Hi Q's full suspension assessment, worth it?

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YellowMountain

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Hi all,

I see Hi Q (and a few other service/repair centers) offer a full suspension check for around R450. I believe this check does an assessment of the whole suspension and not just the shocks (the shock only check costs R250). I am not sure what exactly gets checked for the full suspension assessment but I'm told by the receptionist at Hi Q that it takes 45mins to complete and the car goes on a machine.

Has anybody gone for the full suspension check? Thoughts?
 
SergioDomngos said:
Hi all,

I see Hi Q (and a few other service/repair centers) offer a full suspension check for around R450. I believe this check does an assessment of the whole suspension and not just the shocks (the shock only check costs R250). I am not sure what exactly gets checked for the full suspension assessment but I'm told by the receptionist at Hi Q that it takes 45mins to complete and the car goes on a machine.

Has anybody gone for the full suspension check? Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Has any one ever done one of these found nothing wrong or is this like a dealerships' check to confirm the quote they are going to send to you eitherway.
 
SergioDomngos said:
Hi all,

I see Hi Q (and a few other service/repair centers) offer a full suspension check for around R450. I believe this check does an assessment of the whole suspension and not just the shocks (the shock only check costs R250). I am not sure what exactly gets checked for the full suspension assessment but I'm told by the receptionist at Hi Q that it takes 45mins to complete and the car goes on a machine.

Has anybody gone for the full suspension check? Thoughts?
Click to expand...
I haven't done it but it doesn't sound like a bad idea. It's probably nothing as complicated as the "it goes on the machine" part would like to suggest, probably something to give it the shakes to see the operation of shocks, bushes and ball joints.

What problems are you having with your car?
 
Do you suspect there to be any issues with your suspension..? Or are you paying 450 bucks for peace of mind..

I haven't done their check before, however, I imagine they check the following, give or take a few things:

All bushings, control arms, sway bars shocks, ball joints, maybe CV joints too..
 
WAslayer said:
Do you suspect there to be any issues with your suspension..? Or are you paying 450 bucks for peace of mind..

I haven't done their check before, however, I imagine they check the following, give or take a few things:

All bushings, control arms, sway bars shocks, ball joints, maybe CV joints too..
Click to expand...
Yeah, I hope it's not some quick buck ploy on a fairly new car, but if it's an old car, some suspension issues are expected and it should not be a bad idea to have it done.
 
Jet-Fighter7700 said:
seems like a lot for something a mechanic can do for half that,

but then again, franchise fees and all that.
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450 is fair market value for the 45 minutes they spend.. backyard mechanics aside, 550+ is the going hourly rate for labour these days at most workshops..
 
WAslayer said:
Do you suspect there to be any issues with your suspension..? Or are you paying 450 bucks for peace of mind..

I haven't done their check before, however, I imagine they check the following, give or take a few things:

All bushings, control arms, sway bars shocks, ball joints, maybe CV joints too..
Click to expand...
I do suspect yes. Recently I had two new tyres put on the front, and then the old pair that were on the front are now on the back. Its a 10yr old Golf 7 Gti with 100k km's on the clock. Its never had shocks replaced. The car has always been a hard-ish ride as it has stiffer suspension being a sports car. However when riding at the moment I really notice every bump and crease in the road. Moreso with the new tyres. The car makes a loud thud that I can feel in the cabin whenever I go over any bad imperfections or tar lines in the road. Also, sometimes cornering at highway speeds and hitting a bump can cause the back tyres to jump a but and it feels like the car gets some sideways "air/lift"

I took it to the place who installed the tyres and told them about the issue, they did a quick check and advised I need new rear shocks, rear mounts and rear sway bar. But I would like a second opinion from another center before splashing a lot of money as the replacement shocks and parts are expensive.
 
I.am.Sam said:
i went to a roadworthy centre

paid R250

but they dont do shock tests just see the suspensions and all the joints

i havea 4*4 and the tyre places dont have a suspension test for bigger cars
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I see. I also dont know if when these places check the joints, links, etc. that they also assess the struts, as that sometimes involves taking out the entire shock as far as I know.
 
SergioDomngos said:
I do suspect yes. Recently I had two new tyres put on the front, and then the old pair that were on the front are now on the back. Its a 10yr old Golf 7 Gti with 100k km's on the clock. Its never had shocks replaced. The car has always been a hard-ish ride as it has stiffer suspension being a sports car. However when riding at the moment I really notice every bump and crease in the road. Moreso with the new tyres. The car makes a loud thud that I can feel in the cabin whenever I go over any bad imperfections or tar lines in the road. Also, sometimes cornering at highway speeds and hitting a bump can cause the back tyres to jump a but and it feels like the car gets some sideways "air/lift"

I took it to the place who installed the tyres and told them about the issue, they did a quick check and advised I need new rear shocks, rear mounts and rear sway bar. But I would like a second opinion from another center before splashing a lot of money as the replacement shocks and parts are expensive.
Click to expand...
Then it sounds like you definitely need to have the suspension checked. My local tyre place calls you the lift and the tech shows you the issues on the car if there is something above the standard cost of alignment, balancing etc that you need to know of.

I don't see why you cannot have this arranged at the R450 place to satisfy yourself of the issues they pick up.
 
SergioDomngos said:
I do suspect yes. Recently I had two new tyres put on the front, and then the old pair that were on the front are now on the back. Its a 10yr old Golf 7 Gti with 100k km's on the clock. Its never had shocks replaced. The car has always been a hard-ish ride as it has stiffer suspension being a sports car. However when riding at the moment I really notice every bump and crease in the road. Moreso with the new tyres. The car makes a loud thud that I can feel in the cabin whenever I go over any bad imperfections or tar lines in the road. Also, sometimes cornering at highway speeds and hitting a bump can cause the back tyres to jump a but and it feels like the car gets some sideways "air/lift"

I took it to the place who installed the tyres and told them about the issue, they did a quick check and advised I need new rear shocks, rear mounts and rear sway bar. But I would like a second opinion from another center before splashing a lot of money as the replacement shocks and parts are expensive.
Click to expand...
Definitely get the second opinion if you feel you need it, but if you do, make sure you get to see the issues in person with your own eyes, i.e the tech shows you how parts are moving when they shouldn't..

Also don't tell them anything about previous findings..
 
Just following up on this since I am in the same boat. Did you eventually do the check and was the report any good?
 
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