The cause of the rocking noise from Superstruts...now what?

[Tagged]

Hi guys~

1st of all, thx to all those who posted feed back on my earlier thread about noisy suspensions. I've learned a lot and obtained lots of valuable information.

Now back to the topic. I took my BZR to Chamberlain Auto Springs for a $35 "safety check", mainly to find the cause of the noisy suspensions. Here are the results;

- front engine mount split $85
- gearbox mount starting to split $121
- front lower mount rear bushes split both sides $104PR
- front upper hub ball joints worn $104
- front bumpstop and boots worn both sides $70PR
- missing exhaust mount that mounts exhaust to rear of front sub frame
- alignment $75
- labour $70 per hr, up to 7hrs
(the ones in bald are the ones he recommended me to get it fixed asap)

well....after seeing all this I can only be thankful that the struts it self doesnt need replacing...otherwise it might take up to 2k to get all this fixed.....

so...does any1 know any place in CHCH where I can get these things done properly and at a cheaper rate? Or is Chamberlain Auto Springs good enough?

Also, I've noticed that it gets harder to get a smooth start (from stop) when I go into 1st and 2nd gear when im low on fuel...is this normal?

Oh and the brakes....when i brake while reversing, for example brake while backing out of my drive way, one of the rear disks makes a loud THUUUNNNNKKKK noise that echos throughout the car....is this normal too??

Thanks all~

[eskimo]

Could do it yourself, you should be able to replace all of those without any trouble in a weekend if your mechanical minded. Just take it for a wheel alignment after.

[darkwolf]

Sounds to me that we need to organise a CHCH workshop meet

I've got a socket set, jack and axle stands.

Need spring compressors, wrenches and a place to work.

I don't think I could do the bushes though.

I've done the engine mounts - not difficult.

I've replaced shocks - so bump stops should be easy.

Never done exhaust mounts but can't be impossible.

[Tagged]

@eskimo,
haha thanks buddy
however im better described as simple minded lol
I didnt even understand what a "front sub frame" was until he explained it to me....


@darkwolf,
I feel so noob....haha~
as every1 seems capable of doing most of the work themselves, all I know is how to change tires and brake pads...

[darkwolf]

Used to be the same - I've even had the wheel fall off and poured oil straight through an engine onto the ground because I forgot the sump plug

1 way to learn though.

[RobertC]

@eskimo,
haha thanks buddy
however im better described as simple minded lol
I didnt even understand what a "front sub frame" was until he explained it to me....


@darkwolf,
I feel so noob....haha~
as every1 seems capable of doing most of the work themselves, all I know is how to change tires and brake pads...

if you can change brake pads. The above isn't really much more difficult. Just take things slowly and make sure you ask if you think you have fkd something up.

[4-AGE 4-LIFE]

I used to work at chamberlains, and have since opened my own workshop up could definatly give you a price the above work.

The front engine mount, exhaust mount are easy jobs to do at home. The exhaust mount bolts onto the rear of the front subframe very common to split.

as for front bumpstops you will need spring compressors
the lower arm bushes you will need a press to fit them
and the upper balljoints are pressed in also.

I have sent you a pm.

[Bling]

All should be pretty straight forward, apart from the pressing in of new parts. I lack a press

Check out the sponsors section too as we have a Toyota Sponsor that would be able to source the parts.

Not trying to take work away from 4-AGE 4-LIFE, but if you want to learn about cars, you could give most of that a shot yourself with help of locals and their tools. Leaving the tricky bits for 4-AGE 4-LIFE If you're not that bothered about learning about cars though, just get him to do the lot.

[blindnz]

im in christchurch and have a set of spring compressors you can borrow if you want.

[allencr]

Looks like it might be a very imaginative & creative fiction writing assignment that is posing as a mechanics estimate.

[Tagged]

Thanks to all for your awesome replies!

Im actually quite interested in fixing and learning about all this! However it will have to wait till my exams are over, which is in about two week time.....hope these broken mounts will last till then....LOL

[Tagged]

btw wat sort of tools would you need for these repairs if I wanna do it myself? apart from the compressors which you guys told me about in above replies.

Coz all I have is a standard household tool box which really doesn't have too much stuff in it, and a jack that came with the car......lol

[touge_ae101]

get some axle stands, will be a good investment plus a real must if you are getting under the car!

other than that a semi-decent socket set if pretty much all you will need to change the exhaust & engine mounts etc. trolley jack always makes life easier too. a can of CRC is probably going to be needed too.

as said by 4-AGE 4-LIFE, ball joints and bushes you will need a press to do so. mechanics are normally pretty experienced with these so will make easy work of it. just find a helpful garage who you trust and dissassemble the bits yourself then drop it down to them to do the pressing etc. most of the labour you pay for when getting something done is simple bolting/unbolting of stuff, the actual technical 'mechanic' part of the job is often quite short.

most mechanics will do this sort of thing for a box of beers or a small amount of cash

[rollaholic]

Looks like it might be a very imaginative & creative fiction writing assignment that is posing as a mechanics estimate.

thats what i thought too, must be quiet at chamberlains