I have a '97 Integra with 182k. Well......I knew that my CV Boots had been dry rotted for years. Now they have finally cracked open and I was told by the dealership that both of my outer CV Joints are bad. They said the cheaper route to go is to replace the axels, but they quoted $850. Is that over priced???

Then they said that my rear trailing arm bushing is broken. When I asked what that was, they said that it is some rubber that helps hold the rear suspension. They said that is $490. I have heard of rear suspension, but never heard of arm bushing. I asked how would I know that from driving and they said two ways to tell: 1) tire wear 2) knocking in the rear. I guess they can tell from the tire wear because I don't have any rear knocking.

I'm sure everything is broken that they said, but am I getting ripped off? Do you think the average joe mechanic can replace those items?

Any advice will help with my decision. Thanks!

They also said I needed: (I don't know if this is high priced or not either). I live in Houston.

Coolant flush.........$129
Brake fluid flush.....$119

And to think I thought I was bringing it in for the 180k mile service.

Should I just try a reliable mechanic shop?

 

yes.


This is all fairly basic maintenance stuff. If you feel like it, you can see the trailing arm bushing. they will be about a foot forward of the brake rotors and look this:


The metal bar is supposed to firmly secured in that rubber. More than likely that rubber is torn on either the top or the bottom, a common problem, especially with that many miles. Also when you get a quote on the bushings make sure they are replacing the bushing and not the whole trailing arm. If a shop doesn't have a good press or are just lazy they will replace the whole trailing arm and tell you thats the only way. It is not the only way, honda sells the bushings and they can be replaced without replacing the whole trailing arm.

I don't know exact prices for the axles so I'll leave that to someone else, but a good shop shouldn't charge you much more than $300 to do the axles.

 

All those prices are steep. Get some other quotes.

 

Thanks. I spoke to a mechanic that I have taken my car to before. He said that he can replace the axels for like $360 and the arm bushing shouldn't be too expensive. Thanks for your comments!!!!