I bought the car used at about 97,000km. The entire front suspension had to be redone. I paid about 1700$ to get it all fixed. Just about a year later, I have to do my front suspension again... The same pieces. Now granted I live in Montreal and our roads are ABSOLUTELY AWFUL, potholes literally everywhere! So in my experience, that was still very fast to have to change my front suspension again. Well about a day or two after I left the garage after having fixed the front suspension again, my back driver suspension is shot. I can definitely hear it "kla-klunking" while I drive. And just as of a couple days ago, I'm hearing almost a rubber squeaking coming from the fucking front suspension.
Any tips? Any tips on which part I can suggest my garage to use? Can I use the at-200 stuff or whatever on the rubber squeaking noises in the front? Or am I just going to be masking a problem. I'm not a complete idiot when it comes to cars, but I also don't feel like being taken advantage of....
Thanks in advance!
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Clarification: what Santa Fe generation do you have? is it a 2nd or a 3rd gen?
2nd generation:
3rd generation:
Can you elaborate on "entire front end". What parts did they change? What are the symptoms that make you think these parts have failed again.
2nd generation
Ball joint, stabilizer bar and I believe the tie rod... I don't have my bill infront of me unfortunately, but I can find it later when I go home. The front seems okay (aside from new rubber sounding squeak). But my back rear driver side suspension "klunks" pretty hard anytime I hit a bump, pothole or anything that's just not flat. I worried they tampered with it, because they gave me a deal on fixing my front suspension again (because it went out too fast).
Well, whoever rebuilt the suspension didn't do it right if it originally lasted 60k miles and now it has failed after only one year.
It's worth saying that usually you do not replace the entire suspension because of a clunk or a noise - you find what's worn are replace that specific part.
My suspicion is that what has failed a year ago was a minor part, and instead the mechanic chose replace everything (I see this happen a lot with unskilled or not honest mechanics) - what did replace for $1,700? do you have the parts list?
The only things I even saw needing to be replaced on 3rd gens are: strut Insulators, stabilizer bar bushings, stabilizer links, sometimes struts, and rarely lower control arms - all of which are cheap OEM, and should be replaced with OEM parts.
Now that your suspension is probably full of low-quality non-oem parts (if new components are failing just one year after the rebuild, I assume that's the case) find a good reputable mechanic to pin-point what's wrong, not suggest replacing everything, again.
Here's the suspension section in a Hyundai Santa Fe repair manual, I've used these kinds of online manuals on my cars a lot and it has been fine. I can't guarantee that it's safe or correct (- as with any online website)
https://www.hsfmanual.com/suspension_system-401.html
Suspension work on these is usually a breeze.
That's the thing... I thought I could trust the garage I went to. My father has been going to them for Year, aswell as my sister and I too. So I'm very sad to think they did this on purpose... But I need a second opinion clearly. Too bad none of you live in Montreal!!!
I have my previous bill at home of the work that was done. I will find it and post what was done.
If you're saying the OEM parts are cheap, and to replace them with OEM again... Why would I not going for a "higher grade" part to prevent it from going out so quickly?
By cheap I don't not mean "poorly built", I mean "inexpensive".
In the case of the 2nd gen the suspension is significantly less cheap than the 3rd gen.
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I don't think it's on purpose, I really suggest going to a different mechanic to check what's their opinion - maybe the first mechanic was right (but to me it sounds like he can't be)
Just about a year later, I have to do my front suspension again... The same pieces
did you ask about warranty?
1 year
is that yes it's covered, or no it's not?
So originally I had all of the following fixed..
Front right Axel assembly
Front lower control arms
Front stabilizer links
Then a wheel alignment.
When I went back maybe about 6 months ago to get the same parts replaced.
Are you sure? That doesn’t sound like a $1,700 job to me. - but maybe that’s just the prices in your area.
Check with different mechanics what it costs to repair your car and compare the estimates.
My mistake 1200$
I got referrals to a good garage (hopefully) I will be getting an appointment next week. Hopefully it goes well!
Let's hope the first mechanic is wrong and it doesn't need that much work. good luck!