not that i know of

 

ok good, I'm surprised they didn't try to sell him brakes too. when I worked at nissan I offered brakes on almost every car.

 

We had a local tire shop near us that used to push ball joints. I think cause most people can not check them. Every once in a while the morons would forget to double check the mileage on the car. I had several customer bring their cars to us cause they needed ball joints while they where still under warranty. My favorite was the Astro Van with 3200 miles on it that needed upper and lower ball joints. Ha. There was no play anywhere.

A lot of shops pay mechainc commision on anything they find thats not on the orginal work order. In many case the mechanic will make more money on the parts then he will get paid to install them. (your struts would have gotten him $85 but he only would have earned 30-40 for installing them.) The shops allow this to happen then just play dumb when they are called on it. If your scream enough the shop manager will even fire the mechanic right in front of you. Go back next week, he'll be there. Oldest trick in the book.

This is one of the reason I tell people find a good mechanic. They are out there. Once you establish yourself as "Their Customer" they watch out for ya. When I finish my 96 I took it to my guy. He inspected told me one of my tires was border line and I need a high beam. I told him I need alignment before I put new tires on it, he said he would make the appointment at a friends shop who takes care of that for him. I drove it out the guy never said a word about needing anything. He just aligned it.

 

Now I just do like I'm told. Back then it was all service hours and brakes were quick and easy. Working independently I just give a flat rate and get the job done.

 

recent economics are forcing me to do it my self. Makes me wonder how many times I got ripped before. I've learned so much about this 4th gen, I don't want to start over with another car! The body style is cool enough to just keep it going.......

 

Yea shops pray on the ignorant, or those who they think they can pull the wool over on...

Reminds me of the shop trying to sell me a new caliper, stating that it would not compress. Of course, I could do so with my fingers just fine -- bunch of liars...

 

I always ask for the print out from the alignment, if they don't have one don't go back. They usually stop pricing out unnecessary items if they know you are onto them.

 

This is why when I was a teenager I started buying tools as I've needed them and buying the repair manual for each car thats at my house. Even the little $20 Haynes book is good for 90% of the repairs. Other than that I use the GM manual sets, PDF versions of Factory service manuals and internet forums like ours.

The little actron $100 OBD2 scan tool is a great tool to have and pays for itself after a few uses.

And I even got an OTC balljoint press tool a few years ago on Amazon so the only thing I take any of my cars to a shop for is warranty repairs, tire mounting and wheel alignments, unless I run into something so completely frustrating. Then it ends up at Chevy.