Turning Thunk Noise

[highroller152]

2002 STS

When you turn the wheel to the right, everything is fine. When you trun to the left, there are two soft, albeit distinct thumps that you can hear and feel in the wheel. There's a thread below describing a similar problem that may have been either strut mounts or sway bar end links. Would that cause the problem, or does it sound like it may be something else?

I know it's not much to go on. I just bought this car so I have yet to go crawling around in and under it. When I get the chance I will and report back.

[highroller152]

Well, I took it by the dealership and was told that there is a bar that needs to be replaced in the steering column. $350.

While it was in there, I had them look at a small leak in the coolant system for me that I could not find. They told me that it was a head gasket: $3800.

Doesn't that price sound a little ridiculous when the gasket kit is only $250? Has anyone else had this sort of thing done before?

[caddydaddy]

Originally Posted by highroller152

While it was in there, I had them look at a small leak in the coolant system for me that I could not find. They told me that it was a head gasket: $3800.

Doesn't that price sound a little ridiculous when the gasket kit is only $250? Has anyone else had this sort of thing done before?

Is it leaking coolant, or consuming it? I'd make VERY certain that it is not a small leak that dries up before it hits the ground before spending that kind of money on a headgasket repair.
And yes, while the gasket isn't too much, the 10 hours plus of labor needed to remove the engine, to replace the headgaskets is what most of that quote comprises of.
I'd get a second opinion on what the leak is. My experiences with dealers diagnosis haven't always been 100%. On my STS the coolant leak they thought was the waterpump, so they installed a new water pump. Well not too long after that it was still leaking, and it wasn't the water pump! That was $350 wasted!

[highroller152]

So you have the same thing with the coolant?

I took it to another garage and the mechanic there was much more helpful. I did not tell him what the dealership told me (to get a better assessment).

It is a slow leak from a defective head gasket. I managed to work out a $1500 deal with him. I knew that head gaskets were not easily changed (I've done it on an old Doge Dart years ago), but about had a heart attack when he showed me the GM manual instructions to replace them. GM says 19hrs to complete. And you have to timesert all 20 of the head bolts again (drill them all out and retool the threads). The entire front drivetrain has to come out. It looks kind of strange, the drive train stays connected to the front wheels and the entire assembly drops out from under the car.

The thunking noise apparently is coming from the steering shaft (same as the dealer) but he said that he'd fix it in the $1500 price.

My problem was that there was coolant on the ground every now and then. I thought it was a radiator or hose problem. I was not so lucky.

Thanks for the reply, caddydaddy.