I smell a rat here, and although I may be wrong, I think the mechanic is either up to something or suffering from a case of stupid.

 

I'm in the business, and I have seen this maybe 3 times. All of them were from front high speed hits. Curbs, and one i know went airborne etc....but it was always the front...only seen one in the back, never a pair

 

It wouldn't be from dishonesty in this case. This guy has been in business for over 50 years. I work on his cash registers and fax machines. He did a really good job on my daughter's 1991 Caddy and only charged me about $250, where if she had gotten the work done in Cleveland, it would have run well over $600. To be a good guy, I sent my service tech over and had him clean the machines at no charge. Next day he presents me with a gift certificate to a really nice restaurant for $50.
If they aren't broken, it might be a mistake, but in my opinion here, they're either broken or not - there's no middle ground.

My car has never been in an accident nor do I carry anything heavy.

PS- To put my summer tires on (already on rims) he charges me $20 ($5 each). Unbelievable!

 

Something here just does not add up. In all the years I have worked on cars I have only seen a couple broken coils and then due to abuse. To have two on the same car in the rear is just unheard of.

Coils can sag they can get knocked out of place and in a very rare care one may break but two going bad is like winning the lottery.

 

I wonder if they may be leveling springs and the unknowing mechanic doesnt realise it ....yet. Thinks they are broken/collapsed..

 

I work on my car(s) a lot but must admit I don't know my AF3rdBase on this one. Too wet outside to get underneath the car right now.

 

I have a 5' cement wall next to my house, so tonight I backed up the car to it and looked underneath. I sure don't see any breaks in my springs. I asked my mechanic if he had seen it for himself and he said yes. I know this isn't dishonesty - I'm thinking incompetence.

Wednesday I take it to GM for warranty work on the brakes/wheel bearings and will ask them to look at the situation and tell me for sure.

While I have the car in at GM - I have a clunking in the front end. I can't remember what is is that tends to go bad. Could someone tell me so I can have GM take a look at that while it is in the shop?

Thanks!

 

I wonder if he has just confused the shocks for springs?

Clunking, could be tie rod bushings

 

Or, brake springs? Since it was a state safety inspection.

 

Thanks - that's what I was looking for.