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- 7 Nov 2024
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Vauxhall Astra CDTI ecotec, 1.6cc, 2017, 90'000 mileage mostly rural/town roads and some motorways.
I took my car to a garage for MOT and full Service. It passed MOT fine but had a few issues they wanted to repair immediately.
- Wheel alignment and front L tyre replacement (This definitely needs doing).
- All Break pads & discs ("visual check").
- Inner & outer track rod L side ("visual check").
After they tried to get me to agree to £1200 just on breaks £800 on a single track rod I got the feeling they were trying to rip me off and took the car back without work. I went to change the breaks myself but stopped when I measured 8-9mm on front breaks and 5-6mm on rear breaks, they still have half a cm of wear indicator on them. The L wheel has a small amount of play maybe ~5mm when pushing the tyre back and forth, I wouldn't say it feels loose, grabbing the track rod itself I can feel no play in it. The steering wheel doesn't shake or rattle while driving, and there's no noise while turning. It also seems a bit early to expect to change track rods at 90K miles. The only symptom is the front L wheel being out of alignment.
- I have also noticed a dull creaking noise (like stepping on old floor boards) when the car is misaligned height wise. If I were to drive straight over a speed bump there is no noise, but if I were to mount the curb or speed bump with only either one side of the car, it creaks while changing height. I gave the ball joints a quick spray because they've never been lubricated, but the creaking is still there afterwards.
If I need any work doing, I've got a month off work so now's the time to do it really.
So what I'm asking, ideas to find out the source of the creaking, and whether I should change the track rods on both sides (normally changed in pairs) and breaks, before taking it in for alignment, or leave it for another year and only do the alignment this week?
I took my car to a garage for MOT and full Service. It passed MOT fine but had a few issues they wanted to repair immediately.
- Wheel alignment and front L tyre replacement (This definitely needs doing).
- All Break pads & discs ("visual check").
- Inner & outer track rod L side ("visual check").
After they tried to get me to agree to £1200 just on breaks £800 on a single track rod I got the feeling they were trying to rip me off and took the car back without work. I went to change the breaks myself but stopped when I measured 8-9mm on front breaks and 5-6mm on rear breaks, they still have half a cm of wear indicator on them. The L wheel has a small amount of play maybe ~5mm when pushing the tyre back and forth, I wouldn't say it feels loose, grabbing the track rod itself I can feel no play in it. The steering wheel doesn't shake or rattle while driving, and there's no noise while turning. It also seems a bit early to expect to change track rods at 90K miles. The only symptom is the front L wheel being out of alignment.
- I have also noticed a dull creaking noise (like stepping on old floor boards) when the car is misaligned height wise. If I were to drive straight over a speed bump there is no noise, but if I were to mount the curb or speed bump with only either one side of the car, it creaks while changing height. I gave the ball joints a quick spray because they've never been lubricated, but the creaking is still there afterwards.
If I need any work doing, I've got a month off work so now's the time to do it really.
So what I'm asking, ideas to find out the source of the creaking, and whether I should change the track rods on both sides (normally changed in pairs) and breaks, before taking it in for alignment, or leave it for another year and only do the alignment this week?
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