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2001 Mitsubishi Galant DE - Suspension overhaul


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vkdc
Novice

Oct 3, 2013, 9:14 AM

Post #1 of 10 (1916 views)
2001 Mitsubishi Galant DE - Suspension overhaul Sign In

Hi everyone,

Let me start by saying I know very little about cars, and thank everyone in advance for any advice you can provide on this issue.

I have a 2001 Mitsubishi Galant DE, 2.4L, with 78,000 miles. I recently noticed a clanking noise coming from under the car, and felt the car wobbling a bit as we drove, and so I took it into my local mechanic to be checked out.

After inspecting the car he informed me that the following items need repair:
-Ball joint - both front lower ball joint loose
-Control arm – both front lower control arm loose
-Both outer tie rod end loose
-Front wheel alignment
-Both front sway bar end link loose
-Both front sway bar brushing loose
-Front strut weak
-Rear strut weak
-Front engine mount loose
-Rear engine mount loose
-He also recommended I replace the tires which have been damaged by the faulty suspension.

The quote for all of this (excluding tires which I would have replaced elsewhere) comes to $2,485, the bulk of which is for repairing/replacing the ball joint, control arm, and front/rear struts. Frankly, this is more than I want to spend to repair a 13 year old car, so I asked him if there was anything here I could get away without repairing for now – ie what would be the minimum amount of work I can do to keep the car safely running? He indicated that I'd need to have it all repaired, but his english is pretty bad so I'm not sure he fully understood the question.

So, I have a few questions 1) does this quote seem reasonable/worth it? 2) is there anything here I can potentially get away with leaving unaddressed for awhile? I'm guessing that these things are all related and so repairing only a few of them may not be practical. It would be a shame to give up on a car with only 78,000 miles but it's equally scary to invest $2500 into car that even in good shape blue books for maybe $2000.

Thanks again for any thoughts.

-vkdc


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Oct 3, 2013, 10:21 AM

Post #2 of 10 (1900 views)
Re: 2001 Mitsubishi Galant DE - Suspension overhaul Sign In

78k and all that stuff! Was this used in an Evil Kenevil canyon jump or something?

Second opinion time IMO. Most of the descriptions should be either broken or worn not "loose."

That and you still need tires?

Seriously, if you have vehicle inspections where you are who the heck has missed all that as I can't believe it all went at once? Maybe it is all bad and if so, nice looking low mile car even old I'd trade out of that one for that cost but have another opinion in writing as that's a lot all at once,

T



vkdc
Novice

Oct 3, 2013, 10:29 AM

Post #3 of 10 (1896 views)
Re: 2001 Mitsubishi Galant DE - Suspension overhaul Sign In

Haha, no I haven't been jumping canyons (yet), but my city is pot hole central, so maybe that has had an effect.

It did seem odd that so much went wrong at the same time, so I'll bring it into another shop to have them take a look.

Thanks!


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Oct 3, 2013, 10:46 AM

Post #4 of 10 (1892 views)
Re: 2001 Mitsubishi Galant DE - Suspension overhaul Sign In

Ya - I was a little off the wall with that comment. Perhaps it was a record school bus jump instead - Ha.

Just hard to belie all that all at once and I hear you with pot hole central. Holy crap around where I am, I think there are lost cars in some of the pot holes! That will wreck stuff too if you hit them or can't avoid them.

Some on that list like front + rear motor mounts you should have been complaining about and they would normally be described as "loose" but rather BROKEN.

At that cost you just need another look by another uninvolved place totally. If all that was that bad you really should be driving it - your call as I'm not so sure on all that. A noise could be a ton of assorted things??

If it really does need quite a bit like that and you really like the car in general and condition otherwise take the book values with a grain of salt at those ages as it's hard to find used cars if so that don't need something either or a lot OR go new, or top shelf used with awesome warranty.

Good luck,

T



vkdc
Novice

Oct 3, 2013, 11:20 AM

Post #5 of 10 (1883 views)
Re: 2001 Mitsubishi Galant DE - Suspension overhaul Sign In

Sounds good. Thanks again. I have an appointment with another mechanic tomorrow to get a second opinion.

If it really needs $2500 in repairs, we're leaning towards using that money as a down payment on a new car. Something cheap and reliable like a Honda Fit. Since the Mitsu is a 13 year old car, I'd rather not invest $2500 in the suspension only to worry that the transmission may fail next month :)


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Oct 3, 2013, 3:11 PM

Post #6 of 10 (1871 views)
Re: 2001 Mitsubishi Galant DE - Suspension overhaul Sign In

Personally not worried about it's age a bit. Just that quite a list of parts you were told and I suppose real lousy roads could speed up the issues fast. For the items you listed , some are not that expensive some get up there it's the total vs making a change before you do it all if you are ready now. It won't be worth that $2,500 more . Duh

we need cars. Book values are mere guesses after a few years IMO. Things can go wrong by surprise in anything new or not just the odds are better with newer.

I really think it's money well spent to decide on fixing and bailing out.

Don't let on the prior estimate, rather just ask for a complete check of steering and suspension items and check those motor mounts that could go without notice and see what happens.

Good luck,

T



vkdc
Novice

Oct 4, 2013, 6:25 AM

Post #7 of 10 (1851 views)
Re: 2001 Mitsubishi Galant DE - Suspension overhaul Sign In

The second opinion is in. The second mechanic says...

The reason the car is swaying and wobbling is because the tires are worn and one is warped. They need to be replaced.

The noises are because the right axel and strut mount need to be replaced.

The Stabalizer bar bushing needs to be replaced. The noise we hear is because the engine is tilting.

Without tires he estimates $678. That's a lot less than $2500!


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Oct 4, 2013, 6:35 AM

Post #8 of 10 (1846 views)
Re: 2001 Mitsubishi Galant DE - Suspension overhaul Sign In

Well............... That second opinion was worth it! If that's credible to you now I'd go for it. Swapping to another car if this one is otherwise OK is expensive by itself with whatever papers and taxes are involved - tons here, MA.

Tires are a cost of driving. A wheel if needed can either be fixed or probably a good used one - ask. Don't put a good new tire on a bad wheel.

Things are looking up,

T



vkdc
Novice

Oct 4, 2013, 8:44 AM

Post #9 of 10 (1837 views)
Re: 2001 Mitsubishi Galant DE - Suspension overhaul Sign In

Thanks again. Good advice. Feeling much better about repairing the car, and getting a few more years out of it.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Oct 4, 2013, 9:02 AM

Post #10 of 10 (1834 views)
Re: 2001 Mitsubishi Galant DE - Suspension overhaul Sign In

I'd fix it unless you are hell bent on something new. Now you can go back to CANYON jumpingCool

Let us know how it all works out. Mods let thread be till this is all good again please,

T







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