Suspension places trying to rip ppl off

I recently took my troopy to my local 4WD "specialist", where they supply and install a well known brand of 4wd equipment, because i noticed that the shocky bushes were pretty much non existant.
I asked them to check it over for me and booked a time for the next day.
About half hour after dropping it off got a call saying that the whole suspension was 90% gone and would need replacing.
After nearly 6hrs they finally rang through a quote of nearly $2800.
I rang another place and got a quote of $2200.
Finally i rang my trusted mechanic, who also came in at $2200 for the stuff thats put on the 4wd firetrucks over here, and he didnt believe that the suspension could have degraded that much since easter.
I took it down to him to inspect and as he suspected, everything under there was fine. The only thing that he suggested that he would do was to replace the shockies =approx$500.
Apparently its been happening alot lately as there isnt much work going around, especially in the suspension world, and they're trying to drum up bussiness.
So a word from the wise, get someone you trust to have a look at your suspension if ur not sure, or get numerous people to look under the car.
Saved me alot of $, thats for sure.
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Reply By: Dave... Adelaide (SA - Monday, May 30, 2011 at 15:51

Monday, May 30, 2011 at 15:51
Jon, That sort of thing has been going on for years, i never get ANYONE to do work on my vehicles, unless of course its one of my sons...things like changing shockies are not hard to do .....

Cheers......Borgy
AnswerID: 455898

Follow Up By: Jon W - Monday, May 30, 2011 at 16:12

Monday, May 30, 2011 at 16:12
I'm pretty knew to the "serious" 4wd scene and with something as big and heavy as the troopy and where there is potential to be stuck hundreds of km's from anywhere if there is a failure, then I'd much prefer to have it done by the professionals :-)
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FollowupID: 728842

Follow Up By: Begaboy - Monday, May 30, 2011 at 16:45

Monday, May 30, 2011 at 16:45
@Jon W -- just so your aware , the "Professional" you speak of could be a first year apprentice , or and employee that really does not give a toss as its just a weekly wage cheque as far as they are concerned - not always the case - but have seen this MANY times
as dave said - shocks are not brain surgery- done the rear shocks in my nissan a while back in about 45 min

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Follow Up By: Dave... Adelaide (SA - Monday, May 30, 2011 at 17:46

Monday, May 30, 2011 at 17:46
Jon
One of my sons is a qualified front end and suspension technician, he used to work for a well known large Australia wide company, which l wont name on here because i'm not about bagging people or company's out...he ended up leaving because a lot of his customers he got along really well with and didn't like the fact that he had to rip them of...some of the prices they would charge for their products as well as the labour was shocking, and it still goes on, not just by said company either......
When getting work done, it really pays to ask lots of questions....

Cheers....Borgy
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Reply By: Member Al (Sunshine Coast) - Monday, May 30, 2011 at 15:55

Monday, May 30, 2011 at 15:55
I'm a bit confused Jon. Why did you take it to a local 4WD "specialist" to have bushes replaced when you already have a "trusted mechanic"?

Cheers
Allan

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Follow Up By: Jon W - Monday, May 30, 2011 at 16:08

Monday, May 30, 2011 at 16:08
I took it there simply for ease, its on my way to work so easy enough to drop it off there and let them have a look at it.
My mechanic is 20mins away from home, but the other direction from work, and with the hours I was working, made it pretty difficult to get there.
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Follow Up By: Jon W - Monday, May 30, 2011 at 16:14

Monday, May 30, 2011 at 16:14
Will be taking it there from now on though, even if it is in the other direction.
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Follow Up By: ross - Monday, May 30, 2011 at 22:55

Monday, May 30, 2011 at 22:55
Jon W,when I got into 4wds about 10 years ago I had the same experience.
Some smooth talking guy from a well known 4wd chain told me I needed to spend $2800 .
After pricing suspension kits from other sources and getting my regular mechanic to install it,I had enough left over for a new set of 33 inch tyres(at 2003 prices).
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Reply By: Member - Christopher P (NSW) - Monday, May 30, 2011 at 16:08

Monday, May 30, 2011 at 16:08
This happens nearly all the time... I know of a lovely little older lady, she took her car to a tyre fitters and the said her shocks are screwed, they were replaced 3 weeks previously by her trusted mechanic. so after getting her tyres done she took it back to the mechanic and he checked over complete car and suspension and found nothing wrong it.

The tyre fitters were trying to gyp an older lady.... lets just say i don't recommend going to said tyre fitters...

The mechanic is a good and honest guy..
AnswerID: 455901

Reply By: Member Al (Sunshine Coast) - Monday, May 30, 2011 at 17:10

Monday, May 30, 2011 at 17:10
Jon, It is important to find a service shop that is not only ethical but fully competent in servicing your model of vehicle. This is especially so with 4WDs which will be travelling into remote locations.

Soon after purchasing my Troopy I selected a specialist 4WD workshop and put it in for a comprehensive service including timing belt replacement. I expected a big bill but was surprised at the size of it and on arriving home analysed it item by item.
The very first item was the timing belt at $539.09! See the pic.......
Image Could Not Be Found
On confronting them about it I got no apology, no offer of a free oil change, no explanation, just a rather gruffy correction and refund! Interestingly, the error was not just a decimal point as you can see.

I have since found a two-man partnership business with no junior employees who do all my work and I trust them implicitly. As Mortein said "When you're on a good thing stick to it"

Cheers
Allan

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Reply By: Member - Craig F (WA) - Monday, May 30, 2011 at 17:19

Monday, May 30, 2011 at 17:19
All must remember that most 4wd shops are installers only, they are also biast to what they stock. I would always sugest when getting work done to question the capabilities of the workshop.

Craig
AnswerID: 455905

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