Wife's old car (2008 Cadillac SRX)

Non-repair car talk
kevm14
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Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Wife's new car (2008 Cadillac SRX)

Post by kevm14 »

At inspection now. I have good visibility of the process. I think they found the loose passenger side front tie rod...i had noticed that last summer. He had another tech check it out. Hopefully nothing else is amiss (like tires). We'll see soon. I'm betting on the tie rod. Which is legit and I probably should have done it when I first noticed it.

He didn't pull the wheels but he did a decent visual with a flashlight. But if this guy inspects my Caprice in May I may have a problem.
kevm14
Posts: 15248
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Wife's new car (2008 Cadillac SRX)

Post by kevm14 »

Sigh. Here's the damage:
- Needs tires. He showed me and at least one is at the wear bar on part of the tread. I guess they were worse than I thought.
- Needs a passenger side front outer tie rod. I knew about this but sort of diminished it in my mind but I saw them wiggling the wheel and even from across the shop it was pretty obvious. I noticed this last summer.
- Needs a license plate bulb. I knew about this, too, but forgot. I have the bulb. Reason I haven't replaced it is because it requires removal of the hatch trim panel.

So I basically knew about all of this stuff. It is all legit. What's kind of impressive is they did not actually fail the car. What this amounted to is a free inspection and work estimate. Of course that means instead of a month I really only have until the end of March, which is still enough time anyway.

Oh, and for a quick look at what regular people pay for this work, here is the estimate:
- 4 tires approx. $850
- Tie rod end $350
- Alignment $60

So like $1200. I will post the parts estimate in a minute when I select my tires and tie rod. I don't think I can cut this in half but I can probably shave hundreds off anyway.
kevm14
Posts: 15248
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Wife's new car (2008 Cadillac SRX)

Post by kevm14 »

Tie rod:
ACDELCO 45A1058 {#19187174} Professional Info
Right Outer
$44.79 from RockAuto. $49.54 shipped after coupon and shipping.

They do have Moog and Lemforder. I wonder if Lemforder was OEM.

I already have the bulb but it couldn't have been more than $2.

Now to research tires. These can get pricey so I need to find a good middle ground. I won't be getting Goodyear RS-As....which is what it has.
kevm14
Posts: 15248
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Wife's new car (2008 Cadillac SRX)

Post by kevm14 »

Top rated tire in this size:
MICHELIN
PREMIER LTX
Crossover/SUV Touring All-Season
Size: 255/50R20 109V XL
Sidewall Style: Blackwall
Low Rolling Resistance: Michelin Total Performance
UTQG: 620 A A
On "sale" for $206.84/tire, plus shipping.

Cheapest tire:
YOKOHAMA
GEOLANDAR G055
Crossover/SUV Touring All-Season
Size: 255/50R20 109V XL
Sidewall Style: Blackwall
Low Rolling Resistance: BluEarth
UTQG: 740 A A
$156.55/tire plus shipping. The difference between the cheapest available and the best is only $50/tire, which I think is smaller than I would have guessed.
kevm14
Posts: 15248
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Wife's new car (2008 Cadillac SRX)

Post by kevm14 »

LOL

http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direc ... 441&cs=255

The tire is called SRX. I assume this is a coincidence. This might actually be the tire that Tire Pros wanted to sell me.

Hmm, with $50 instant rebate, these are only $176.50/ea and that is delivered/shipped. Tire rack gets $20-$30 shipping per tire for comparison.

Oh, plus an additional $70 prepaid VISA rebate card. Wow. That is a decent deal.
kevm14
Posts: 15248
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Wife's new car (2008 Cadillac SRX)

Post by kevm14 »

kevm14 wrote:Top rated tire in this size:
MICHELIN
PREMIER LTX
Crossover/SUV Touring All-Season
Size: 255/50R20 109V XL
Sidewall Style: Blackwall
Low Rolling Resistance: Michelin Total Performance
UTQG: 620 A A
On "sale" for $206.84/tire, plus shipping.
At discount tire direct, these are $907.84 shipped. The shipped price from Tire rack is $907.84. That is....an incredible coincidence.
kevm14 wrote: Cheapest tire:
YOKOHAMA
GEOLANDAR G055
Crossover/SUV Touring All-Season
Size: 255/50R20 109V XL
Sidewall Style: Blackwall
Low Rolling Resistance: BluEarth
UTQG: 740 A A
$156.55/tire plus shipping. The difference between the cheapest available and the best is only $50/tire, which I think is smaller than I would have guessed.
Shipped from Discount Tire Direct: $693.12
Shipped from Tire Rack: $743.12

That's more like the difference I was expecting.
kevm14
Posts: 15248
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Wife's new car (2008 Cadillac SRX)

Post by kevm14 »

I think I am going to splurge for the Michelins. Jamie will be doing a lot of miles for Ian's bi-weekly peanut desensitization. However, I do not think we will get anywhere near the 60,000 mile treadwear warranty. Then again, maybe I could actually use that for the set after this. It is 6 year also.

Either way these tires are highly rated. Only a little more than the "$850" estimate in my work quote for damn good tires. I could actually call and see how close they could match the price but the drop shipping is a zero drama, zero hassle way to do business.

It does include free Road Hazard as well.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/roadHazard/trhp.jsp
kevm14
Posts: 15248
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Wife's new car (2008 Cadillac SRX)

Post by kevm14 »

This is kind of insane....

They start with 8.5/32" which is some of the lowest tread depth I've seen for non-racing tires, and especially low for a passenger car tire which is not a performance tread/compound. Somehow Michelin can warranty these for 60k. That is amazing.
kevm14
Posts: 15248
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Wife's new car (2008 Cadillac SRX)

Post by kevm14 »

Or it's not amazing because it isn't true.

https://www.tirerack.com/survey/SurveyC ... VR0PRLTXXL

These people are all complaining that they don't last. Not sure that is worth spending extra money in that case.
kevm14
Posts: 15248
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Wife's new car (2008 Cadillac SRX)

Post by kevm14 »

The Coopers come with 11.5/32" which is more in the normal range. 740 treadwear. 70k treadwear warranty also.

The Yokohamas are 11/32" with a 740 treadwear and 65k/5 year warranty.
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