Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hi guys, went for an RWC today on my Vitara, and it came back with quite a list. I wasn't expecting as such... but so go the woes of owning a car.

Things that need to be done are:

Engine oil leaks - cam and crank seals possibly.
Rear wheel cylinders are leaking.
Rear brake shoes are worn out and need replacing now.
Front disc pads are very low.
Exhaust muffler is blowing and needs welding.

That's about it. I nearly got a coronary when the list was handed to me, but now that I read it I guess it isn't too bad. I guess basically what needs to be done is stop the leaks and replace all the brakes.

I was planning to buy all these parts from Suziwest, and then get a mechanic to put them in. Anybody have any idea how much money we are talking about here to fix my car ?

Since the day I bought my car it's been hell on earth. I have so many screwed up stories, it almost brings me to tears.

Here's some of the more interesting stories for you:

Was driving down the highway and my windscreen wiper blew off and hit a taxi behind me.

Was fitting a blind spot mirror to my passenger side mirror and the whole mirror cracked in half.

Went to open my door from the inside and the handle ripped out.

Last week I was driving down the highway and my new fibreglass roof blew off and another car drove over it while I was trying to pick it up.

All these problems are just plain badluck.

I am so unhappy I think I hate cars now.

Tyson wrote:Hi guys, went for an RWC today on my Vitara, and it came back with quite a list. I wasn't expecting as such... but so go the woes of owning a car.

Things that need to be done are:

Engine oil leaks - cam and crank seals possibly.
Rear wheel cylinders are leaking.
Rear brake shoes are worn out and need replacing now.
Front disc pads are very low.
Exhaust muffler is blowing and needs welding.

Engine oil leaks is your big one. That could be as simple as a rocker cover gasket or as bad as front and rear main seals. You'll have to suss that out.

Minor leaks can pass a RWC if the car is properly cleaned up first. Technically it has to drip during the inspection to be bad enough to be a RWC item.

The brakes front and rear should set you back about $100-150 in parts if you do it yourself (rebonded rear shoes). Brakes wear out easily in 4wds with dirt and mud. Would probably set you back $400 ro get someone else to do it.

A replacement muffler is probably about $100 fitted.

Thanks mate.

I added up all the brakes, and it comes to $350 @ Suziwest.

I can either get the muffler welded, or a new one for $100

So all in all it's not *too bad*

One I'm most afraid about is the engine leaks.

Maybe that's why my car can't seem to go over 90km/hr.

Piece of shit is pissing me off so bad I almost want to drive it off a cliff. ( but I won't )

Was fitting a blind spot mirror to my passenger side mirror and the whole mirror cracked in half.

That was ur problem. - damn mirrors.

Should not be too much to fix. mostly minor things. cam leaks is common zook thing as well , check the dizzy is not leaking before ya do the cam leak assuming it is the rear seal.

If u want to drive it off a cliff - let me know and i will take out the engine and push ya over.

BTW: isn't there somewhere cheaper in melb than suziwest.

cheers

Nic

couple can of degreaser from SuperCheap $3.00
front brake pads from repco $80.00
rear brake shoes rebonded and cylinder from Repco $100.00
find a shop to weld zaust $20.

A few couple hours in the driveway fitting brakes and thoroughly washing all oil off the car just before you drive it down for second inspection.

Usually they inspect the major fail items and look over everything when it goes back.

$250 tops

I think I paid $30 for rebonded brake shoes form suzisport last time and $10 or $15 per slave cylinder. Seal kits were $6 each side.

You could probably get brake pads front for like $40-50 and walk out of it for $100 for the brakes, $150 at worst.

Shop around before you pay that price as it still seems excessive.

If you can't do better than that pm me and I'll get prices for them up here but you should be able to do better than that.

I'm not in trade either.

Maybe a suzi person in melbourne can do better for you.

jtraf wrote: A few couple hours in the driveway fitting brakes and thoroughly washing all oil off the car just before you drive it down for second inspection.

if you clean it down, to be sure, take a rag, and stop round the corner and double check it,