Parts prices are shooting up... Splash shield/Deflector

I bought a spare splash shield back in 2005 because the original was ground down quite a bit. It cost $16...

This week the old one was finally bad enough to replace, so I put in the spare and decided I ought to buy another one. My parts guy at the dealer said the factory had sold them off to an aftermarket company, and with shipping the new one is going to cost 80 fargin' bucks!

Eldo wrote:

I bought a spare splash shield back in 2005 because the original was ground down quite a bit. It cost $16...

This week the old one was finally bad enough to replace, so I put in the spare and decided I ought to buy another one. My parts guy at the dealer said the factory had sold them off to an aftermarket company, and with shipping the new one is going to cost 80 fargin' bucks!

Put new springs in, their about the same price, and raise your ride height up to where it belongs and you won't grind down the plastic.
Since I put new springs in the front of mine along with new struts I can't remember hitting the "Curb Finder" since.

I planned on cutting up the old one, and with some plastic welding, making an air duct from down below into the fender well area. At least that's been the plan, haven't done anything yet.

I thought about it after you mentioned it before, but was surprised to find that the trim height was within specs...

On the plus side, a new brake pedal pad only cost $7, and the S/C oil was less than $6 a bottle.

It's possible the old springs may support the vehicle at correct ride height, yet not be within proper spring rate spec. Under load, the older springs may bring the vehicle closer to the ground than newer ones.

Once i installed new springs I saw a noticeable 2" increase in my front ride height from my old springs.
It even altered the caster a bit.

sorry to go off-topic, but where in the hell did you find S/C oil for $6 a bottle?!? i used to get it for like $8 with 20% off, now i'm lucky to get it for less and $13 after tax.

2" ride increase? must look like a monster truck or else your oem springs were that bad i went the opposite direction when i did springs.

Thanks for the input, Aaron. If it had a 'normal' suspension, I'd throw the springs in anyway... But with these damned struts, I don't feel like finding someone to take them all apart again. And hey, it probably improves the highway mileage!

Rick: Was your car below trim height specs before you changed the springs?

I don't have a splash shield haha.. i ripped that garbage off

You went with lowered springs.
I measured the increase in height at the time, from my tire to the fender, it increased 2".
Yes my front springs were bad at 78,000 miles and 10 years old.

Mr.Riviera wrote:

sorry to go off-topic, but where in the hell did you find S/C oil for $6 a bottle?!? i used to get it for like $8 with 20% off, now i'm lucky to get it for less than $13 after tax.
.

I was thinking the same thing... I get 25% off at the Chevy dealer, so the list price would be $8. Why are there 'discount' places selling it for more?

Eldo wrote:

Thanks for the input, Aaron. If it had a 'normal' suspension, I'd throw the springs in anyway... But with these damned struts, I don't feel like finding someone to take them all apart again. And hey, it probably improves the highway mileage!

Rick: Was your car below trim height specs before you changed the springs?

I did not know about the FSM "Trim Height Specs" until after doing the springs and then buying a set of manuals.

Quote :

I don't have a splash shield haha.. i ripped that garbage off

And in doing so you've increased drag and high pressure under the car. This means your top speed drops, and your car becomes less stable at speed. Cool mod.

And let's not forget: the engine bay gets dirtier, too!

AA wrote:

Quote :

I don't have a splash shield haha.. i ripped that garbage off

And in doing so you've increased drag and high pressure under the car. This means your top speed drops, and your car becomes less stable at speed. Cool mod.

As well as disrupting airflow through the radiator and engine bay.

Eldo wrote:

, and the S/C oil was less than $6 a bottle.

You need to buy more SC oil and sell it on here if that seems to be such a good price to everyone.
I don't remember how much i paid at the dealer the first time.
Since then i bought one 8 oz.bottle from Intense and still don't remember what i paid.
it's not like your changing this stuff every month.

AA wrote:

It's possible the old springs may support the vehicle at correct ride height, yet not be within proper spring rate spec. Under load, the older springs may bring the vehicle closer to the ground than newer ones.

This is absolutely what i was encountering. With every bump and driveway rise i was scraping.
That was enough for me to buy OEM springs and replace everything else while I was doing it.
Built new strut assemblies and replaced old.

Next time I replace springs will be to lower the car with a set of 18" wheels.

If these things are indeed crapping out so soon, if I were to change them I'd probably go with Moog...

Are you talking about springs crapping out so soon.?
Mine were 10 years old, I don't think that is too soon.
For me to worry about replacing them again in ten years. Well 8 years now. I probably won't have the car then to worry about it. And if i do $100.00 for springs is not too much to pay in my eyes. Or whatever they will cost in 8 years, as they won't be available from the MFG then anyway.
Right now the car rides great.
Even Derek took it for a ride after tuning it for me and commented on the difference replacing the springs made.
He changed out his struts with the same one's I did but did not replace the springs.

AA wrote:

Quote :

I don't have a splash shield haha.. i ripped that garbage off

And in doing so you've increased drag and high pressure under the car. This means your top speed drops, and your car becomes less stable at speed. Cool mod.

weight reduction baby

this next??

When you can't get over 70 mph due to knock or how fast the Tow Truck is towing you it doesn't matter, now does it.

Mr.Riviera wrote:

this next??

efff ya

nah i took it off because i used to hit every snowbank possible with my car..

98riviera98 wrote:

Mr.Riviera wrote:

this next??

efff ya

nah i took it off because i used to hit every snowbank possible with my car..

that's pretty poopy

What in the world is that even supposed to be on the back of that neon? It's unique... that's for sure.

On topic, though, I've had to purchase a bunch of replacement parts for inside/outside the car over the years and everything I've bought has always been priced extremely high.

ZEP wrote:

What in the world is that even supposed to be on the back of that neon? It's unique... that's for sure.

On topic, though, I've had to purchase a bunch of replacement parts for inside/outside the car over the years and everything I've bought has always been priced extremely high.

Zach,
Not to be a dick, but if you think parts costs too much for this car over the years, then you can't afford this car.
The parts are not priced any higher than any other car in it's class and if you do some research on imports with the same luxury features, these are priced much less.
Just the initial cost of the car used is much, much less than anything in it's class.
If you've had to pay a little more than you want for replacement costs of parts you have to consider the car cost's upwards of $40,000 new.
Instead of budgeting money for accessories then maybe you need to budget for maintenance.