bent axle on 1997 Subaru Liberty...please help!

[jeffrey_tc]

my 1997 Subaru has a bent axle at the front and i went to Kmart auto for an inspection.

Recommended repairs are as follow,
1.) Ball joint
2.) O/S/F control arm with bushes
3.) Front shock absorbers
4.) Both Sc shafts
5.) Wheel alignment

replacement of these with new parts will cost $2000 in Kmart (that's too much for a $5000 car)...they also suggested me to repair the car with second-hand parts, but did not give me an exact amount...

is $3000 a fair price to fix the above items? or should i just fix my car with second-hand parts? and how much would that be?

last but not least, is my car still worth any money? would i be able to sell it under the current circumstances?:(

please help!!!

[H-top]

Subaru's don't bend axles.
They are equipped with 4
constant velocity shafts.

They do however blow cv joints.

Ball joints you can live with and there is many degrees of wear.
Front shocks are usually ok to replace with a known good set.

Wheel alignments are cheap ~$50

$3000 is taking you for a ride mate.

Was there a large impact?

Cheers

[jeffrey_tc]

i hit some iron hurdles last month (those separating lanes), but didn't feel much impact at that time...that's why i was bemused when i get the quote from kmart...

perhaps i was a little misleading, Kmart also suggested me to change all four tyres, front brake pads & disc rotors and battery, which were included in the $3000 i mentioned (i did change a new battery several months ago, so i really doubt it:mad:)

do you think it is necessary to change ball joint, control arm, shock absorber, shafts and wheel alignment in my case (i have to turn the steering wheel slightly left in order to go straight)?

[Gannon]

A wheel alignment is a must, otherwise you will wear out your tyres quicker and it will cost you more in the long run.

What makes them think you have a bent driveshaft? does the car vibrate/shake when driving?


I reckon go to a reputable tyre place (Bridgestone, Beaurepairs ect) and get a wheel alignment done. If there is something bent, they will be able to tell. But it wont be a driveshaft

Kmart are ripoffs

[sven '2']

i hit some iron hurdles last month (those separating lanes), but didn't feel much impact at that time...that's why i was bemused when i get the quote from kmart...

perhaps i was a little misleading, Kmart also suggested me to change all four tyres, front brake pads & disc rotors and battery, which were included in the $3000 i mentioned (i did change a new battery several months ago, so i really doubt it:mad:)

do you think it is necessary to change ball joint, control arm, shock absorber, shafts and wheel alignment in my case (i have to turn the steering wheel slightly left in order to go straight)?

Just a little misleading - over a $1000 there buried within the original quote.

Impossible to know what you have done - take it to another mechanic, or a tyre place as suggested, for an evaluation. As for overcapitalizing, depends if you have looked after the car, or are now paying being too cheap over its service life.

To be fair to KMart (from what you have reported) they would consider 2nd hand parts - most places won't. You may have to do some legwork yiourself if you go down this path...bit unfair to ask them for a firm quote using old parts...

[Alex]

sounds dodgy. Hit up a subaru specialist.

alex

[tony]

more likely its a bent steering arm but as said go to a wheel aligner like Diffens or whatever and get their opinion.

[El_Freddo]

1st mistake - went to a kmart tyre and auto! Go to someone who knows what they're talking about or a place where the guy working on your car is the guy who owns the business. I say this as they are usually better as they want repeat business - not in the way of chasing problems in my experience.

As Gannon said - get a front wheel alignment and go from there - unless you've got a split boot or a noisy CV shaft that you want to replace. I can't see why you'd need to replace control arms and struts. I've hit some serious stuff in my L and not had an issue, I don't see why a liberty would be any different.

If the only issue you're experiencing is a steering wheel that pulls to one side I'd be going with a wheel alignment first, then if the problem persists/the wheel aligner finds something, go from there

Cheers

Bennie

[jeffrey_tc]

thanks guys!

i went to another auto repair and had my car fixed there! the only part changed was the clearly bent control arm, which cost me only $330 (new part)! then i spent $70 for wheel alignment. that's all i needed to make my car going straight again!

i will never ever ever go to Kmart again!!! asking me to splash out $2000 on a problem which could simply be solved with $400 was nonsense!

anyway, i love my 97 subaru liberty! again, many thanks to everyone commented on this thread

[H-top]

Good to hear Mate!

[El_Freddo]

i will never ever ever go to Kmart again!!!

2nd that! Glad you've seen the light. It was the sunbury branch that lost me...

Also glad you've got it sorted and that you're happy with the result on your wallet

Cheers

Bennie

[Pootcrum]

i will never ever ever go to Kmart again!!!

Third that, it was the Marion lot in SA that lost me. First strike they set my engine bay on fire, accident...maybe, but second strike was replacing my clutch when the problem was the cable. $900 versus $100. I didn't let them have a third strike.

Something interesting I have heard recently about wheel alignments, unless you specifically ask for a straight wheel alignment, some mobs, and I have heard that both Bridgestone and Beaurepaires do this, will deliberately dial in a small amount of leftward drift in your alignment so that if you doze off you drift off the road rather than into traffic. I was amazed, and will be making sure from now on to say I want a straight alignment.