YACT: Ride is not smooth

[natto fire]

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo

Originally posted by: Captain Howdy

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo

Originally posted by: mattgyver
Does it make a popping noise when you turn? (the front end)

No, I do not believe so. If it does, it's nothing I've noticed.

Probably not the CVs then, if the were bad enough to make the vibrations you speak of, then they would be making quite a bit of racket when turning. While it is not common for wheel bearings to go out on cars from this era, might be worth a check, but tie rods are sounding more likely to be the culprit. If you decide to check it out yourself, also look at the bushings on the stabilizer bar. The rubber rots on these suprsingly fast.

If it is the tie rods, what kind of price range for parts and labor do you suspect I'm looking at?

ballpark is $400-550, but it all depends where you take it. The tie rods also have rubber boots that hold in grease, and these could have rotted. A mechanic checkup is the best idea, but you might want to check these before you bring them to a mechanic. Just in case he trys to sell you an entirely new front suspension system or such not. A little bit of rubber rot is normal and to be expected, but if it is spilling the grease it is supposed to be holding then there is a problem. This can be pronounced by a dirt buildup around the ribber boots, so clean the areas around the rubber to check for lots of grease buildup, as an added bonus, the mechanic might see this and realize you are not the average consumer. ie, the types they try to sell parts and labor to that they don't need...

 

[Minjin]

Outer tie-rod ends can be found as cheap as 20 bucks a piece. Labor should be no more than 1/2hr per side. Let us know if they are actually bad and I'm sure we can walk you through replacing them. Its easy but there is a procedure that you should follow to make future life easier.

Mark

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Update: Took it to a mechanic a month or two ago and still no solution. I don't know if they checked for the tie rods being an issue and might have to check that myself.