[Makii]

Hey There,
We have a 2005 Astro LS. It has 370,000 km's on it. Over the last few months it has started to make a lot of metal on metal noises and creaking noises. The front end has started to sag as well. We had one mechanic that we use sometimes tell us that the core support was severely rusted but that we could drive it for awhile until it broke. lol
Recently the noise got really bad and we took it to him and he said we needed to replace the idler arms and the upper ball joints and the front brakes and all the bushings. He was going to charge us $2000 CAD for parts and labour. One of our friends recommended that we see her mechanic for a second opinion. We took the van to her mechanic and he did a really thorough inspection of the van on the hoist. He explained what all the parts did and what needed to be replaced. The new mechanic said the van needs new:
front inner and outer tie rods on both sides
both trailing arms
both idler arms
front pitman arms
front brakes
blower motor and resistor
He also said the power steering pump is leaking and there is a water pump leak. He poked around the core support and said there is some surface rust but it has not penetrated yet. The bottom parts of the support look rusted but when he jabbed it with a screwdriver he showed us that it did not go through. He said he might have a guy that can reinforce it for us.He basically said the core support is not a concern at the moment. This mechanics estimate came in at $2500-3000CAD to repair the front end. I do not know a lot about the parts and what they do but I noticed that he did not mention that the bushings need to replaced.Is it weird that he didn't want to tell me what brand of parts he was going to use.
I wanted to ask everyone especially if there are any folks in Ontario Canada what they think of the estimated price to fix our van. It's a lot of money but any vans in decent shape are selling for 5k and up. over here.
Thanks in Advance

 

[Huckleberry]

Sound like that van's been driven to death.
No way I'd dump that kind of money into it.

 

[Mmusicman]

Shame you don't do your own work.

I have replaced ALL those parts over the years.. so I don't get hit up all at once.

Does the van have new engine and trans?
If not, they will be next... and a HUGE expense.

Generally it's NOT worth it to pay mechanics to do the amount of work you're going to need in the near future. If you were doing your "own" work, then it would be a different story. Having replaced so many things on mine, it's like it's on it's 2nd life. But with 260K.. my engine won't last forever.

FWI.. steering parts are not that hard to replace.. you just need a pickle fork and hammer, and some basic tools. I would most certainly just change all the control arms (as complete kits).. this way you get new ball-joints AND bushings with far less labor. But suspension gets a little more involved.

Power steering and water pumps are common.. everyone has changed them.

Only you can answer whether this van is worth it to keep, depending on it's condition, how much you love or need it, as well as your budget and needs.

At least you may have gotten your money's worth

 

[tungtide]

My van had a wandering problem at 117 k. I elected to rebuild the entire front end all brand new, except the steering box that was rebuilt by blue top. It drives so much better. The job was expensive, but I intend to be buried in this van. The question is are you willing to put more money in the van than it is worth? The repairs won’t end at the front end.

 

[Makii]

Shame you don't do your own work.

I have replaced ALL those parts over the years.. so I don't get hit up all at once.

Does the van have new engine and trans?
If not, they will be next... and a HUGE expense.

Generally it's NOT worth it to pay mechanics to do the amount of work you're going to need in the near future. If you were doing your "own" work, then it would be a different story. Having replaced so many things on mine, it's like it's on it's 2nd life. But with 260K.. my engine won't last forever.

FWI.. steering parts are not that hard to replace.. you just need a pickle fork and hammer, and some basic tools. I would most certainly just change all the control arms (as complete kits).. this way you get new ball-joints AND bushings with far less labor. But suspension gets a little more involved.

Power steering and water pumps are common.. everyone has changed them.

Only you can answer whether this van is worth it to keep, depending on it's condition, how much you love or need it, as well as your budget and needs.

At least you may have gotten your money's worth

Thanks for your reply Mmusicman. The transmission and the engine are still the originals. They are still going strong but I was thinking of the potential repairs for the future. The van is is in decent condition considering we live in an area where they use salt. Our preference is to keep the van so we are going to see if we can get it fixed. I asked the mechanic if he was going to use the control arm kits and he said no that he prefers to change individual parts which does not make sense to me. We have definitely gotten our moneys worth with this van in the 6 years that we have owned it. Thanks for your input here it has helped towards our decision.

 

[Makii]

My van had a wandering problem at 117 k. I elected to rebuild the entire front end all brand new, except the steering box that was rebuilt by blue top. It drives so much better. The job was expensive, but I intend to be buried in this van. The question is are you willing to put more money in the van than it is worth? The repairs won’t end at the front end.

Thanks for your reply. I'm not sure if I want to be buried in the van but at least driven to the funeral in it. lol
We love our van and are familiar with the repairs. For now we have decided to get the van repaired and will hopefully be okay for awhile. There is nothing else like these vans out there and unless we find another one in good shape we are keeping this one.

 

[intramural]

Like musicman said, front end work isn't rocket science... with some lefty loosy righty tighty you can do pretty much everything your van needs. The water pump and p/s pump are a little more involved, but not much. $3000 CAD for all those parts and labor seems pretty fair.

If you have done other routine maintenance like fluids and filters. It's probably worth it to keep a good car on the road. If you have NOT kept up on routine maintenance then... 👋

For reference last week my fiance's subaru needed new tie rod ends, control arms, plus a ignition tune up all the parts were around $450 and her outback is a real shitbox. It was totally worth it to us to not have to buy a "new" car. It wouldn't have been worth it at all if she had had to pay some shop to do all the labor. Her parents bought the car for $1500 with 200k miles on it in new mexico, so for us every mile it keeps rolling is "free"🤪

 

[Mmusicman]

I asked the mechanic if he was going to use the control arm kits and he said no that he prefers to change individual parts which does not make sense to me.

More work, more expense = mechanic makes more money.
Complete control arm kit.. 1/2 hour job.
Individual ball-joints and bushings... several hours (per arm)

No need to save time and you money
Not as much profit in fixing two things for the price of one.. lol

 

[NoQuarter]

Just for a different point of discussion - Our good friend Mmusicman here hasn't left South Florida since 1975 so he tends to forget there is nothing simple about working under an old vehicle that lives in the North .

 

[pamfox43]

Heh there Makii .
I am like Tungtide & feel the same about MY ASTRO & will B buried in it 😄
I had to have her front end by fixed by my mobile mechanic friend ( VERY BLESSED 🙌 🙏 2 have HIM 4 SURE )this past Summer when I actually had my right front end DROP into the street when the ball joint 😳 FELL OUT right at the end of my driveway...definitely an AHH 💩 moment 😱
I had both sides upper & lower ball joints, bushings, brake lines & left front disc pads replaced for $1,700 as he wouldn't take the 2 grand I expected 2 pay. At the time my girl had over 401,000 " original " stock engine miles & trany with the BLESSINGS & HONOR of driving the most COMFORTABLE 🙌 & SMOOTH ridin' vehicle I have owned EVER !! The sentimental value 4 ME alone is WORTH MORE then ANY price & I only drive her .....no spares ....no "donor" ASTROS to borrow parts from so I PAY to have her fixed 🤑
U know "Mmusicman" kicks A** when it comes to doin' his own work as does SO MANY of the other fellas who U can READ & LEARN from on this really INCREDIBLE site 👏 🙌 😃 so U just gotta listen 2 your gut or your ❤ & I guess your wallet 2 determine IF YOUR ASTRO is " worth it " 2 U & " WHO" rides along with U !
U gotta know as most of US "already know" ....there is just NOTHING like owning & drivin an ASTRO 😁 ❤.....thats my deal anyway!
ONE PIECE of " advice" is 2 have your work done by a SHOP or MECHANIC who " knows" what the H*** they R doin because I had 2 learn the hard way as the shop I " had" been dealing with PRIOR 2 my ball joint ah 💩 moment TOTALLY could have " prevented" it IF THEY would had done THEIR job & listened 2 my concerns the not one but 2 times she had been in for
" routine " oil change when they advised me needing new shocks BUT " somehow " MISSED my deteriorating bushings & ball joints 😲 🗯 😡 THATS " WHY" many of the fellas " here" do their OWN when they R " gifted & talented " enough 2 do it 👍
U ALL KNOW WHO U R 2 💋 KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK & KEEP TEACHING THE REST OF US 😃

 

[Ericglo]

It is always a value judgement, but I think you answered your own question. Where are you going to get a replacement vehicle for the money you are going to put into the repairs.

I am replacing a lot of stuff on mine right now. And yes 3M and I don't have it to bad for working conditions at least from Jan to June. I actually got a little sun burn today.