Feb 14 2008
Diagnosis
I didn’t get much sleep last night, I guess due to worrying about the car. I got it about 8am and got to the garage about 9am. They quoted me $705.38 parts & labor to replace 2 Front Quick Strut Assemblies ($237.58 each, $475.16 for 2), $5 shop supplies, $130.66 labor to install two quick strut assemblies (plus road test and other adjustments/checks suspension wise), $49.95 for a 4-wheel alignment and another $5.00 for hazardous materials (labor related) With $39.61 tax it comes out to $705.38.
This seems to be a somewhat accurate parts wise. And the labor is fair (about 3-4 hours of labor). However, I did find the exact same Front Quick Strut Assembly (Part # 171615 as listed on their estimate) from OReilly for $165 each ($330 for two, plus tax). But then I’d still have to pay labor to someone, plus an alignment of about $50-60. I think I will forget about getting it fixed for now. It’s only a soft clunk. In time (6 months or even longer) it will probably be noisier but by then I should have some money saved up to get it done without going flat broke. If it starts making noises when I go over hard bumps, then I know it’s time for sure to get it done.
But for now, it can wait.