How hard can it be....

[kellogs2551]

Hi everyone,
Just wondering how hard can it be to install the following yourself without paying a mechanic the huge costs of parts along with labour (was quoted between 1500 to 2500g) in a 1991 VN commodore wagon v6:
Replace power steering rack. (in more detail: PSR233 steering rack @ $359 without labour costs)
Replace rear muffler, gasket and mounts (in more detail: part no: M6178 for muffler @ $269, part no: JE931 for exhaust flange gasket @ $4.95, part no: A1248 for exhaust mount-camira.commodore.HD @ 2 @ $9.9.ea and part no: GMR016 for exhaust mount N.L.A @ $4.95 all these with labour costs)
Replace panhard bushes (in more detail: bush kit panhard rod nolathane/whiteli part no: 48002 @ $35).
And two rear tryes which i know once bought and put on car need to have a wheel balance and alinement.

Thanks in advance for the advice.

[GothicKidd]

Well from my experience,
I got myself a good condition power steering rack from the wreckers and had it fitted by partners family for a total of $150 (Watch this it might help: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWhExhifRpI)
I also got myself a 2'5 catback lukey exhaust fitted for $398. (these seems very simple to do if you dont mind being under a car - might need to do some welding)
And also watched my partners family replace my whole panhard rod.. Jack the car up, undo the bolts that hold it on.. and you'll need a tool to push the bushes out.
and had 2 tyres I had supplied to the workshop and they balanced it for $55 (they had to take it off another rim then put it on mine aswell) - And alignment has to do with the suspension itself I do believe..

does that help? :P

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

Apart from the tyres, I can send you all those parts for a fraction of that cost.

They are all easy enough to fit if you have a bit of mechanical aptitude. Most of it is just common sense, the trickiest bit is bleeding the power steering and making sure all the air is out, but even that is straight forward.

[pjdm1980]

Sorry I missed what you said after "If your something something is stiff"

[kellogs2551]

Hi Everyone,
Thanks for advice, but unlucky for me i have no family or friends (i'm a stay at home mum with 3 kids) and partner isn't mechanical or has family or friends to help out (bascially we're on our own, worse luck) and as for my mechanical know how, i'm ashamed to admit it took me 6 months and a youtube vid how to replace the wiper blade arms (the hook style the i didn't realise my car had cause the arms were stuck on), i've stuffed around with the rear wiper motor (think its the one mounted on tailgate of wagon), unhooked all wires and undid all screws and nuts but still can't seem to remove it let alone when i get a replacement hook it up so it works.
I want to start off small and fix the small things to gain confidence (got little left), i still have three mechanics to check out, if i struggle with fixing things myself (just hate driving car past cop shop to get to mechanics), tried Pedders but wasn't impressed with them, they charged me for a blue slip (even after i explained what i wanted done - a quote on what needs fixing) and expected me to have the 2500g within the 20 days for them to fix the probs they saw, didn't answer my question on whether they did accounts (so that i could pay them off and not send myself broke trying to pay them and still afford rent, food, etc)......