Good mechanic in SA

JP147 · Post by **JP147** » Fri Apr 10, 2015 6:08 pm

I would like to take my car in to someone to look at my steering problem. I don't know what th cause is, and neither do the last 3 places I went to. Does anyone have any good recommendations?

Phizinza · Post by **Phizinza** » Fri Apr 10, 2015 7:38 pm

Can you describe the symptoms? Sorry I can't recommend anyone

JP147 · Post by **JP147** » Fri Apr 10, 2015 8:34 pm

After making a right turn, the car drives straight. After making a left turn or going over potholes, it pulls to the left and keeps doing this until I make a right turn.

It has been doing this for over a year now and in that time I have had at least 3 different sets of wheels and tyres, changed the steering rack, lower ball joints, tie rod ends, tie rods, inner ball joints, bearings, a steering knuckle, lifted the car 2", dismantled and reassembled the struts, probably more things. But it hasn't changed it.

The guy at the suspension shop had a good look and said everything looks fine, and he doesn't know what it can be. Bridgestone and Beurepairs had no idea either.

David D · Post by **David D** » Fri Apr 10, 2015 9:21 pm

There's a place in Gepps Cross called All-Drive Services. They took over from Rising Sun (?), I believe, and they are Subaru specialists.

http://www.all-drive.com.au/

I have my car booked in on Tuesday to try and solve an ongoing vacuum leak so I'll see how it goes and let you know.

Cheers

David D

JP147 · Post by **JP147** » Fri Apr 10, 2015 9:43 pm

David D wrote:There's a place in Gepps Cross called All-Drive Services. They took over from Rising Sun (?), I believe, and they are Subaru specialists.

http://www.all-drive.com.au/

I have my car booked in on Tuesday to try and solve an ongoing vacuum leak so I'll see how it goes and let you know.

Cheers

David D

Thanks, I will give them a call

Phizinza · Post by **Phizinza** » Fri Apr 10, 2015 10:16 pm

Is the camber the same on both sides? Camber being different side to side can be caused by bent struts.

Silverbullet · Post by **Silverbullet** » Fri Apr 10, 2015 11:40 pm

All-drive are pretty good, Subaru specialists yes but not as knowledgeable on the older gen stuff like Steve was. It's very different there now to what it was when it was Rising Sun. They were happy enough to replace a wheel bearing in my ute, and Dad gets his L series serviced there.

A guy I've found recently on your side of town who is a top bloke is Gough's radiator and mechanical: http://www.goughmechanical.com.au/Mechanical.html
He repaired a heater core for me in about 2 days and is helping me figure out a solution to a leaky A/C evap unit for my wagon. He's real friendly and happy to help, doesn't give up easily hehe

Considering you've swapped/changed pretty much every component of the front end I'd be out of ideas as to what it could be...I gues you would have already had a wheel alignment done? Check camber on both sides as Phiz says, bent strut maybe. Are your top rubber mounts in decent nick? Did you grease the bushing up top? (where it pivots when steering)

JP147 · Post by **JP147** » Sat Apr 11, 2015 10:07 am

Silverbullet wrote:All-drive are pretty good, Subaru specialists yes but not as knowledgeable on the older gen stuff like Steve was. It's very different there now to what it was when it was Rising Sun. They were happy enough to replace a wheel bearing in my ute, and Dad gets his L series serviced there.

A guy I've found recently on your side of town who is a top bloke is Gough's radiator and mechanical: http://www.goughmechanical.com.au/Mechanical.html
He repaired a heater core for me in about 2 days and is helping me figure out a solution to a leaky A/C evap unit for my wagon. He's real friendly and happy to help, doesn't give up easily hehe

Considering you've swapped/changed pretty much every component of the front end I'd be out of ideas as to what it could be...I gues you would have already had a wheel alignment done? Check camber on both sides as Phiz says, bent strut maybe. Are your top rubber mounts in decent nick? Did you grease the bushing up top? (where it pivots when steering)

I will check the place out.

In that time I have probably had at least 3 wheel alignments done.

I greased the washers up top, but they didn't show any sign of wear so I don't suspect that.

Bent strut sounds like a good thing to look for. I don't actually remember what the camber was but it may not have been the same both sides.
What is the best way to check for bent struts?

David D · Post by **David D** » Tue Apr 14, 2015 7:20 pm

There's a place in Gepps Cross called All-Drive Services. They took over from Rising Sun (?), I believe, and they are Subaru specialists.

http://www.all-drive.com.au/

I have my car booked in on Tuesday to try and solve an ongoing vacuum leak so I'll see how it goes and let you know.

Just had the car in here today. They seemed helpful and knowledgeable but, unfortunately, the work they did failed to get solve my acceleration flat-spot.

David D

valerian · Post by **valerian** » Fri Jul 10, 2015 9:47 am

Silverbullet wrote:All-drive are pretty good, Subaru specialists yes but not as knowledgeable on the older gen stuff like Steve was.

Are you saying that Steve left, but the mechanics stayed ?

stephendean · Post by **stephendean** » Fri Jul 10, 2015 4:13 pm

When Steve retired and Rising Sun set, I looked around for a new place and I happened upon B & R Automotive in Salisbury, close to me. They do a great job, fixed price servicing and have loan cars while yours is being worked. And a great thing is they wash your car when they have completed work on it.

Silverbullet · Post by **Silverbullet** » Fri Jul 10, 2015 9:47 pm

valerian wrote:Are you saying that Steve left, but the mechanics stayed ?

No, well I can't say for certain as they don't let you back there in the workshop any more! I didn't recognize anybody there, but strangely enough they still have the same loan cars

valerian · Post by **valerian** » Fri Jul 10, 2015 11:40 pm

stephendean wrote: I happened upon B & R Automotive in Salisbury, close to me. They do a great job...

Is the said B&R Auto specialising in Subaru ?

My colleague highly recommended Misch's Mechanical in Salisbury (they fix all brands). They have a cult of followers on Facebook.

I gave them a try by asking to replace a bearing. I did not notice anything bad, but nothing worth excitement either. They asked a full going price for it.

stephendean · Post by **stephendean** » Sun Jul 12, 2015 12:19 pm

B & R are not Subby specialists, but they are good friendly mechanics. Great customer service. They explain everything to you and try and work out the cheapest but best option to get you going. With a recent problem I had they even offered to pick me up anywhee in the suburbs if the problem occured again, or I could phone anytime. In fact the last couple of jobs I orgainsed through Facebook.