God Bless you Robert. I’m tackling this same job this weekend on the same
vehicle. I too thank God for the ability to be successful at whatever I set
my hands to. Cheers.
Great video, amazing what can be done yourself with the right info and a
few basic tools. I had my 2007 caliber (same color as yours by the way –
great choice!) for about 3 yrs when I noticed some noise and resistsnce
coming from the front end when I steered. I had the dealership look at it,
and told it needed some work which included front struts, throttle body
(which I later found out is a bulls**t “planned maintenance” job –
essentially the same that can be done pouring some SeaFoam or other
additive in your tank to clean the injectors) and some other work at well
over 2 grand! Just for struts and some other “planned / scheduled
maintenance” (which I learned – all of which wasn’t necessary).
Needless to say I posted an ad on CraigsList describing my cars problem and
found a local shop who replied to it, they looked at the car for free and
said it really needed front struts, control arms and tie rod ends and then
an alignment (not even close to what the dealership wanted to do). They
gave me a flat price of something like $250.00 on the labor and alignment
afterwards since I said I’d provide the parts once I knew what was needed
(cost me like $250 from rockauto.com – saved me like $1500 and the car was
like new again.
Now, the NEXT time I needed work done (several year later – very reliable
car I must say) I actually did it all myself. Did the front brakes and rear
shocks. Thanks to youtube and other info on the web (and a copy I
downloaded of the dodge caliber service manual – the authentic mopar one
their mechanics use).
My next job will be replacing the generator de-coupler pulley, accessory
drive belt and idler pulleys – making LOTS of noise at (now) around 85K
miles
){kind=link}
What Did you hold it with to keep the shaft on the shock from spinning???
(Husband on wifes account lol)
God Bless you Robert. I’m tackling this same job this weekend on the same
vehicle. I too thank God for the ability to be successful at whatever I set
my hands to. Cheers.
Don’t forget to get a wheel alignment after!
Great video, amazing what can be done yourself with the right info and a
few basic tools. I had my 2007 caliber (same color as yours by the way –
great choice!) for about 3 yrs when I noticed some noise and resistsnce
coming from the front end when I steered. I had the dealership look at it,
and told it needed some work which included front struts, throttle body
(which I later found out is a bulls**t “planned maintenance” job –
essentially the same that can be done pouring some SeaFoam or other
additive in your tank to clean the injectors) and some other work at well
over 2 grand! Just for struts and some other “planned / scheduled
maintenance” (which I learned – all of which wasn’t necessary).
Needless to say I posted an ad on CraigsList describing my cars problem and
found a local shop who replied to it, they looked at the car for free and
said it really needed front struts, control arms and tie rod ends and then
an alignment (not even close to what the dealership wanted to do). They
gave me a flat price of something like $250.00 on the labor and alignment
afterwards since I said I’d provide the parts once I knew what was needed
(cost me like $250 from rockauto.com – saved me like $1500 and the car was
like new again.
Now, the NEXT time I needed work done (several year later – very reliable
car I must say) I actually did it all myself. Did the front brakes and rear
shocks. Thanks to youtube and other info on the web (and a copy I
downloaded of the dodge caliber service manual – the authentic mopar one
their mechanics use).
My next job will be replacing the generator de-coupler pulley, accessory
drive belt and idler pulleys – making LOTS of noise at (now) around 85K
miles