doubletap1911
Member
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2011
- Posts
- 51
- Reaction score
- 6
I have a 2001 Z71 Tahoe with 273k on the odometer. When I went in for my bi-annual inspection the mechanic said my front suspension was f*****. I asked what he meant and he started pulling on wheels and showed me slop all over the place. He said the minimum he would need to replace to make it safe/legal again would be replacing the upper control arms, the left lower control arm and the pitman arm.
I took the hoe to another mechanic shop (Big O Tire) and asked for another inspection to see if they said the same thing. Big O said the pitman arm, the upper ball joints and the left lower control arm. At least there is a little consistency...I guess I had just grown used to the hoe's wandering and learned to compensate for it while driving.
At the time I could not afford to have it fixed, but I have now saved up decided to refresh the whole front suspension. I purchased the following:
Upper control arms
Lower control arms
Tie rod ends
Idler arm
Pitman arm
Front shocks (and rear shocks too)
Now I have a school bus mechanic that works with my father (a school bus driver) willing to do the work on weekends at the school's bus barn. He asks that I offer what should be a fair rate and wants to know how many shop hours we are looking at. Can you guys help me come up with fair numbers?
I took the hoe to another mechanic shop (Big O Tire) and asked for another inspection to see if they said the same thing. Big O said the pitman arm, the upper ball joints and the left lower control arm. At least there is a little consistency...I guess I had just grown used to the hoe's wandering and learned to compensate for it while driving.
At the time I could not afford to have it fixed, but I have now saved up decided to refresh the whole front suspension. I purchased the following:
Upper control arms
Lower control arms
Tie rod ends
Idler arm
Pitman arm
Front shocks (and rear shocks too)
Now I have a school bus mechanic that works with my father (a school bus driver) willing to do the work on weekends at the school's bus barn. He asks that I offer what should be a fair rate and wants to know how many shop hours we are looking at. Can you guys help me come up with fair numbers?