1987 900 base model. 200k plus miles and 115 hp of Swedish fury. A beloved workhorse, but one I just don't have the time (or the DIY-skill) to spend fixing.

I took it in for a rattling from the driver's side wheel on bumps and for an idle adjustment (idle is too low to turn on AC -- bad thing in NoVa heat), and while driving to the repair shop the left front caliper seized and dragged the pad on the rotor at highway speeds for about 15 miles (6th time in 10 years, second time this year despite replacement). Of course I didn't notice it until I got to the stoplight next to the repair shop.

Here's the diagnosis according to the mechanic:

1. Seized right front caliper, overheated pad and rotor now ruined, need replacing.
2. Rattle on the left front caused by loose brake caliper bracket/thingy, but mechanic prefers to replace whole front brake system because of the ruined RF brakes (something about pulling-when-braking issues if you only do the brakes on one wheel; sounds fishy to me). Estimate for full replacement of both front calipers/rotors -- $750 parts and labor.
3. Valve cover gasket leaking near the front, oil dripping onto various parts, needs replacement (this was a freebie diagnosis by the mechanic, but no estimate given).
4. Steering rack "noisy" (no idea what this means, works fine).
5. Needs a new idle control valve. $250.

Also, exhaust is getting a little loud, there is definitely a hole somewhere. Trim pieces are falling off (especially the rubber strips down the sides).

So here are my issues:

First, I think I'm getting BS'ed on the front brake thing -- if one side is bad but one side is good, how is it an issue to replace the bad one with a good one?

Second, how much should these repairs cost, parts and labor?

Third, someone cheer me up. I'm about to bail on this car.



posted by 208.200.1...

• Arrg! More work needed on 900. Help me keep faith!, Hood, Mon, 28 Jul 2003 08:11:32 <-- Viewing This Message
  • Like Randy says, it's a bit steep on the labor. >, Texron, Mon, 28 Jul 2003 10:26:09
    • $75 an hour was labor. plus parts prices were higher, Hood, Mon, 28 Jul 2003 10:34:04
      • What I would do it to call around and see what else, Texron, Mon, 28 Jul 2003 11:20:32
  • Re: Arrg! More work needed on 900. Help me keep faith!, AP, Mon, 28 Jul 2003 08:36:38
    • Ha! That did cross my mind., Hood, Mon, 28 Jul 2003 10:26:17

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