Need mechanic/shop I can trust

[captexas]

I thought I had been having front-end suspension problems with my 98 Chevy Blazer but now think it could be related to the steering/linkage. I have been having a vibration on the front left corner that has been getting worse. I rotated the tires and it stayed in the same place. I had an alignment done and it didn't go away. I then had new shocks put on the front and still no luck. A friend looked at it recently and noticed there was some play in the linkage and even thought it might be the front idler arm. He said we could buy the parts at Autozone and replace it, but I'd like to have someone with some more experience look at it and try to verfiy what the problem is before doing any work on it again.

Are there any MAAST mechanics out there or does anyone know a reputable person or shop I could take it to without costing me an arm and a leg? I'm in northeast S.A. and would prefer not to have to venture too far.

Thanks.

[JimD]

Does the vibration occur when you apply the brakes or is it there all the time? Is it only at certain speeds? Does the vibration increase its frequency as you speed up? Describe the vibration as best you can, can you feel it throughout the whole car or just your feet or the steering wheel?

[captexas]

It's there while I'm driving, pretty much all the time. It seems more noticeable while I'm driving on the highway at higher speeds. Originally it almost felt like a little bit of a wheel hop. I can feel it through my feet, a little through the steering wheel, and notice the side mirror vibrating as well. It sometimes feels like the steering is a bit loose. For awhile now it seems like I have to keep the wheel turned slightly to the right, but after a 100 mile drive this afternoon it felt like it was almost drifting back and forth on me going down the highway.

I don't know what it is, but I have lost trust in the bigger repair shops. When I first purchased the truck 6 years ago and took it to Sears for new tires, they said the tie rods were bad and they couldn't do an alignment on it. I took it to a Chevy dealer as it was still under warranty and they said the tie rods were fine, they just needed lubricating or something. With this recent problem, I took it to a Goodyear shop and they said it needed an alignment and dinged me for $80. I talked to a manager at another Goodyear shop and he told me they were wrong, that it was possibly a bad shock, a warped rotor, or something loose in the suspension. I'd just like to figure out what it is and get it fixed soon. She's got a 101k miles so I don't want to pay a lot for the repair, just need it to last another year or two.

[JimD]

Almost sounds like you have a wheel loose on the spindle, just for grins, put a lug wrench on the front wheels and see if you have any nuts loose. Or, it may be a flakey brake rotor. Too bad you werent here in Austin, Id gladly have a look at it.

"they said the tie rods were bad and they couldn't do an alignment on it."

I wish I had a dime for everytime Ive heard that one!

[BigKGlen]

Certified Auto Repair at San Pedro and Nova Mae (108 Nova Mae) is a great shop. 342-2222 ask for Tony, he's the owner. Let him know that Big Kev sent you his way, he'll set you up.

[JimD]

I hate giving someone else my hard earned money for something I can fix myself with a little research. Most shops look at you like a big money flavored sucker.

[captexas]

That wheel has been taken off and put back on a few times during this ordeal so it's not loose. I used an impact wrench on it when I recently took it off. That's when my friend pushed on the hub side to side and noticed the play in the linkage. He thought it might be the idler arm, but not sure. Funny thing is that in my repair book it doesn't show an idler arm for the 4wd I have. Sure looks like what it shows in the 2wd picture though. Maybe the repair book got their pictures reversed.

[JimD]

Try Googling it! lol

[tony]

hard luck auto out in marion

fwiw: i had a s-10 around the same year with the same problem. ended up being a loose tie rod.

[brewercm]

I use Naco Auto at the address below. A little more expensive because they are a Napa certified service center, but I've had good luck with them so far.

12761 Nacogdoches Rd
San Antonio, TX 78217