New front, left axle options; help me decide

[wnt2rd]

Hi Everyone!

It turns out that it wasn't a bearing in the front, left that was making the creaking sound; it's the inner, front, left CV joint. I'd like to replace the whole axle because the car has near 90,000 miles on it. Does anyone know what the dealer cost of the axle would be? It's labor day so the parts department is closed. I'll only buy the Dodge one if it's less than $100, of course.

Checker sells one with free shipping for $100

Cardone CV Drive Axle: New
Does this sound like a good price?

[das2123]

NO WAY the dealer axle is gonna be under $100.

[yale329]

The cv it self will be a hundred bucks, new. Labour woud be the same since you have to disconnect t5he whole arm anyway. I question what your mech wil do. the cv bearings can be replaced, if done properly. It is your call but replace it with a new one.
Best of luck Wayne

[wnt2rd]

I decided not to replace anything because it stopped squeaking once I put the tire back on and lowered the car. Perhaps there was no grease on the contact points of the joint until I jacked it up, and then put it back down. Weird, eh?

It doesn't really matter now because I have a broken water pump that will probably take two months to fix.

I'm going to replace all the belts and the timing belt, too. Wish me luck on the timing belt change. So far, all I have done is remove the power steering belt. thursday's goal (my day off) is to remove the alternator belt. heheh

the right side of the engine is so hard to work on because of lack of space.

[yale329]

Well jee, just like the old man I am, you do have a bit of work ahead of you. I am also rplacing the timing belt on my sons car, my first in 15 years, Email me if you have problems.
Just A DAD Wayne

[das2123]

Click ME for a how-to.

[wnt2rd]

Thanks for the help, you two. I may use that how-to, but I'm still deciding if I even want to attempt this.

How many hours of labor do you think it would take a professional mechanic to change my belts, timing belt, and water pump?

I hired a local guy who I'm very impressed with to help me put my transmission back in. He charges $70/hr and has a two-hour minimum. It's so hot outside and I'm exhausted mentally from the clutch and clutch cable replacement so I'm debating whether or not to call him.

The parts for the job cost $100, so if it's a 2-3 hours job, the bill will be approximately $310. Hmm, that looks like a pretty good number to me. What do you guys think? I could reduce the labor time by jacking it up for the mechanic. I already got the power steering belt off, but gave up after that.

[das2123]

If you can get it all done for under $500 with parts and labor, I'd say that would be a good price.

[wnt2rd]

Originally Posted by das2123

If you can get it all done for under $500 with parts and labor, I'd say that would be a good price.

Sweet. On my days off I can fix other things on the car that don't require so much effort, such as the broken driver's side door lock and the radio. Hrm. I still can't decide. If I don't have a car to fix on my days off from work, what will I do?

[yale329]

Well, Like i said, I have worked non stop on my sons neon for five days, but I have a pretty good mech who will change the timing belt for $200 cash. I am not really thinking of even attempting it for that price. Tne belt and gaskests or silicone they might use is about $30.00 Canadian.
Just a Dad, wayne
Best of luck, and remove your fender well and or splash gaurd for easy access, also if you do it yourself make sure your timing chain tentioner is working properly.

[yale329]

Cripes man, at 54, married for 34 years, three sons and a grand child on the way. I sure know what I would do. Take a look around you, reall close, human style, not like a monkey wrench.
Just a dad, Wayne
Truthfully, once your hooked on cars your screwed. Soon you will be repairng things that are not a problem.

[wnt2rd]

Originally Posted by yale329

Cripes man, at 54, married for 34 years, three sons and a grand child on the way. I sure know what I would do. Take a look around you, reall close, human style, not like a monkey wrench.
Just a dad, Wayne
Truthfully, once your hooked on cars your screwed. Soon you will be repairng things that are not a problem.

haha! I love working on the car, but I feel robbed because I only got to drive it for two weeks, and then it broke again. On the other hand, I don't really have much choice because I'm flat broke right now so I may be forced to fix it myself. Hrm.

On the bright side, only nine more years to go until the car becomes a "classic." That'll be effing cool. I know it's "just a Dodge Neon," but I always have respect for 20-year-old cars on the road and their drivers. Even if the cars look like crap, I still have respect for the fact that the car is still driving. I know only an extreme minority of the population thinks the way I do, but I'm willing to go the distance to impress them (because I have to)!