To recondition or not to

[GOTCH@!]

fellow tsikoteers,

I recently had my rig's suspension checked (gen2 pajero swb) and since then have had trouble deciding on which course of action to take.

option 1 (autoshop along regalado)
use replacement parts and replace the worn out parts here is their quote:

2pcs ball joint upper - 1900
2pcs ball joint lower - 2200
4pcs suspension bushings - 2200
2pcs suspension bushings lower - 1600
2 sets wheel bearings - 2400

labor for balljoint - 1700
labor for bushings - 1500
labor for wheel bearings - 1000
wheel alignment and camber adjustment - 900

option 2 (cruven)
"inject" or recondition the OEM suspension parts on my rig to brand new specs daw. they quoted the ff:

4 balljoint (inject) - 2200
4 Tie rod end (inject) - 1800
1 pitman arm (inject) - 450
4 upper suspension bushings (replacement) - 2600
2 velocity grease - 200
4 wheel bearing - 3800

labor for front suspension - 1500
labor for press in press out - 400
labor for wheel bearing - 1200
wheel alignment - 400
gas cleaning - 100 (should be free as a standard IMO)

so there, with this data please help me decide on which option to go by.

are this prices reasonable?

and if any of you knows a more affordable way to go through with this please free to chime in.

TIA

[1D4LV]

it depends on you. for me, i always go the cruven route, because i find it reasonable and cheaper compared to buying brand new parts which will be worn out after two years.

[GOTCH@!]

sir 1D4LV,

how was the performance of your "injected"/reconditioned parts?

cruven gives a 1 year warranty on their work, but does it really feel like its back to brand new condition?

[shadow]

ako pag ganyan palit lahat ng brand new....I consider it as "consumable" parts...

[GOTCH@!]

ako pag ganyan palit lahat ng brand new....I consider it as "consumable" parts...

Sir Shadow,

Thats exactly what my friend told me, that it is better to replace the busted parts with brand new parts although I would be using replacement parts (due to limited budget) and not OEM at least I would be using brand new stuff.

but durability issues come in to mind when not using OEM

[1D4LV]

sir 1D4LV,

how was the performance of your "injected"/reconditioned parts?

cruven gives a 1 year warranty on their work, but does it really feel like its back to brand new condition?

let me put it this way based on my experience.

On my lancer (which I sold already), stock parts which I replaced after the third year broke down after two years. So the heck, i tried Cruven. I've used the car for nine years (or four years after the reconditioning), until i sold the car last month. Intact pa rin yung mga parts, intact pa din yung reconditioned shocks.

I bought my sentra there two weeks ago, had them restore and recondition everything sa front suspension and the car runs like new. Walang katunog-tunog. Maganda ang takbo.

Not to promote Cruven ha? But you will never know until you tried. Anyway, you will replace your suspension parts again naman after a certain number of years and it is up to you to try a cheaper alternative than going through the replace parts mode.

[GOTCH@!]

let me put it this way based on my experience.

On my lancer (which I sold already), stock parts which I replaced after the third year broke down after two years. So the heck, i tried Cruven. I've used the car for nine years (or four years after the reconditioning), until i sold the car last month. Intact pa rin yung mga parts, intact pa din yung reconditioned shocks.

I bought my sentra there two weeks ago, had them restore and recondition everything sa front suspension and the car runs like new. Walang katunog-tunog. Maganda ang takbo.

Not to promote Cruven ha? But you will never know until you tried. Anyway, you will replace your suspension parts again naman after a certain number of years and it is up to you to try a cheaper alternative than going through the replace parts mode.

Thank you sir for the heads up

I have to say that the selling point of cruvens process is that you would still be using your OEM parts (which are more durable) but brought back to brand new condition.

to other fellow tsikoteers please feel free to add your comments and suggestions or share your experiences with regards to this matter, I am keeping an open mind and still weighing the pros and cons.

[testament11]

ako, i replaced my suspension arms and ball joints, pero oem pa rin ang pinalit ko. kasi ang reason ng erpats ko, kahit na hati kami sa gastos, eh better to replace the worn out oem, with a brand new oem din lalo na pag major or critical areas/parts ang usapan. pero if its tight budget, a replacement would do naman. opinion ko lamang eto. pero kung ang pagkakarestore naman sa oem eh maganda at pulido ang gawa, then much better na yun

[PatT]

RECONDITIONING or buy NEW parts? I guess it depends. If i had a BIG budget and the parts were OEM or REPLACEMENT (of OEM or better quality) then i`d go for NEW.

If i had a smaller budget, i`d choose reconditioning over new, especially if the replacement parts quality is in doubt! I`ve had the injection process done w/ tie rods, ball joints.An added bonus is that they also install GREASE NIPPLES if there never was one (especially common on replacement parts and lots of OEM parts today) to help relube and extend the life of the part (something you CANT do with a lot of OEM and REPLACEMENT parts). Just my.10 worth!

[GOTCH@!]

Just an update on this, finally decided to go the Cruven route and I am satisfied naman, but not happy.

Not all of their mechanics are well trained, one of the guys broke the screw the wheel lock attaches to while removing my rear wheel. the broken part jammed inside the lock and they can't pry it out.

ok lang sana since they replaced it naman but that particular lock (sorry forgot the term) is one of the special locks in that wheel set that requires a unique adaptor. para mapalitan yun I need to buy another set of four which the mechanic would be paying for eh naawa ako sakanya so I just let them replace it with a regular one.

I also replaced my shock absorbers to procomp es9000s and the long wait for them paid off.

So far so good hope I don't need to use their warranty. next time I need to fix my suspension I will be replacing the "consumable parts".

Can anyone recommend an affordable but durable coil springs for my rig? as always, your comments and suggestions are greatly appreciated.

[aj.campo]

mga sirs, ok ba talaga yung gawa ng cruven? i've read a lot of things na babalik at babalik ka sa cruven for nitrogen refill at mas maganda pa yung replacement shocks compare sa gawa nila..

quote from autoindustriya.com (see link below)

Had my ball joints injected and bushings replaced by Cruven. After 1 year balik ang problem. The repair will only last as long as the warranty. Pwede siya as a short term fix, but it won't last as long as replacement parts.

http://www.autoindustriya.com/talkbo...-your-take/15/

kung replacement naman, ano po ba yung ok para sa '96 toyota crown at saan mas ok ipagawa.. along paranaque sana o pwede din sa evangelista o any closer place kung recommended talaga dun..

please enlighten me mga sirs.. newbie po kasi..

thanks!

thanks!

[GOTCH@!]

Just an update. after a month having my shock absorbers replaced at Cruven, I noticed a strange noise coming from the rear at certain times, sort of grinding sound. it does not manifest all the time but it really bothers me.

finally had the time to have it checked out at Motech here in fairview and the culprit was the lower bolts of both rear shock absorbers were not tightened properly!

the mechanic asked me if they (Cruven) used a lifter when they replaced my shock absorbers or "kung dinukot lang" and I told him they just jacked it up and he said "kaya ndi nila nahigpitan mabuti".

I was surprised how many more turns it needed to tighten it, which means that the "dukot" method should have not been used in the first place!

so after lifting it up and tighthening it properly (I also had my rear brake rotors refaced and replaced brake pads to Bendix) that annoying grinding disappeared.

hope this info is a good FYI to others.

[raine]

Just an update. after a month having my shock absorbers replaced at Cruven, I noticed a strange noise coming from the rear at certain times, sort of grinding sound. it does not manifest all the time but it really bothers me.

finally had the time to have it checked out at Motech here in fairview and the culprit was the lower bolts of both rear shock absorbers were not tightened properly!

the mechanic asked me if they (Cruven) used a lifter when they replaced my shock absorbers or "kung dinukot lang" and I told him they just jacked it up and he said "kaya ndi nila nahigpitan mabuti".

I was surprised how many more turns it needed to tighten it, which means that the "dukot" method should have not been used in the first place!

so after lifting it up and tighthening it properly (I also had my rear brake rotors refaced and replaced brake pads to Bendix) that annoying grinding disappeared.

hope this info is a good FYI to others.

siguro ganito rin ang problem ko, merong lumalagitik na pag pinakingan mo sa shock absorber nanggagaling, pero lumalaban pa naman, pbaka meron maluwag lang, gawang cruven din.