So this is the symptoms of my car (87' subaru wagon) shudders when i brake and going at a high speed. Not warpped rotors! checked and had the m resurfaced. Or alighnment! Les shwab tells me it my tie rods. Brake shop said it was my rack and pinion. So which is it or is it niether? cause swhab wants $350.00 to do the job that i think i can do for $150. If that is what is really wrong with it.

 

OPINIONS???

thanks

DC

Check the tie rods and rod ends yourself - jack up each wheel, and try to move the tie rod or end in and out. If you can move it (with the steering locked) then they need replaced. Both are easy, but careful attention must be made to get them back where they were before, or you will fubar your alignment and ruin your tires. Easily done with a bottle of white nail polish.

 

Personally, I think they are wrong as I've never seen tie rods or tie rod ends cause brake shudder on a subaru - but check them and if they are worn they should be replaced anyway. Just know that it might not fix your problem. Check your ball joints and all the bushings down there while you are at it. Give it a good inspection, and stop relying on shops to tell you what's wrong. Use your eye, and your noggin.

 

Resurfaced..... well still could be the rotors. Frankly they are cheap, and I never bother resurfacing them.

 

GD

well actually they are new rotors. I did jack up my car and tried moving the wheel and it moves. So yeah i think it is my tie rods. i looked up another thread on this and someone had the same problem and it turned out to be there ball joints and bushings, i think they also said there tie rods. So i will check it all out. I am still learning about cars as you know GD. Not all of us was born with mechanical skills like you bud.

Ball joints are cheap, do them when you do your tie rods.

 

-Brian

thanks is napa a ok place to go to get all this stuff?

Napa has never failed me. Except for when they hired that moron and now i gotta go back twice to get the right parts.

 

NAPA = National Auto Parts Association, so they should carry auto parts there.

 

-Brian

NAPA Is The Best Place For Auto Parts They Usually Have Everything You Need And Stock Alot Of Parts Others Don't

NAPA is ok, but Advance has better prices IMHO.

 

you can also look up the parts you need at http://www.partsamerica.com/

(affiliated with several chain parts stores)

I have gone there, found the part i wanted, printed out the page and taken it to the local Advance Auto Parts store, (sometimes the parts are priced cheaper online, sometimes not) if it was cheaper at the website i got the cheaper price at the store by printing it out.

 

one other note...check your struts/shocks

 

after replacing front end parts (tierod ends, ball joints, etc) take it in for an alignment - your tires (and wallet) will thank you.