A suspension system consists of springs, shock absorbers/struts and linkages (such as ball joints) which connect a vehicle to its wheels. The suspension keeps the wheels in proper contact/friction with the ground despite bumps or other road irregularities. It also smooths the ride for the vehicle's occupants.
Typical costs:
Replacing a suspension system averages about $1,000-$2,000, and will often cost more than that for rare or luxury cars. A lot depends on the type of suspension system in a particular make, model and year and the amount of wear and rust underneath the vehicle.
What should be included:
The suspension system is part of the chassis, which contains all the important systems located underneath the body of a vehicle. The three main components of a suspension system are springs, dampers/shock absorbers and anti-sway bars. The exact configuration depends on the make, model and year of the vehicle. CarBibles.com provides an extremely detailed explanation of various types of suspensions--front, rear, dependent, independent, etc.
Generally both sides (left and right) of a suspension system should be replaced at the same time, and depending on the wear and tear, often the front and rear systems should be done together, to avoid having new parts add to the stress of old, worn parts. Sometimes individual parts, such as the shock absorbers or ball joints, may wear out and need replacing separately. On other vehicles various parts of the suspension system may all need replacing at once, to avoid the stress of new parts interacting with old ones.
Additional costs:
Some vehicles may require a full alignment after replacing the suspension; this can add $60-$100 to the total cost. Check the specifications for your car to see if an alignment is needed.
Bose, a company known for its sound systems, had developed a suspension system driven by four electromagnetic motors, giving a higher level of control and comfort. The radical suspension improvements could add $5,000 or more to the cost of a care, according to MSNBC.com.
Shopping for a car suspension:
AutoEducation.com lists tips for choosing a repair shop. Labor usually costs the most, you might pay for more time than it actually takes to do the job, many firms charge a separate diagnostic fee and most repair shops use a higher grade of replacement parts than the cheapest ones available from discount retailers; AA1Car.com gives an overview.
I see that the price for the strut online is far less than what I was charged. And they charged me 157.00 for a "strut mount", but I find no listing for that part for this make and model! Is this a fictional part? They charged 85.00 for labor. Plus the assistant mechanic redlined the engine when he started the car to bring into the shop! All of us waiting could hear it.
Trans needed to be rebuild, that cost $1820.00
repairs ran into buying a new clutch and cross member and other stuff under the hood, I think it was that slave cylinder or something like that, plus the labor.
so all an all, the cost is going to be $2681.00 out the door.
I pretty much expected it to be that much.
I\'m a mechanic my self, but never worked on transmission before.
The mechanic recommended $900+ for upgrade suspension and $69 for alignment. Total a little over $1000. But my car costs only around $4000(Toyota Camry, 2002). I am not sure if it is worth for suspension upgrade :-)
I was reading of the variable rate coil springs which let a car ride normal when empty and firm when loaded down. The car is 19 years old so I thought I'd go ahead and change them. I have Haynes Service Manuals for all three cars I own and I've yet to find a repair that the manuals have been accurate on, but someday I might. :) The manual was totally useless for this work (again). It took about two hours to change the springs because of the extra stuff I had to remove for clearance. So far the springs work well.