What is a reasonable quote?

aniascor

I got my car serviced today, and the mechanic has told me there are a few things wrong with it. Apparently it needs a new wishbone bush on one side and a new bottom joint on the other side. He's going to get a price on parts, and ring me back with a quote for parts and labour tomorrow.

I have no idea what to expect though. What would be a reasonable quote for the parts and for the labour? I don't have a clue, and I don't want to be taken by surprise tomorrow.

Also, he said I need one new tyre. What would cause just one tyre to wear down? I usually change two tyres at once (front or back) - because that's what my father told me to do!! Is it ok to only change one? Or should I listen to my father?

Veloce

What kind of car is it?

aniascor

Doh! Sorry - it's a 2006 Nissan Note.

poker--addict

your right it is strange that one wheel would wear at any rate much faster then the rest.

Also im fairly sure the bush parts dont cost a whole lot..probably get screwed for labour as usual.

andyseadog

aniascor wrote: »

Also, he said I need one new tyre. What would cause just one tyre to wear down? I usually change two tyres at once (front or back) - because that's what my father told me to do!! Is it ok to only change one? Or should I listen to my father?

it may be the case if you have a full size spare tyre that they will put the spare on one side and a matching brand new tyre on the other and put the balding tyre in the boot. not ideal practise, but if you want to keep costs down :rolleyes:

if thats not the case, fitting one tyre is bad practice unless the tyre on the opposite side on the same axle is new or nearly new anyway.

likewise, fitting suspension bushings to just one side

cant help with your pricing issues, sorry. wishbone bushes are cheap generally, 5-10 quid each, cant see a bottom ball joint costing the earth either, but i dont know the specifics of the Note, so dont take that as gospel.

ArtSmart

"it's not what you do, it's the way that you do it".


and unreasonable quote would be


"I have nothing to declare but my genius"

rcdk1

aniascor wrote: »

Also, he said I need one new tyre. What would cause just one tyre to wear down?

If you drove for a while with one tyre deflated (but not necessarily flat) then that tyre would wear unevenly.

aniascor

Many thanks for the relevant responses.

I think I'll change both tyres - though as I write this I realise I never even asked him whether the tyre was on the front or on the back. Difficult to concentrate on what he was saying while I was trying to prevent a toddler from running around his garage.

But I do a fair amount of driving 4-500km on a normal week, so I'm all too aware that the tyres are the only thing between me and the road.

rcdk1 - I should have thought of this myself. When I went back to work earlier this year, it took me a while to get back into the swing of things again, and I went about 10-12 weeks without checking the tyre pressures. When I did check, one of the tyres was much lower than the others. I probably did the damage during that time.

I have no idea what a suspension bushing is, but I'll ask him about replacing both sides.

stevenmu

If you have suspension issues (and it sounds like you do), it can cause one tyre to wear faster.

aniascor

Thanks stevenmu. And will changing the wishbone bush and the joint as he suggested fix the suspension issues, or is it likely there is a bigger issue causing the problem?

stevenmu

I've no idea to be honest, knowing that suspension problems can cause uneven tyre wear is about as far as my knowledge of suspension goes

(I can't even say for sure that the suspension problems you have would cause that, I'm just suggesting that it could)

jimbobjones40

aniascor wrote: »

Thanks stevenmu. And will changing the wishbone bush and the joint as he suggested fix the suspension issues, or is it likely there is a bigger issue causing the problem?

If you'd like a second opinion on the cause of the uneven wear: quotes are free in most garages (including my own ) all you have to do is ask.

aniascor

Thanks jimbobjones40. I think I will be ringing around for a couple of quotes alright!

mickdw

THe bottom joint that is worn would quite possibly be the reason for the tyre wear - ask them about this.

This work shouldnt be too frightening price wise if you can buy the bush that is worn and dont have to buy complete suspension arm.

Nissan doctor

The wishbones on the note come as all one peice, the balljoints and bushes are all part of the wishbone and not available seperatly so the cost is likely to be a little higher. I don't know the price but I'd be expecting €100 - €150 retail price, per wishbone, plus fitting.

There are several things that could cause one tyre to wear more then the other but the oposite tyre is unlikey to be far behind in terms of wear unless they were changed at a different time.