Getting ripped off

[crazyspoon05]

Hi all

I've been told my VN wagon needs a new brake master cylinder, power steering pump, steering rack, power steering hoses, etc and was quoted $2500.

This is obviously b$#%%@t and I'm hoping someone out there knows a decent mechanic around Melbourne or can do the steering stuff for me (i'll supply reco parts & assist in labour, payment in cash or beer or whatever, I'm not totally confident of stuffing around with steering components on my own yet)

Thanks in advance

[PaRaDoX]

dude, steering racks probbly fine, power steering pump... maybe actually dead but if it aint broke dont fix it ...

i got my power steering pump/hose done for $150 (i think)

steering rack, tell them to stick it up their ass, they'll probbly say its "leaking"
its a common trick to get more money out of people

take it to another mechanic... what area of melbourne are you???? take it to 2-3 other places and get their opinions... my girlfriends brothers pulsar has a cracked head... he had a workshop tell him they took the head off and he needs a full rebuild...

i got there and checked it out.. head hadnt been removed.. they jsut removed the spark plugs...

i once had a mechanic tell me the detonation sensor in a 3.8 was in the intake manifold and it was going to cost $600 to replace...

i pointed to the detonation sensor in the engine bay and said.. you mean that?? told them the part was worth $50 and asked if the $550 labour included toilet brakes, lunch brakes, ciggy brakes... never been to a mechanic since.. vowed to do everything my self..

to be honost i dont know everything but i can sure as hell do a better job than they did.......

[mouce]

Since I got charged $450 to change a fuel pump in my VN I decided that I'd never go near a mechanic again. Since that day I've done all the work myself. Haven't had to do the steering rack/pump yet though so I can't help you out.

Get yourself a Gregory's manual, a full toolbox, a fridge full of beer, and a couple of mates who have a spare weekend. The only way you're going to become confident with mucking around with that stuff, is by doing it yourself. All you've gotta do is bolt all the new stuff in then get it to your nearest tyre shop for a wheel alignment.

[maginoodle]

if you can bleed the brakes or get a mate to bleed them you could do all the work yourself.
the steering is easy no trouble bleeding it it does it itself.

[Shounak]

Steering's very messy though. Brakes are easy to do..

But yeah, get a second opinion on all that first. Mechanics often say things are "BROKEN" and need replacing, it's often bullshit..

Where abouts in Melbourne are you?

[AussieHolden]

1st steering racks do fail and leak so you need to look at you rack and look for the signs of leaks if none then it's fine. power steer pump common for these to leak from the tank seal and pully seal just needs new seals.

Worse case is getting both reco'd but still easy but messy to do all yourself only way we all learn is by giving it ago nd asking for advice and help.

[aussieghostrider]

My power steering has been leaking on & off for years... Just go over the power steering lines and make sure that the clamps are tight as with age & heat your hoses can leak cause they need tightening up simple as that.

Also a bottle of Nulon power steering treatment always fixes up the problem for a year or so.then its time for another bottle .. hehehe

And for what you were quoted you could buy another Vn for that price HAHAHAHA

Go to pedders near you and make out you know alot about cars etc...say you took to other bloke and he said $2500 and you said for lunch and ciggies and bit of work haha .. get a laugh out of the bloke as i would be laughing at that.

Just say you use to be a mechanic but quit cause of bad back or some shit hehe and see what you get quoted,



also I always get a 2nd or 3rd quote before handing over $$$$$

[3.8L of executive power!!]

a simple sump replacement on my vn sedan and DFI replacement cost me $1000 to fix, i think that was a little steep

[adam69]

I have a trustworthy mechanic.Rocvic auto repairs in Tullamarine 93352407.Tell Charlie or his son Rocky Adam sent you and you should be right.

[defa]

i did my power steering pump a while ago and it took about 15 mins.. very easy to do.. i think the hardest bit was getting one of the hoses off. it was very tights and i was using a crap spanner.. most things on a vn are pretty easy to do. if it is a v6 you are laughing. it is an engine bay designed to fit a v8 in yet has a v6, so there is any amount of room to do anything.

[Shortstuff]

I just replaced the steering rack and power sreering pipes on my VN. Very easy to do, but i'd recommend having a repair manual to hand. You'll also need the alignment set up afterwards. I was quoted $400 to replace the steering rack by a garage in Burnside.

I'm not sure about the master cylinder,but it can't be that hard going on all the other cars i've replaced it on!

In both jobs, seized nuts/bolts could be a problem so make sure they're soaked in WD40 before starting.

Doesn't seem like $2500 of work even at a dealership.

[crazyspoon05]

Thanks for all the advice, car is booked in to somewhere else to check as well, but from now on I'm not going to any of the major 'chain' service centres in shopping centres...

It was actually worse at first, bloke quoted me $3200 and I asked for a parts breakdown and when he said that the steering rack alone was worth $1100 I just said 'right, put the car back together and don't charge me for anything other than the inspection as I won't pay anything further'.

When I said it's more than the car is worth he said that once all the work had been done I could easily get $5 - $6000 for it

Also tried to tell me that the exhaust fitted back in March was cracked, until I said that 'it's ok, it's under warranty from someone else' and shut him up.

I know for a fact that the power steering stuff isn't leaking too badly as I just steam cleaned the engine bay last Friday and if the leak was obvious it would have showed up big time in there.

And then just as I was leaving with a very straight face the guy was telling this girl that a reco alternator for her Excel would set her back $400 bucks including installation.....

[HsvPlayBoy]

dude thats Bad i will get ya a rack the pump and the Boost for $300 maybe less where in melbourne are ya! and man dont even pay 1000 thats still ripped bigtime and ta do them jobs yourself easy as counting 1 2 3 im in the Northen SuBz

[mouce]

We should have a thread dedicated to exposing dodgy mechanics around the place. $1100 for the rack??? LOL, must have been gold plated or something.

[Shounak]

I have a mechanic who raped my family and I on and off.. A smiling assassin..

Those muttdogs should be culled.. Gives all the honest blokes a bad name

[crazyspoon05]

Funny thing is when I had the VB years ago mechanics used to try and 'upsell' repairs as well, yet for all the four pot screaming hatches I've had they haven't tried to rip me off so it's obviously the bigger the car the bigger the dollar signs in some mechanics eyes...

I'm in Wantirna and work mostly around Caulfield / CBD area but if I have to travel to find an honest mechanic then I will..

HSV Playboy you have a PM

[minux]

Power steering pump and rack $350, labour $200 max including alignment. Thats all it cost on my VN SS when i had it done before i sold it...

[adam69]

You should name this ripoff mechanic so others know to avoid him.

[Warooda]

When I lived in QLD I had a mechanic who would let me help lower the cost by helping him out around the shop. When I blew my dif I towed the car to his shop that night and he had it on the hoist and half off before I arrived the next afternoon. My entire family use him and I never had a problem that he couldn't fix, he always let me pay off the labour charges. He was a funny little indian bloke who always said my car was the sexiest in brisbane.. cause it was always f**Ked.. I wish I could find some-one like him in perth

[PaRaDoX]

i got quoted $650 for a rack... i asked him to show me where it was leaking...
he couldn't heh ended up taking the car back without getting a new rack... (had a ajustable panhard rod fitted... (dont have a rattle gun)

only been to a shop for a wheel alignment and transmission service since i got quoted $600 to replace a detonation sensor, considering they're under the intake manifold......"apparently!!!!"

they're are some good mechanics / shops left out there.... ace i found were pretty good with prices to lower my car, $600 with 4x springs, 4x shocks & new bearing plates incl labour

[crazyspoon05]

Hi all

Just thought I'd give you all a quick update, got a second opinion on the car and after it was checked over the only 'serious' leak is from the power steering pump, got quoted $150 bucks for a reco'd unit fully installed including fluids and with a 5 year warranty so going with that.

Showed the guy the list of stuff the 'chain' service centre said it needed and he was said though a lot of people would fall for it, he also said that he gets reco'd power steering racks from the same bloke who supplies this other service centre and he only pays $200 for the racks

Thanks again to all

[kirkson]

Hi all,
can anyone tell me how difficult it is to replace the bearing in a power steering pump 93 vr, I have been quoted $174.00 changeover for a new pump, and I still have to fit it. I know enough to be able to install a new one but I have never actually changed a bearing, any advice would be welcome.
regards Kirk

[holden007]

Hi all,
can anyone tell me how difficult it is to replace the bearing in a power steering pump 93 vr, I have been quoted $174.00 changeover for a new pump, and I still have to fit it. I know enough to be able to install a new one but I have never actually changed a bearing, any advice would be welcome.
regards Kirk

I got mine from repco for $190 brand new, no swap over. But it's a good price, plus if your not going to reco your existing one in the future, swap it.


And mechanics, there is good and honest ones, but a few bad apples spoil there reputation.

[Shortstuff]

You can pick up a reco pump off ebay for about $100 or so. That'd be much easier than changing bearings I would imagine.

Reco pump

Or even cheaper

Not reco pump

[Reaper]

You should name this ripoff mechanic so others know to avoid him.

I suggest this could put the administrators of this forum (and the poster) in a spot of legal bother if you started doing that. IMHO by all means post what you think is a good deal.

Reaper