New to this group. Minimal mechanical savvy. I have a 94 Legacy and was told I had a broken spring by the shop that replaced my muffler. Took it to a recommended suspension shop and they told me that to replace both springs and struts it would run me about $1,000. Since I'm considering a new car, I went for a second opinion to see if this could be fixed more inexpensively. Took it to a Monroe shop (probably wrong move). They gave me cost similar to first quote but when I told them I only planned to have the car for 6 more months, they said I could live with the springs as they were but they suggested new front tires (right tire was bald) and replacing left front axle since it was "about to brake" (cost $450). I reluctantly accepted this advice and thought I'd save a few bucks and have a workable, safe car for 6 more months. Driving away after the axle was replaced, the brakes didn't work (had to press all the way down to floor and pump to get the car to stop.) Took it back immediately and they said the axle and wheel replacement had "nothing to do with the brakes" and that the brakes were "soft" when I came in (they certainly weren't). After complaining, they took the tires off and ran some tests and said I had a stuck caliper "someone did a "shoddy" work w/ my brake job". They fooled around a bit with things and appeared to "unstick" the caliper for me. I took a test drive and things seemed o.k. but as I was driving home and had to come to a full stop, the brakes were making strange pingin noises and felt spongy. Now I'm $750 in the hole with scarey brake problems (and still need springs). I'm resigned to a new car at this point, but want to make sure the Monroe shop owns up to the brake problem. Advice for me?
- posted
18 years ago