RACK and PINION
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4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2018
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From: Panama City Florida
RACK and PINION
I have a 2003 C5 Anniversary with 40K miles. I'm being told by GM dealership that my Rack and Pinion and struts need to be replaced.
Does this seem right for this low of mileage? They are quoting me approx. $5,000 to replace all.
Does this seem right for this low of mileage? They are quoting me approx. $5,000 to replace all.
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Get a second opinion.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
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From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Come to my house and pay me $5000. I'll do it for you and I keep the old parts. My '03 has its original rack, however I did put Bilsteins (shocks) in.
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A complete set o new Bilsteins are less than $400 you can get a reman rack less than $250 or new AC Delco for $575. 2 quarts power steering fluid.
It would take 3-4 hours max for the entire job including all 4 shocks.
At $130 dealer rate per hour still puts you in the $1500 range.
They are trying to brutally rape you. Never go there again, even to buy a key fob. Run.
It would take 3-4 hours max for the entire job including all 4 shocks.
At $130 dealer rate per hour still puts you in the $1500 range.
They are trying to brutally rape you. Never go there again, even to buy a key fob. Run.
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Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Panama City Florida
A complete set o new Bilsteins are less than $400 you can get a reman rack less than $250 or new AC Delco for $575. 2 quarts power steering fluid.
It would take 3-4 hours max for the entire job including all 4 shocks.
At $130 dealer rate per hour still puts you in the $1500 range.
They are trying to brutally rape you. Never go there again, even to buy a key fob. Run.
It would take 3-4 hours max for the entire job including all 4 shocks.
At $130 dealer rate per hour still puts you in the $1500 range.
They are trying to brutally rape you. Never go there again, even to buy a key fob. Run.
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Panama City Florida
Does yours have the Touring/Sport mode, which I think requires the F55 series of struts?
Thanks
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 4
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From: Panama City Florida
Thanks,
Keith
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Find a reputable independent repair shop and get an estimate from them. All C5's use shocks; there are no "struts" on these cars. Check out the deals from Bill Curlee (a CF supporting vendor) for some really good deals on C5 shocks. He also has Z06 shocks for both C5 and C6 years and either will fit your car. Look thru this thread to find lots of good information and prices.
A remanufactured rack unit should cost around $250 plus shipping. Then figure a few hundred for labor.
Is there a Corvette club in your area? Maybe some of the members have been thru this and can recommend a shop. Definitely DO NOT go back to this "dealership". They are way off base in terms of price.
A remanufactured rack unit should cost around $250 plus shipping. Then figure a few hundred for labor.
Is there a Corvette club in your area? Maybe some of the members have been thru this and can recommend a shop. Definitely DO NOT go back to this "dealership". They are way off base in terms of price.
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Le Mans Master
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From: Wisconsin
You really can't trust anybody. My wife took her 5 year old Mercury into a new Tire Pros in town to get an oil change because she had a coupon. They told her it needed new struts costing $3K. I told her "no it didn't" and 8 years later it still doesn't. Another local independent shop wanted $350 to put a new fuel filter in my C5. The local Chevy dealership did it for $100.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
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From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
As I originally offered to repair your car for the $5000 bill, I forgot to mention that my car has 160,000 miles on it now. I put the Bilstein shocks in as one of the mods I did when I lowered my car and put upgraded wheels and tires on it. Stock shocks were still good. Now if you do have the tunable factory shocks, they are quite expensive. However you can tune them out of the computer and replace them with much more affordable conventional shocks that are better performing. You do need a Tech II, which I have.