Need advice following Pedders 28 point safety Check

[GILLO]

Hey guys i just need some advice on what to do following a Pedders 28 point steering and suspension safety check. There are a few problems and i'm not sure what to do. I need advice on prices for parts and fitting and also what i should do as i want to lower it.

- Front Struts: Need replacement = $240 per side. Supplied and fitted

- Front Strut mounting plates: rubber is cracked. $132.20 and $107.00. Supplied and fitted

- Inner Control Arm bushes: Torn, need replacement AND
Radius Rod bushes: Worn, require replacement = $621.91 including wheel alignment

- Power Steering Rack: Oil leak, excessive play, require replacement = $700

- Rear Shocks: Need replacement

All Shocks and struts are original and have done 216,000km's. I was planning on lowering the car eventually anyway but now i will need new shocks, so i will need shortened shocks and i was thinking putting super low springs in there. I also want to get a VX SS front bar and i dont want any scraping so are superlows the best idea or just lows?

What are the best opinions for shortened shocks (ie. Monroe, pedders, KYB etc)

What is the best suited spring if i want to get a new lower front bar? (Lows or SuperLows)

Will i need a camber kit when i lower it or only for superlows?

I am not exactly cashed up i am only 18 and still at school so i want to keep it pretty cheap but i want the job done properly.

Any advice would be awesome. Thanks alot

[TVR-190]

id wage a bet most of it isnt immediately required and they are just trying to milk you.

power steering pump they are ripping you about 200 bucks

[danja]

If your shocks have really done 200,000+ kms, yes they will need replacing (service life is really only about 60-80,000 kms)

OEM front shocks should be about $120 per side, plus about an hour for fitting. Strut tops would be done at the same time, so they shouldn't be charging you extra labour for that. OEM rear shocks are about $70 each, and half an hour to fit both sides.

Radius rod bushes shouldn't be more than about $200 for parts, and an hour to fit (both sides).

Reconditioned P/S rack, about $250 + about 2hrs labour.

In short, they are taking your for a ride. Tell them to shape up or take your business elsewhere.

[Dayvo]

It should be called "The 28 point rip off check" .Radius rod bushes are easy enough to do yourself .I done mine plus i did a right up on how to do it in the "How to" section.

[GILLO]

Ok then i suppose i wont be getting any work done at Pedders whatsoever then. Any advice on where to get the parts needed and where to get them fitted? Also i want lowered shocks and stuff not OEM so advice on which to get would be good too. Thinking of something like Monroe GT Gas shocks or something.

[danja]

Ok then i suppose i wont be getting any work done at Pedders whatsoever then. Any advice on where to get the parts needed and where to get them fitted? Also i want lowered shocks and stuff not OEM so advice on which to get would be good too. Thinking of something like Monroe GT Gas shocks or something.

OEM shocks are just rebadged Munroe's anyway. You could consider FE2 suspension, which is designed specifically for Commodores and is equivalent to "Low" shocks/springs. I recently got replacement FE2 shocks for my VZ, they were $116 for each of the front shocks, and $65 for each of the rear. They are a very good height, low enough to give you good handling, not so low that you scrape over things or break any laws.

You can source the parts yourself from Autobarn/Supercheap/local auto parts shop etc and fit them if you are mechanically minded, none of that stuff is particularly hard (except maybe the inner control arm bushes), otherwise just about any mechanic will be able to do that stuff.

[Tom_1569]

As said Pedders 28 point "safety" check is a joke.

For shockers and springs, have a look at GSL Rallysport's lowering kits (hes a sponsor on here), they consist of KYB shocks and King Springs, both cost effective and excellent quality. Replace the strut tops at the same time, look at nolathene if your after handling, or rubber if you want comfort.

Powersteering rack - Theres a bloke on ebay (Warwick ph. 02 96319904) who has excellent quality and service. Around the $220 mark for a reco rack, plus a set of tie-rod ends ($50 for high quality), then another 45 for a wheel allignment once your done, its a very easy job.

Then you have your radius rod bushes, not sure on price, but from what I hear the bushes are expensive but easy to replace. Also for the Inner control arm bushes Im 99% sure you will need a press, so best leave it to a professional with the right equipment.

On another note, thats the shortest list I have ever seen from Pedders so I would dare say your car is damn good condition.

[greenacc]

the radius rod and control arm bushes cost round about $150 for the set of 6 bushes.

[GILLO]

As said Pedders 28 point "safety" check is a joke.

For shockers and springs, have a look at GSL Rallysport's lowering kits (hes a sponsor on here), they consist of KYB shocks and King Springs, both cost effective and excellent quality. Replace the strut tops at the same time, look at nolathene if your after handling, or rubber if you want comfort.

Powersteering rack - Theres a bloke on ebay (Warwick ph. 02 96319904) who has excellent quality and service. Around the $220 mark for a reco rack, plus a set of tie-rod ends ($50 for high quality), then another 45 for a wheel allignment once your done, its a very easy job.

Then you have your radius rod bushes, not sure on price, but from what I hear the bushes are expensive but easy to replace. Also for the Inner control arm bushes Im 99% sure you will need a press, so best leave it to a professional with the right equipment.

On another note, thats the shortest list I have ever seen from Pedders so I would dare say your car is damn good condition.

Actually there was cross member mounts listed on there too but he said not to worry too much about them.

So I should source as much stuff as I can off ebay and the like and get quotes from mechanics to do them? I haven't worked on cars much before, not the mechanical or suspension side at least, just like interior and changing lights kind of thing so i wont be doing any kind of fitting myself.

So i am thinking either superlows or Lows/Fe2 suspension. I need new shocks and struts anyway so i may as well lower the car now. Are KYB the best kind of shocks? I am after a smooth ride but better handling would be good too. Also I guess King Springs are the best springs too?

Thanks for the replies so far guys, i really cant afford spending $2K just to fix the suspension. I dont have that kind of money yet lol, i'm still at school.

[azzfox]

Powersteering rack - Theres a bloke on ebay (Warwick ph. 02 96319904) who has excellent quality and service.

+1. Got my rack from him and hes a pleasure to do business with.

[GILLO]

+1. Got my rack from him and hes a pleasure to do business with.

Do you know his ebay username?

[azzfox]

Do you know his ebay username?

steering_solutions

[GILLO]

Found it: HOLDEN COMMODORE VT VX VY VZ Power Steering Racks - eBay Steering Racks, Gear Boxes, Suspension, Steering, Car Parts, Accessories, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 19-Sep-09 19:24:36 AEST)

Whagt do you guys think of this package?: VT COMMODORE SUPER LOW KING SPRINGS & MONROE GT SHOCKS - eBay Shocks, Struts, Suspension, Steering, Car Parts, Accessories, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 12-Oct-09 16:49:46 AEDST)

[danja]

I would suggest taking it to a few mechanics and getting some quotes. Some mechanics will supply parts cheaper than you can find them.

That shock package looks decent for the price, but as mentioned you should ask GSL Rallysport what they can offer you, they might be able to cut you a better deal.

There is always a trade off between handling and comfort, the lower and stiffer you go, the less ride comfort you'll have. You just need to decide where to draw the line.

[Tom_1569]

Actually there was cross member mounts listed on there too but he said not to worry too much about them.

So I should source as much stuff as I can off ebay and the like and get quotes from mechanics to do them? I haven't worked on cars much before, not the mechanical or suspension side at least, just like interior and changing lights kind of thing so i wont be doing any kind of fitting myself.

So i am thinking either superlows or Lows/Fe2 suspension. I need new shocks and struts anyway so i may as well lower the car now. Are KYB the best kind of shocks? I am after a smooth ride but better handling would be good too. Also I guess King Springs are the best springs too?

Thanks for the replies so far guys, i really cant afford spending $2K just to fix the suspension. I dont have that kind of money yet lol, i'm still at school.

It will depend on the mechanic you choose to use, I know some mechanics who refuse to fit anything they dont source or sell. But definitly shop around, prices can vary quite abit, also if you try one store, theres no harm in trying the same store in another suburb, in one case I got a $150 difference between two repco stores, ordered it in the further away and got them to send it to my closest one for nothing

Fair enough if you dont want to have a go, but this is the easiest way to save money and learn how to do it next time. The rear shocks and springs are piss easy to replace, as is the powersteering rack and most of the bushes except control arm bushes. Theres work guides around here, and depending on your location a member might swing by and help you out for a 6 pack or something.

Deciding what is the best, really depends on what you need. For a cost effective solution I found the KYB/King Spring combination excellent, I have them in the ute and its still smooth even on gravel roads, yet handles pretty damn good (as good as raised suspension will handle lol). If you want your car lower any time in the future, doing it now whilst your shocks and springs need replacing is the best idea. Depending on how low you go, you may or may not need shortened shocks, instead of standard ones.

steering_solutions

Thats the one, couldnt think of it last night, and to lazy to check.

There is always a trade off between handling and comfort, the lower and stiffer you go, the less ride comfort you'll have. You just need to decide where to draw the line.

^ ^ As he said.

[shiftySLE]

They are a rip off and do a shit job. I had a car in there and all they were meant to do is a wheel alignment. It came out the same, even though they said they improved it, they also said the RHS lower control arm was bent, after giving the go ahead, they changed the LHS and swore they said LHS on the phone, came up with another $440 worth of crap that I ended up doing for $145 and 3 hours.
Everyone thinks they are good just because they are well known.
No Bull is definately not the correct motto fo rthem.

[TMM]

Since Pedders are a franchise, you will find that some of them are rip-off merchants and some of them are honest with reasonable pricing. If you let them know that you think their prices are ridiculous you'll find most of them will change their quote

[Scooter79]

Pedders 28 point check is a joke. They told me I needed new everything, shocks, struts, bushes, PS rack and pump. This was a few years ago and at the time it only had 140,000kms on the clock. They basically they said I needed $2500 worth of work done immediately. BS!

Let me ask you a question, does the steering fee vague or non responsive? If an oil leak is your only problem with the p/s then just use some stop leak.

[GILLO]

Na the steering seems fine but this is the only car i've driven besides an old $hit box Camry so i dont know. The guy at Pedders said there was a leak and the whole unit had to be replaced, seemed a bit suss and now I know Pedders is a bit crooked.

Since i want to lower the car anyway i will be getting new shocks as the current ones have definitely had it. Who is the best person to take it to have a look at all the bushes etc, a mechanic or suspension specialist place? Can anyone recommend a place in the Western suburbs of Melbourne?

[danja]

I've yet to see a Commodore without a bit of oil on the rack, which is probably what Pedders are going off. It doesn't mean the rack is buggered, what is more important is keeping an eye on the fluid level in the engine bay - if it's chewing through fluid then it needs attention, but if its just got a little oil on it, try some stop-leak first.

About getting stuff fitted, let your wallet make the decision. Anyone can fit that stuff, the only difference is that when its all done you'll need a wheel alignment, and a suspension place can probably do that better. There is nothing stopping you from getting the parts installed at one joint, and getting the alignment elsewhere - just remember you'll need to factor it in when you get quotes. Also, don't be tempted to skimp out and skip the alignment - you'll regret it if you do.