Inner tie rod cost? Fiat Panda

godtabh

Just failed the NCT due to inner tie rod end (both sides). Report says obviously warn / major

Any idea of costs? Just spent €1800 getting it nct ready. Dont need another big hit!

punisher5112

godtabh wrote: »

Just failed the NCT due to inner tie rod end (both sides). Report says obviously warn / major

Any idea of costs? Just spent €1800 getting it nct ready. Dont need another big hit!

That's a hell of a lot of money!

What year and does it warrant that spend?

€20 or less a piece then labour.

godtabh

2010 - also need a car to drive!

Any idea how long it would take?

punisher5112

godtabh wrote: »

2010 - also need a car to drive!

Any idea how long it would take?

Seems excessive but obviously not knowing what was needed.

I'd estimate around the €100 mark at an indy.

Are you using an indy?

godtabh

punisher5112 wrote: »

Seems excessive but obviously not knowing what was needed.

I'd estimate around the €100 mark at an indy.

Are you using an indy?

Yes.

It need 4 new tires
A service
Electrical issues
Brake discs
A few other things that added up!

biko

DIY >> main forum

punisher5112

Should that not have been picked up with the previous work?

Seems steep enough either way.

godtabh

Spoke to mechanic this morning. Tie rods had been done.

He says there was play in the steering but the tie rods took 95% of it. He said he may look to strengthening it.

Could need a steering column replacement

road_high

€1800? Did you replace the whole car?

mickdw

You have made a major error is spending that kind of money.
You should have put it through nct then make a decision.
Spending 2k on a 2010 panda would seem to be lunacy considering you didn't list anything major.

godtabh

well the money is spent now

Wibbs

punisher5112 wrote: »

That's a hell of a lot of money!

+1, almost regardless of the age or model that's in my humble rip off territory for the stuff you listed G. Never mind that the same mechanic who charged all that missed what should have been an obvious issue with the tie rods and now he's suggesting it isn't the tie rods, but something else that he didn't fix while raping your wallet and "he may look to strengthening it" - whatever that means G - and a replacement steering column? I'd have a string of questions tbh, some of them in a loud voice. I'd be looking for a different mechanic myself, even at this stage.

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy

If I’d spent €1800 on a pre nct and it failed, I wouldn’t be spending any more. Explain to the mechanic that it failed, it’s his responsibility. Don’t forget, you’ve a retest fee to pay as well.

road_high

Looking on DoneDeal you’d easily pick up another Panda for that kind of money (with an NCT!). People need to be far more critical in their analysis of spending on major car repairs. There’s plenty of cowboy mechanics out there more than willing to play along unfortunately. That kind of money and it didn’t even pass? Insane

godtabh

I've looked at the bill from the mechanic. This is what was done

Full service
4 new tyres
Fitted new front brake pads
Wheel alignment
Rear brake drum service
Inner steering arms
both front upper shock mounts
front brake flexi pipes
replace rear wiper
Fixed electrical issue on rear light cluster

c. 8 hour of labour

Cost was actual €1625

The bill did say that the inner steering arms had excess movement. They were aligned and re-checkd. These were replaced and aligned and 95% play was gone and within spec.

Car is worth that and hopefully will get a 2 year nct

I dont have an issue the mechanic and if I get another 2/3 years out of it I'd be happy.

Wibbs

godtabh wrote: »

I've looked at the bill from the mechanic. This is what was done

Full service
4 new tyres
Fitted new front brake pads
Wheel alignment
Rear brake drum service
Inner steering arms
both front upper shock mounts
front brake flexi pipes
replace rear wiper
Fixed electrical issue on rear light cluster

c. 8 hour of labour

Cost was actual €1625

To be fair G down the years and with a few cars I'd have done most of the above kinda thing myself in my driveway fuelled by mugs of tea and excessive cursing, but it wouldn't take 8 hours and I'm a hamfisted amateur clown at the best of times. Maybe I'm way outa the loop on what an indy mechanic charges, though the chap I go to when my meagre skills run out wouldn't charge near that for the above list.

These were replaced and aligned and 95% play was gone and within spec.

and yet failed the NCT as "obviously worn/major" so not within spec.

I dont have an issue the mechanic and if I get another 2/3 years out of it I'd be happy.

I'd fully agree on the latter bit G and IMHO too many come out with the scrap it now! stuff, but I'd be getting second opinions from other mechanics as it would be my humble that your bill has been "padded". I'd certainly not go back to the same guy unless he's holding onto photos of you in a compromising position.

mickdw

There is not 1600 worth of work in that list.
Tyres, brakes etc for a panda must surely be at the very cheap end of the scale.
My car takes large tyres, pretty hefty brake pads etc and I wouldn't be paying that bill for that list of work.

bazz26

how much did he charge in labour? 1600 is very saucy for that work imo.

mickdw

Tyres fpr the likes of a panda are cheap. I'd love to know if the garage cheaped out on the tyre brand also.... might give an idea of the kind of rip off merchant we are dealing with. In panda sizes, a reputable brand is not going to be silly money but some just can't resist taking the absolute piss out of the customer.

road_high

mickdw wrote: »

Tyres fpr the likes of a panda are cheap. I'd love to know if the garage cheaped out on the tyre brand also.... might give an idea of the kind of rip off merchant we are dealing with. In panda sizes, a reputable brand is not going to be silly money but some just can't resist taking the absolute piss out of the customer.

Somehow doubt they’re Pirelli’s!!

delly

I'll add my 2 cents, as I recently had a car which failed due to a similar issue, hoping it could be the tie rods. Mechanic took it in and assessed it based on the NCT sheet and determined that the major play that caused the fail was in the steering column and the tie rods would only help so much. In order to guarantee a pass, it would have to be the steering column replacement, which for the age did not make sense. He didn't even charge me to evaluate and off I went. Now I'm not saying your mechanic is trying to shaft you, but just think he's not that good and happens to charge a bit on the high side for labour. The result is that you are suffering for his bad workmanship.

selectamatic

I had a car fail on inner tierods excessive play recently. Got new ones, took off the old ones there was nothing wrong with them and zero play from what I could see. (A small bit in the actual rack and column but the car is old so nothing at all unusual)

I put on the new ones anyways and kept the old ones. There was still that normal bit of play but I presented it for retest with the new inner tierods and it passed so make of that what you will.

Bigus

On openeo panda continental tyres are 53 each delivered inc vat or 37 each for budget,
So between €148 and €212 plus four valves €10
On micks garage the cost of parts Retail delivered free , panda parts are
4 spark plugs €8.77 ,oil , oil filter €5 , air filter €8 and brake pads€14.99 (brembo 25) flex pipes €13x 2 , , and shock tops /mounts 2x€16 , wiper rear €8 , inner steering arms € 13x2
So parts fitted €130.77 RETAIL, if plugs and air filter were done , plus oil €20

So of the 1625 bill if budget tyres were fitted the Labour was about 1300 , a bit steep for what should be 1/2 days work.

I’ve no problem , over paying for a fellas knowledge if he can fix a problem , but to outlay the above and have a fail sheet is totally unacceptable.

Mad_Mike

To be fair, the title of the thread is "Inner tie rod cost?"

Going on the bill for the work you described, and if you are happy with what the mechanic charged you, the cost of an inner tie rod just pales into insignificance.
A pair of inner tie rods, plus labour, plus tracking for a car like the Panda is going to be MAYBE 120 to 150 Euros, but shouldn't be any more.

The bill you posted for the work you got done is frankly astronomical, but it's done now and there is no going back.
Personally, I'd bring it to a different mechanic regardless of what needs to be sorted.

Also, and I'm just guessing from your profile regarding what you moderate... but would you know new tie rods from old/worn tie rods yourself?
Maybe just double check to see if he did actually fit new ones, and that he didn't just tell you that, and left the old ones on and adjust the tracking.

MicksGarage.com

Bigus wrote: »

On openeo panda continental tyres are 53 each delivered inc vat or 37 each for budget,
So between €148 and €212 plus four valves €10
On micks garage the cost of parts Retail delivered free , panda parts are
4 spark plugs €8.77 , oil, oil filter €5 , air filter €8 and brake pads€14.99 (Brembo 25) flex pipes €13x 2 , and shock tops /mounts 2x€ 16, wiper rear €8 , inner steering arms € 13x2
So parts fitted €130.77 RETAIL, if plugs and air filter were done, plus oil €20

So of the 1625 bill if budget tyres were fitted the Labour was about 1300, a bit steep for what should be 1/2 days work.

I’ve no problem, overpaying for a fellas knowledge if he can fix a problem, but to outlay the above and have a fail sheet is totally unacceptable.

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