Car Suspension Cost

Typical costs:

• Replacing a suspension system can cost $1,000-$5,000 or more, depending on the type of system and the make, model and year of the vehicle (luxury vehicles typically cost more than standard automobiles). Costs also depend on the amount of wear and rust underneath the vehicle (which can make it more difficult and time-consuming to remove the old parts).
• Replacing just the four shock absorbers or struts that are part of the suspension system can cost $200-$1,500 for an average vehicle or $2,000-$5,000 for luxury vehicles or those with difficult access or heavy rust; do-it-yourself costs for replacement of shocks/struts averages $150-$250.
• Replacing just the four ball joints can cost $350-$2,200 or more, depending on the make, model and year of the vehicle, and the difficulty of access; do-it-yourself replacement typically costs $125-$400 or more.

• 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 a detailed overview[1] 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.

• Some vehicles require a wheel alignment after the suspension is replaced, at a possible cost of $20-$400. The vehicle's manual will include a recommended service schedule indicating whether a wheel alignment is needed.

• Parts for suspension system are available through retailers like Autozone[2] , O'Reilly Auto Parts or JC Whitney[3] .
• Suspension replacement is available from local repair shops, car dealerships or nationwide automotive shops like Big O Tires[4] , Meineke[5] , Midas[6] or Sears[7] . Search for local repair shops through the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence[8] or the International Automotive Technicians Network[9] .
• Consumer Reports lists tips for finding a good mechanic[10] .

1.  www.carbibles.com/suspension_bible.html
2.  www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/Suspension-and-Steering/_/N-8r2lb
3.  www.jcwhitney.com/suspension-and-chassis/c11298j1s17.jcwx
4.  www.bigotires.com/services-category/suspension-and-front-end
5.  www.meineke.com/services/steering.aspx
6.  www.midas.com/Services/SteeringSuspension/tabid/141/Default.aspx
7.  www.sears.com/automotive-chassis-shocks-suspension-shocks/s-1206807530
8.  www.ase.com/Landing-Pages/Car-Owners/Find-a-Repair-Shop/Shop-Locator.aspx
9.  autorepair.iatn.net/
10.  www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/12/how-to-find-a-great-car-mechanic/index.htm

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