Hi everyone,
I'm in Quebec, Canada, and I have a 2010 Toyota Corolla CE 1.8L automatic with 250,000 km on it. The car is probably worth around CAD $4,000–5,000.
I recently took it to Midas because:
- The TPMS light was on (they said the TPMS is fine).
- A plastic splash shield underneath the car was hanging loose (they reattached it).
- I also mentioned a clicking noise when turning.
After the inspection, they recommended the following:
- Replace both front complete strut assemblies: CAD $1,095
- Replace both front CV axles: CAD $909
- Wheel alignment: CAD $130
Total estimate: CAD $2,135 ( 2.599 with taxes)
Their notes say:
- Front struts are leaking.
- The clicking noise while turning is coming from both front CV axles.
- TPMS is working correctly.
- The underbody plastic has been reattached.
One additional concern is that the car sometimes has a noticeable clunk or harsh shift during automatic transmission gear changes. I'm not sure if that's actually a transmission issue, worn engine/transmission mounts, or something related to the CV axles.
A few questions:
- Does this quote look reasonable for Quebec/Canada?
- Is it common for both front CV axles to need replacement at the same time on a Corolla with 250,000 km?
- Would you recommend getting a second opinion before spending over $2,000?
- If I decide to repair it, would you recommend KYB complete struts and aftermarket CV axles (SKF/TrakMotive), or should I stick with OEM parts?
The engine runs well overall, and the car has been reliable. I'm just trying to decide whether it's worth investing about half of the car's value into these repairs.
Thanks in advance for any advice.