Danged Van - $1350 !!

[Julles]

I've been feeling some "sway" or "unstableness" in my Chevy Astrovan, and mechanics keep telling me that it's nothing.  I bought new tires ($500) and that seemed to solve the problem. 

But a month later it came back, and I SWEAR something is wrong.  Like the wheels are not going where I direct the steering wheel.  These Astrovans are known for suspension problems, and, boy, I have learned the names of every part under there, due to having them all replaced at one time or other.
shocks
idler arms
pitman arm
tie rods
U-joints
ball-joints
Prolly some other stuff I forgot just now.  I also had them check the steering belt.

So today I take it to another mechanic, and he can't find anything by looking, either.  So he says he'll drive it, he does, and calls me and says, "Julles, I feel what you feel."  He says it's the steering box and both idler arms.  "Ron, are you sure it's BOTH idler arms?  And the steering box and the idler arms?  How can all those things be wrong?"

"That's the problem, I feel sure."  "You feel sure, or you KNOW?"  He says, "I know.  I can feel it."  "Well, did you get UNDER the vehicle and TAKE THE PARTS APART AND CHECK, or do you 'just know'?"

"I just know," he says.

To the tune of $1350.

I have no confidence at all.  In his diagnosis process, nor in his honesty.  But there IS something wrong, so hopefully this will fix it.  To make matters worse, he's a kind of a friend, and I'm feeling a little obligated. 

The biggest sucky thing is, this week I have only one job, and will earn a whole $180.   

[Kittyzee]

Julles:   friends don't make friends feel obligated.  Period.  BUT, that said, and there is something that sounds like it's really wrong with your van, can you trust anyone else to take a look at it and give you an honest answer?   

[mascot]

I'm not a professional mechanic, but have been in the industry for over 2.5 decades.  One bad idler arm can make the steering sloppy.  A loose or out of adjustment steering gear can also do that.  All three?  Yeah, it's possible but odd that all three have gone bad. 

What I have found is that brake shops want to replace everything because they don't want any obligation with used parts (the parts that are already there).  Steering and alignment shops are the same way....replace it all and there's no guesswork.  It should be great once it's done, but sometimes all that isn't necessary...not saying he's wrong, just that it's odd.

Coincidentally, one of my good friends worked at a shop I trusted, and messed things up on my truck.  I won't go there again, even though he's a friend, because his mistakes cost me hundreds more, and I, too, felt "obligated" because he was a friend.  Another shop with a good reputation had my truck on three occasions and messed things up...loose oil drain plug, alignment pulled hard to one side, and then parts fell off the suspension while driving home.  Fortunately not at 70 mph, but I was 50 miles from home on a Friday night and had to nurse the truck home to find out what was wrong.  And those guys were "specialists" and only worked on Toyotas.  Never went there again.

Sometimes a second opinion might cost $50...but can save you a couple hundred.  Good luck with it....if you lived around here I'd send you to my friends shop (different friend) who wouldn't think about taking advantage of you...not his style.

[Jerry]

A second opinion is in order!

[Mikey]

OUCH!  Yes, that would get my attention too...  Sorry to hear the bad news...

We feel fortunate that we have a mechanic we can trust. 

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