rang several independent local garages and non so far can beat pitstop all in, the nearest guy can match it but won't have the shocks until next week!

[Motu]

and non so far can beat pitstop all in,

Yes,that's Pitstop's policy,undercut everyone - get them in the door,however,once in the door.....

There is no sensor system,it's part of the computer diagnostics....are we talking about some other light?

[raster]

Try Possums workshop in Pukekohe, he helped up out with an air flow meter for half price of anyone else.

Usually SUBARU means + 100% :gob:

They will stick it on the computer and tell you whats with the light. Wingers quote $70+GST his nothing and done in 5 minutes.

[dawnrazor]

Okay I ahve just got WHY, of why the shocks failed!

According to wingers, two of the four have to much 'play', all other aspects of shock are fine WTF

[Motu]

So what's the problem then? The shocks are knackered,you need to replace them.Do you need a second opinion? Bring it in to me,I'll do another WoF check for you,charge you $40 and tell you the shocks are shot.Stop trying to find a way out of a possibly dangerous situation and get them fixed.Can't afford to run a car? Sell the fucker.

[dawnrazor]

So what's the problem then? The shocks are knackered,you need to replace them.Do you need a second opinion? Bring it in to me,I'll do another WoF check for you,charge you $40 and tell you the shocks are shot.Stop trying to find a way out of a possibly dangerous situation and get them fixed.Can't afford to run a car? Sell the fucker.

Hey MOTU, get off your high horse will ya, whats your bloody problem, the cars being sorted today, would have been sooner except I couldn't arranage it any earlier...so take your shitty attitude and thinly veiled accusations and shove them up your arse.........

[Motu]

Ah,I don't have a problem....but it appears you do.I fail 4 cars a day,I get the odd uppity customer and I just tell them to fuck off....the rest are happy to find something unsafe in their car.The world is not out to rip you off...how about an attitude change?

[dawnrazor]

MOTU, I was never trying to get away with not doing the work... all I wanted was a bit of information on a subject I'm not overly familiar with. Couple that with a desire not to be ripped off in the process, which was exactly what happened when I finally spoke to wingers. The original quote of $1000 turned into $2000, when labour GST and SHIPPING AND HANDLING was added!

It is the customers right as a consumer to question and investigate. I am very happy to find something wrong with the car before it caused an accident, that doesn't mean I then have to blindly shell out vast amounts of cash over the odds for replacements, surely you can appreciate that.

But as usually MOTU you have me pegged so well, you've read between the lines and seen the edited highlights, added two and two together and come up with a waste of space....found something you can preach about and now your holding court...hey I just bet your never wrong, eh?

[Motu]

Just a tip,apart from stop moaning.Forget about quotes - a quote will always be stacked high as the work has not been done,they have to allow for any problems along the way.Go to a reputable garage (look for white faces) and ask to be charged for time on the job.....then wait for your car.You will know exactly how long the mechanic took,and if there is any extra time you will know why and if it is fair to pass the time onto you.They will prefer to quote because they can charge the mechanic out at 14hrs for the 8 hrs he actualy worked.You are far better of to pay him for the actual time.The better the mechanic the faster he will do the job and the less you will pay.This is how it used to be in the good old days.

[dawnrazor]

(look for white faces)

I'm left speechless by that comment........

[Ixion]

Truish , but. Old white faces . Or chicks. I find wrenchwenches more honest than their endicked counterparts.

[dawnrazor]

Okay I know this thread now warrants as dull beyond belief, but its about to get VERY interesting *yikes*, cough ahem**

Dropped the car into PITSTOP with the order to get all the shocks replaced, told them it had failed its warrant from Wingers for excisive play in the front left and rear right shocks, but that I wanted 4 new ones. Just like MOTU suggested!

Got a phone call from PITSTOP an hour later and was asked "if I liked to waste perfectly good money"? I said "no not as a rule"! "Well", says he " there is ABSOLUTLY NOTHING WRONG with any of the shocks and they wouldn't be needing to be chahged anytime soon".

Issued with a clean WOF - $40 bucks, instead of $1033.

Now these guys could have made a quick grand and I would have been none the wiser, I don't know them or anyone related to them - and yet they decided to do the HONEST thing. I'll go to them and reccommend them to anyone I know.

As for Wingers, Monday morning I'm going to pay them a visit and see how they can explain how the "shock speciliasts" could find nothing wrong with the shocks yet they wanted to charge me nearly $2000 to refit them.....

Watch this space

[DemonWolf]

ah a happy ending.. I was beginning to get worried that this was going to be another slagging contest.. Keep us posted on the outcome.

[Motu]

Ha,that's a turn around for Pit Stop,it's usually them who are hauled up for doing extra work that's not required.But I also know the mechanics at Wingers are far more knowledgable than the mechainics at Pit Stop,Subaru are their game and I've talked to the workshop guys about Subaru problems,they really know their stuff.But Pit Stop are a franchise,the guys at your branch could be top notch too.

[raster]

Is it the greenlane wingers and which branch of pitstop????????