Front Shock AbsorbersHi

Nasher · 12th August 2021, 23:27

Hi all, I've got a 2005 75 Connoisseur SE CDTi 2 litre and of late if I hit a bump or pot hole I had a thud on the drivers side front wheel.
Took the car to my local garage today and the front shock has leaked lots of fluid and has gone. The passenger side shock hasn't gone totally but has leaked some fluid so both shocks need replacing.

Garage says I will need the anti roll bar drop links as well and have told me it will be about £620.
They've said if I buy the bits myself the labour will be £230.

This seems very expensive.
The car has only done 113000 miles so I would prefer to keep it but I'm wondering if it's better to put the money towards another car.

Any recommendations to who could do it cheaper or give me good prices for the parts.
I live near St Neots in Cambridgeshire.

I'm still driving the car so can travel to get it fixed.

Thanks all

cbr1100xx · 13th August 2021, 06:58

Depends on how strapped for cash you are.
You can change everything,shocks springs,drop links,top bearings.
You can change just shocks and drop links
Or try the trader's on here to see if any have a pair of complete legs,with a pair of new drop links.
Easiest option by far,no messing with spring compressor's and shouldn't take a garage more than a couple of hours to do both sides.

Stan

macafee2 · 13th August 2021, 07:53

Even at £620 what can you buy for that, that you can be sure of will be good for the next couple of years?

If you spend £500 a year on repairs in 10 years that is £5,000. Spend £5,000 now and what will you spend over the next 10 years on maintenance?

All those bits are a DIY change but getting shocks from hub can be a cow

Try DMGRS for the spare parts.

How do you feel about doing the work yourself?

macafee2

Arctic · 13th August 2021, 08:48

Rimmer bros will give you a guestimate

https://rimmerbros.com/Item--i-GRID001542

Also ask Matt at DMGRS for a price fully made up struts ready to fit

https://www.dmgrs.co.uk/collections/...34418754650275

Nasher · 13th August 2021, 09:43

Hi Macafee2,

I realise I can't buy anything for £620 but it could go towards another car.
No, I never do any work on cars. I always used to use Lates but not been able to get through to them of late so not sure if they are still going.
Thanks for reply.
Nasher

AndrewJames · 13th August 2021, 12:15

If I'm reading the post correctly, they're saying the parts will cost £390 which seems mad. And how many parts are they talking about replacing? Just the shocks and drop links? The labour cost seems high too although I'm not sure what the going rate is. Might be worth shopping around.

I just checked and I bought shocks, springs and top mounts/bearings for just under 200 quid (boge, kyb and aftermarket respectively).

Nasher · 13th August 2021, 18:09

Hi AndrewJames,
The garage was quoting £145 each for the shocks and then the drop links on top.
I've checked with another garage BS Motors of Sandy and they've given me a price of £394 for the whole job, MGRover shocks at £72 each and the drop links. The drop links haven't been on the car a year yet so they said if they can get them off without cutting then the bill will be reduced. I'm ok with this price and it's booked in for next Thursday. The price of these shocks are a similar price to Rimmers and DMGRS.
Thanks for everyones input.
Nasher

StewartIngram · 14th August 2021, 12:24

OK 2 related suggestions.
1. Use this forum to aquire the parts (or the knowledge of where to buy them). You should be pleasantly surprised at the prices.
2. My local garage in Chatteris usually will fit parts that you supply. He has a good reputation (and I know others on here that use him), with fair prices. I usually do all my own work but I use him for MoT tests, new tyres, and the very occasional repair if I don't feel like doing it. Though I must say my kids all take their cars their - my son even lives near Doncaster!. Apart from a satisfied customer, I have no connection.
https://good-garage-guide.honestjohn...tteris-garage/

Richard1973 · 14th August 2021, 16:20

I got a pair of very good front shock / spring assemblies from Mickeyboy. Think they were £80 for the pair.

Ask the breakers on here if they have a good pair of front assemblies. Mine looked virtually new for the spring and shock. I fitted a pair of spring protectors and drop links while I was at it. Easy when they are on the bench. The tricky bit is hoping everything comes apart easily to fit them.

12th August 2021, 23:27	#1
Nasher Regular poster Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Little Paxton Posts: 34 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	Front Shock AbsorbersHi Hi all, I've got a 2005 75 Connoisseur SE CDTi 2 litre and of late if I hit a bump or pot hole I had a thud on the drivers side front wheel. Took the car to my local garage today and the front shock has leaked lots of fluid and has gone. The passenger side shock hasn't gone totally but has leaked some fluid so both shocks need replacing. Garage says I will need the anti roll bar drop links as well and have told me it will be about £620. They've said if I buy the bits myself the labour will be £230. This seems very expensive. The car has only done 113000 miles so I would prefer to keep it but I'm wondering if it's better to put the money towards another car. Any recommendations to who could do it cheaper or give me good prices for the parts. I live near St Neots in Cambridgeshire. I'm still driving the car so can travel to get it fixed. Thanks all

13th August 2021, 06:58	#2
cbr1100xx Gets stuck in VW touareg Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: dunsop bridge Posts: 870 Thanks: 225 Thanked 414 Times in 235 Posts	Depends on how strapped for cash you are. You can change everything,shocks springs,drop links,top bearings. You can change just shocks and drop links Or try the trader's on here to see if any have a pair of complete legs,with a pair of new drop links. Easiest option by far,no messing with spring compressor's and shouldn't take a garage more than a couple of hours to do both sides. Stan __________________ WE WERE BOTH BORN ON THE 4th of JULY CAR DIED 15/11/2022---I'M STILL GOING (JUST)

13th August 2021, 08:48	#4
Arctic Give to Learn Freelander 2 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: West Midlands Posts: 18,714 Thanks: 1,155 Thanked 6,407 Times in 3,874 Posts	Rimmer bros will give you a guestimate https://rimmerbros.com/Item--i-GRID001542 Also ask Matt at DMGRS for a price fully made up struts ready to fit https://www.dmgrs.co.uk/collections/...34418754650275 __________________ Arctic Givology Learn to Give Everything is Achievable ad altiora tendo. Check out our Nano meet dates http://www.midlandsnanomeets.co.uk/ http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/index.php?thepage=howto " You do the work , we supply the expertise " Last edited by Arctic; 13th August 2021 at 08:53..

13th August 2021, 07:53	#3
macafee2 This is my second home Rover 75 Saloon & Tourer Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Lincoln Posts: 14,928 Thanks: 1,630 Thanked 3,032 Times in 2,181 Posts	Even at £620 what can you buy for that, that you can be sure of will be good for the next couple of years? If you spend £500 a year on repairs in 10 years that is £5,000. Spend £5,000 now and what will you spend over the next 10 years on maintenance? All those bits are a DIY change but getting shocks from hub can be a cow Try DMGRS for the spare parts. How do you feel about doing the work yourself? macafee2

13th August 2021, 09:43	#5
Nasher Regular poster Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Little Paxton Posts: 34 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	Hi Macafee2, I realise I can't buy anything for £620 but it could go towards another car. No, I never do any work on cars. I always used to use Lates but not been able to get through to them of late so not sure if they are still going. Thanks for reply. Nasher

13th August 2021, 12:15	#6
AndrewJames Loves to post Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 291 Thanks: 133 Thanked 102 Times in 61 Posts	If I'm reading the post correctly, they're saying the parts will cost £390 which seems mad. And how many parts are they talking about replacing? Just the shocks and drop links? The labour cost seems high too although I'm not sure what the going rate is. Might be worth shopping around. I just checked and I bought shocks, springs and top mounts/bearings for just under 200 quid (boge, kyb and aftermarket respectively).

13th August 2021, 18:09	#7
Nasher Regular poster Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Little Paxton Posts: 34 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	Hi AndrewJames, The garage was quoting £145 each for the shocks and then the drop links on top. I've checked with another garage BS Motors of Sandy and they've given me a price of £394 for the whole job, MGRover shocks at £72 each and the drop links. The drop links haven't been on the car a year yet so they said if they can get them off without cutting then the bill will be reduced. I'm ok with this price and it's booked in for next Thursday. The price of these shocks are a similar price to Rimmers and DMGRS. Thanks for everyones input. Nasher

14th August 2021, 12:24	#8
StewartIngram Gets stuck in Rover 75 Connoisseur 2.5 V6 auto Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chatteris, Cambridgeshire Posts: 902 Thanks: 320 Thanked 159 Times in 127 Posts	OK 2 related suggestions. 1. Use this forum to aquire the parts (or the knowledge of where to buy them). You should be pleasantly surprised at the prices. 2. My local garage in Chatteris usually will fit parts that you supply. He has a good reputation (and I know others on here that use him), with fair prices. I usually do all my own work but I use him for MoT tests, new tyres, and the very occasional repair if I don't feel like doing it. Though I must say my kids all take their cars their - my son even lives near Doncaster!. Apart from a satisfied customer, I have no connection. https://good-garage-guide.honestjohn...tteris-garage/

14th August 2021, 16:20	#9
Richard1973 Loves to post Rover 75 Saloon CDTi Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Mansfield Posts: 287 Thanks: 18 Thanked 69 Times in 52 Posts	I got a pair of very good front shock / spring assemblies from Mickeyboy. Think they were £80 for the pair. Ask the breakers on here if they have a good pair of front assemblies. Mine looked virtually new for the spring and shock. I fitted a pair of spring protectors and drop links while I was at it. Easy when they are on the bench. The tricky bit is hoping everything comes apart easily to fit them.