Who wants to give their 2 cents on my car issues?

I apparently need validation this week, LOL...but I'm going to be charged $600 to get my loose tie rods (something about suspension?) and new brakes fixed.

I was told I have 20% of my brakes left, but the guy said, if he were me, he'd take care of the suspension first. I said um, I don't get paid till next week, am I okay driving for a week or two, he said yes.

Sound right?

I really need a boyfriend, with all this plumbing and car stuff! :silly: (I am kidding.)

I don't know any adult men enough to ask these questions, and all my female friends/relatives don't know nothin' either, besides to get an estimate from someone else, which I will do. Sad, isn't it.

It's suspension and steering related. It's a big deal. Cost? Eh, I don't know, but maybe a second opinion. 20% brakes is plenty for a few weeks, certainly.

I mean, I can feel the brakes going. Not so much anything with steering,etc. Thanks for the post!

If you want any more advice I would need the whole type of car and what it does info.

Like I said, the guy said I'd be good for a week or two.... so I hope he's right! He didn't say OH MY GOD GET THIS FIXED RIGHT NOW, so that's good.

Anyway, I don't have the $350 for that until next week. :scared:

This is advice from Mr. Graywarrior who does the donated cars at a non profit.
What kind of car is it?

depends on vehicle and what exctly on the brakes - just pads?

Is the steering really squirrely? Bad Tie rods can be bad, then again mine have been in bad shape for a year and I drive over rough dirt roads daily. They should be alright for another week.

change the entire brake if you don't need to.

which kind of irritates me, because last year, in a poorer neighborhood, I paid $200 for the pads *and* the rotors. This car place is in a good area, so they charge more for labor, which I guess makes sense--it just sucks for me to have to afford that, and so that can't happen until next week.

I only went in for an oil change, and for them to check the brakes, so the steering wasn't that weird. The brakes were the worse problem, I thought.

Thanks for the calmness on the tie rods, from what everyone else is saying I was getting a little nervous. I'm still nervous, but I feel slightly better that I can make it to next Friday. I won't be doing any driving over the weekend, and we only have a three day work week next week.

If I offered any, care care tips would go the way of medical advice threads...

:shrug:

I don't know a thing, and that's bad.

Thanks for the thought, though!

when we lost a tie rod end and it messed something else up. My husband is a great driver and he got the van stopped in the grass.


But it was scary!

What are your options if you can't drive until payday? Car pool? Bus?

Which is why I asked the guy if it would keep until next week, and he didn't seem freaked out, or anything.

Maybe he should have been! :(

But I was pretty stupid as well as broke back then.

Those parts aren't cheap, and I always did the work myself.

Last time I replaced a tie rod end it was for my VW Kombi, and I think it cost around $55.

Ball joints are a BEE-YOCH to replace, pay the nice man whatever he wants if you ever need that job done...

BTW, having a boyfriend is no guareentee that he can handle car repairs or plumbing. Not every guy had a dad who was a pipefitter by trade and a motorhead by hobby to learn from...

so here it is, what you asked for:

You should get inner AND outer tie-rods on both sides if your car has high mileage since both wear out together.After tie-rods are replaced the wheels need to be aligned.I was just reading about how to do alignments without lasers and computers.
http://www.smartracingproducts.com/photos_smartstrings1.htm
Separate the brake job from the suspension job so if there are problems you will know which job caused the problem,cajuns add an ingredient to the pot then stir well then add another ingredient and stir again.I was reading in Harper's that men watch the food network because they like to see food come out of an oven instead of a little window,they like to see food on a plate instead of a paper box.The markup in restaurants is like car repair it is not the parts it is the labor.

so I should just keep them.

:7

Is he telling you your calipers need replacing? If so, get a second estimate. This is one of the biggest rip offs on a brake job.
Calipers rarely go bad and if they do, there is a rebuild kit for them. Almost always, only the pads need to be replaced and the face of the rotors need to be turned.

Abandon the car. Take the money you don't spend on repairs and buy a good bicycle. If you can't do that now then make it a goal. I did that back in 1993 and I have no regrets.

http://www.carcarecouncil.org/Steering_Suspension/tie_rod.shtml

Description:
The tie rods connect the center link to the steering knuckle
on cars with conventional suspension systems and recirculating
ball steering gears.
On cars with MacPherson strut suspension and rack-and pinion steering gears,
the tie rods connect the end of the rack to the steering knuckle.
A tie rod consists of an inner and an outer end.

Purpose:
The tie rod transmits force from the steering center link
or the rack gear to the steering knuckle,
causing the wheels to turn.
The outer tie rod end connects with an adjusting sleeve,
which allows the length of the tie rod to be adjustable.
This adjustment is used to set a vehicle’s ‘toe”,
a critical alignment angle.

Maintenance Tips/Suggestions:
Your vehicle’s steering and suspension systems
should be checked regularly,
at least once a year along with a complete wheel alignment.
A worn tie rod end can cause wandering, erratic steering,
and excessive tire wear.
If tie rod replacement is necessary,
a wheel alignment is also required because
tie rod replacement disturbs the toe setting.
For best results,
consult a qualified service technician
for professional advice and service
on your vehicle’s suspension and steering systems.

If you break a tie rod while driving,
You can be KILLED OR You could KILL someone else!
GET IT FIXED ASAP!
I had one break while on a highway (4 lanes) years ago.
Lost control of the steering of the car.
I'm lucky I'm typing this response to you.
Enough said!