I did a bit of work on my friend's '07 Pontiac G6 today. The front end was making a terrible clanking/banging noise, and Midas (correctly) diagnosed a bad stabilizer bar bushing, and also noted that the front struts needed replacement. He was quoted about $1000 (13% taxes in) for the two new bushings and two Monroe Quik-Struts installed.
Midas's diagnosis was free, but my friend wanted a 2nd opinion and the dealer was going to charge him $30. I offered to have take a look instead, and at least save him the $30. We found that the rubber stabilizer bar bushing on the passenger side had worked mostly out, leaving the stabilizer bar banging on the lower control arm. We bought a pair of bushings from NAPA - surprisingly to me, they were polyurethane, with no option for rubber. I replaced the one that had worked out - it was pretty tight going, but fortunately the bolts were not rusted in. I lubed the new bushing with silicone grease, which seemed to be the prevailing best practice online.
Anyway, the symptoms are gone, and my friend is really happy with the outcome.
I've offered to change out the other bushing, and to change the struts. (Yes, they're leaking.)
The car is really nice - it's one-owner since new, 70K km, glossy black, and is a convertible with a retractable hardtop. It's equipped with the 3.9 l V6. There's very little rust - nothing of any consequence at all.
On that basis, I'd prefer to not use Quik-Struts; this is not a beater that my friend needs to get a couple of years out of. It's a modern-day classic that I hope he'll keep indefinitely. So, I'd like to know what you, the BITOG community, recommend for replacement struts. Also, at that low mileage, would you recommend that the strut mounts and isolator rubbers also be changed?
I haven't phoned around yet, but will check out genuine GM parts. Any and all recommendations are appreciated. Thanks!
This is not the actual car, but gives you an idea:
Midas's diagnosis was free, but my friend wanted a 2nd opinion and the dealer was going to charge him $30. I offered to have take a look instead, and at least save him the $30. We found that the rubber stabilizer bar bushing on the passenger side had worked mostly out, leaving the stabilizer bar banging on the lower control arm. We bought a pair of bushings from NAPA - surprisingly to me, they were polyurethane, with no option for rubber. I replaced the one that had worked out - it was pretty tight going, but fortunately the bolts were not rusted in. I lubed the new bushing with silicone grease, which seemed to be the prevailing best practice online.
Anyway, the symptoms are gone, and my friend is really happy with the outcome.
I've offered to change out the other bushing, and to change the struts. (Yes, they're leaking.)
The car is really nice - it's one-owner since new, 70K km, glossy black, and is a convertible with a retractable hardtop. It's equipped with the 3.9 l V6. There's very little rust - nothing of any consequence at all.
On that basis, I'd prefer to not use Quik-Struts; this is not a beater that my friend needs to get a couple of years out of. It's a modern-day classic that I hope he'll keep indefinitely. So, I'd like to know what you, the BITOG community, recommend for replacement struts. Also, at that low mileage, would you recommend that the strut mounts and isolator rubbers also be changed?
I haven't phoned around yet, but will check out genuine GM parts. Any and all recommendations are appreciated. Thanks!
This is not the actual car, but gives you an idea: