Feel like a newbie for asking about these costs

[Trigger Jack]

Just picked up a 1995 GST, and has two primary things I want to address from the start:

1. The TPS looks like it's going faulty. Normal situation, high rev at rpm, jerks when going into gear. On occasion it drives fine, etc.

2. Seems like either the struts or strut mounts are bad. Going over bumps, it's clunking and generally unpleasant. Looks like the kid who owned it before me either lowered it, or just didn't care about his suspension.

So far, my quoted costs are this:

$425 for the TPS ($350 just for the part)
$640 for the front struts (using Monroes)
$550 for the rears (still Monroes)

Last time I had a TPS swapped, it only cost me around $150, parts and labor, from a shop.....have I just found someone who uses gold parts, or something?

Thanks guys.

 

[broken_eclipse]

All i can say on those prices is woah... Goto a junkyard with an 8mm and get a tps, then check out Vfaq i'm pretty sure theres a tps replacement write up. It shouldnt be much more than a 5 dollar fix..


Struts shouldnt be more than $300 and require a jack, jack stands, a 14mm and 17mm ratchett , spring compressor (rent at auto parts store), and possibly an impact if i remember correctly.

 

[Maverick4g63]

Do all the work yourself. Stop paying mechanics to do easy jobs. Knowledge is power.

 

[brandonwh64]

I picked up a TPS off ebay for under 50$ for my 420A and it works very well.

 

[TSiAWD666]

Wow you are getting raped.

$350 for the tps?? hahaha wow! I bought an EVO TPS for my aftermarket throttle body and that cost me only like... $85 new? Call up Paul at JNZ Tuning and he'll get you a much better price than $350. Installing it is easy if you have a multimeter. If you have a multimeter though... man test your tps yourself first! Someone could be totally bullshitting you.

With the struts I would just go to a cheap aftermarket coilover at those prices. You should be able to get Konis and Ground Controls for under $1k I think. I know my tokico illumina shocks and ground control coilovers back in the day cost me under $1k (I wouldn't recommend the illuminas though for high spring rates around 450lbs and up as they don't handle them well). Installing new suspension isn't really difficult.

 

[98GSXin]

Really, go with coilovers for those kinds of prices. Brand new and an upgrade from stock for the same price range. If you are more comfortable with a shop doing it, then that's your choice but at least get your money's worth in parts.

 

[RadDsm]

Jeebus, those are crazy prices.
I have a 2G TPS for sale for $20 shipped. PM me if you are interested.

 

[97gst_spyder]

I bought a Tokico spring and strut kit for 540 shipped... New, with adjustable struts.

 

[phunny]

TPS is way up there, they're probably quoting you a dealer price. The others are a little high but not that far off.

 

[motozachl]

WTF tps is $2 and 5 minute job if that. I'll be your mechanic

 

[Trigger Jack]

Well, that pretty much confirms what I was thinking on the TPS. There's a Pull-A-Part barely 5 minutes from my house, need to cruise over there and see what I can grab. Looks like there's 3 Eclipses on the lot, so one of them may have what I need.

I'll admit, also, that I'm not entirely sure that it's the struts. Suspension sounds are one thing I've never really been good at diagnosing.... Kind of a rotational thunk, at low speeds...can't tell if it's front or rear. Going over speed bumps is almost a tragedy. A clunk, then the car drops like it's going to hit the ground. Maybe the ball joints too?

Would it be a fair option to have a shop at least diagnose what needs fixing, then do the rest myself?