Pajero Owners Club of South Africa

I'm looking at getting the steering and front suspension rebuilt in the next couple of months.

I got the estimate below from my local indy. Not sure I'm inclined to do the work myself.

1. Is there a good reason to replace the drag link? Damaged, cracked etc?
2. Idler arms are available from 3rd party spares at much less than that!
3. What about the Pitman arm?
4. While in there, replace all suspension bushes

Take it to a shop that specializes in suspension and steering only (not a general workshop), for a second quote.

Best option:

• Buy spares from non-franchises
• Ask "spanner-type" friends for help
• Buy beer/wine/cold drinks, boerie/snoek/steak
• You braai, they work

Gerhard

He quoted me on everything - didn't say they needed replacing (cos I asked for the quote over the phone). He will replace things that need replacing only... although I know for a fact the ball joints are all shot.

I don't have any mates who are capable of wielding a piece of spaghetti, never mind a spanner... The ones that do seem to have an aversion to the coast

Simon,
I don't know how mechanically minded you are. I changed all the ball joints myself as well as steering links and the pitman arm. I also changed the one lower controll arm . I took me a while as my car is not a commute daily.
Armed with a book and torque wrench I managed to fix it and saved a huge ammount on labour costs. I bought all the spares from Mitsu though.( Must add I also added some extra swear words to swear dictionary as it was the first time I tackled a job like that and all was not plain sailing. But with advice from a friend got it all sorted out. Considdering the ammount for all the work specified I do not think the price is bad. I am just scared about refurbished steering parts and will suggest to replace with origenils if possible.Good Luck

I am way slow to respond to this thread, but I had some steering work done a year ago as well on my Gen 2. Local mac deemed tie rod ends to be fine, but showed me the play on pitman and idler arms and I had them replaced impromptu. Steering was greatly improved, but we have since visited Kgalagadi and recently noticed play on my steering (anything wrong for the next few years would be blamed on those roads). Back at the mac they couldn't find any play on the steering but for the steering box itself, had it adjusted to the max, to no avail. Did you encounter any steering box issues as well? I need some advice on how to fix this issue...

Simon

Did you end up doing your front suspension? Luckily I had someone to help me with mine. The top ball joints are easy, it's the bottom ones that make you hassle a bit. Quickly learned how to knock them out with two hammers. Remember you car uses the same parts as the Colt Rodeo bakkies when it comes to suspension parts.

I still need to replace my Pitman arm then everyting is new.

Description Part # Price
Outer Tie Rod Ends (Pair) TR5557 R 111.19
Inner Tie Rod Ends (Pair) TR5556 R 184.23
Upper Ball Joint- Right (Each) BJ1060 R 206.15
Upper Ball Joint- Left (Each) BJ1060 R 206.15
Lower Ball Joint- Right (Each) BJ1073R R 163.52
Lower Ball Joint- Left (Each) BJ1073L R 163.52
CV Outer MTS Pajero/Colt U1F (Pair) GMS-3904 R 335.95