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To Fix Up or Trade Up, That is the Question

863 messages,  Last post on May 20, 2013 at 7:19 AM

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What is this discussion about? Car Safety, Tires, Wheels, Auto Body, Brakes, Engine, Interior, Paint, Transmission, Fuel Efficiency (MPG), Buying Insurance, Coupe, Convertible, Hatchback, Truck, Sedan, Wagon, SUV, Van

Messages Page 82 of 87

#805 of 863 Re: this and that.... [Mr_Shiftright] by dgal

Nov 01, 2012 (9:47 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Nov 01, 2012 9:42 am)
It won't pass MD state inspection without the Sway Bar Bushings. What else can I do besides the hood struts myself?

#806 of 863 Re: this and that.... [dgal] by qbrozen

Nov 01, 2012 (10:03 am)

Replying to: dgal (Nov 01, 2012 9:47 am)
well, hell, you can easily replace the swaybar endlinks, too. I find it hard to believe it would have anything to do with inspection, but they are easy and cheap.
 
Valve cover gasket is an easy job, too.
 
The catalytic is definitely the most expensive. You might call around for other estimates on that from muffler shops. Another place might weld in a universal replacement for you that would be significantly cheaper.

#807 of 863 Re: this and that.... [qbrozen] by dgal

Nov 01, 2012 (10:15 am)

Replying to: qbrozen (Nov 01, 2012 10:03 am)
The mechanic said it's not the links that need replacing it's the the actual bar bushings. I'm a girl and don't know too much about cars. So unless it's really easy to fix myself, I would probably need to take it in. I will definitely call other muffler shops for estimates.

#808 of 863 Re: this and that.... [dgal] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Nov 01, 2012 (10:28 am)

Replying to: dgal (Nov 01, 2012 10:15 am)
"It won't pass MD state inspection without the Sway Bar Bushings"...

I find this a bit hard to believe...you could take that bar and throw it away and the car would drive fine.

#809 of 863 Re: this and that.... [Mr_Shiftright] by dgal

Nov 01, 2012 (10:59 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Nov 01, 2012 10:28 am)
You're funny . That's what the inspector told me. They go by a whole list of things.

#810 of 863 Re: this and that.... [dgal] by dgal

Nov 01, 2012 (12:06 pm)

Replying to: dgal (Nov 01, 2012 10:59 am)
Do you know where I can find video tutorials on fixing those things myself?

#811 of 863 Re: this and that.... [dgal] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Nov 01, 2012 (2:35 pm)

Replying to: dgal (Nov 01, 2012 12:06 pm)
you might browse YouTube...sometimes there are very good videos on various car repair subjects. They might not be completely specific to your make and model, but a sway bar is a sway bar is a sway bar.

#812 of 863 Re: this and that.... [Mr_Shiftright] by dgal

Nov 02, 2012 (8:19 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Nov 01, 2012 2:35 pm)
I will, thanks!

#813 of 863 Re: this and that.... [Mr_Shiftright] by explorerx4

Nov 02, 2012 (3:29 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Nov 01, 2012 10:28 am)
If the end links are shot, you get a banging noise from the suspension and it feels like something is loose in the front.
One of my kids had had this happen on 2 different cars they have driven.
After it was fixed, I knew what to look for and could see they were bent on vehicle #2.

#814 of 863 Re: this and that.... [dgal] by qbrozen

Nov 03, 2012 (3:29 pm)

Replying to: dgal (Nov 01, 2012 10:15 am)
The mechanic said it's not the links that need replacing it's the the actual bar bushings.
 
Ya know, I thought that's what you were saying, but that's so odd I assumed you really meant the endlinks, which commonly fail.
 
In any case, the bushings are easy, too. 2 brackets with 2 bolts each and the new bushings will be split, so you lube them up and slip them over the bar and bolt the brackets back on.
 
Here is a writeup with pics. OF course, if you don't have any tools, its probably not cost effective to do yourself.

Messages Page 82 of 87

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