Expected Life of Sooby Suspension & Steering

[kaplan3jiim]

I've got an almost 10 yr old 97 Brighton Wagon with 144k mi. Never
replaced anything in the steering, suspension (or drive train). And as
far as I can tell, don't need to. Is this unusual, or can I expect
many more miles before something goes?


Only major repair was a failed belt pulley last year - $900 repair
which also solved my oil leakage problem of several years.

Now, if only the car got mileage befitting its 2.2l engine.

Jim

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

I've got an almost 10 yr old 97 Brighton Wagon with 144k mi. Never
replaced anything in the steering, suspension (or drive train). And as
far as I can tell, don't need to. Is this unusual, or can I expect
many more miles before something goes?


Only major repair was a failed belt pulley last year - $900 repair
which also solved my oil leakage problem of several years.

Now, if only the car got mileage befitting its 2.2l engine.

Jim

I'd say it has seen a lot of highway driving if CV joint boots haven't
been replaced - that's a little unusual I guess. Not impossible, obviously.

Carl

 

[Rick Courtright]

far as I can tell, don't need to. Is this unusual, or can I expect
many more miles before something goes?

Hi,

Other than CV joints as Carl mentioned, I'd suspect the shock section of
your strut assemblies is probably getting tired. Otherwise, if the car's
been used on decent roads, not frequently overloaded, hasn't been
smacked into curbs and potholes, I don't think your experience is out of
line.

Rick

 

[Yousuf Khan]

I've got an almost 10 yr old 97 Brighton Wagon with 144k mi. Never
replaced anything in the steering, suspension (or drive train). And as
far as I can tell, don't need to. Is this unusual, or can I expect
many more miles before something goes?

I just had to replace one wheel bearing in my right rear a couple of
weeks back. That was a $500 punch in the face, but I was expecting it.
Mine is a 2000 OBW.

 

[kaplan3jiim]

I just had to replace one wheel bearing in my right rear a couple of
weeks back. That was a $500 punch in the face, but I was expecting it.
Mine is a 2000 OBW.

Whoops. I forgot I did that last summer.

 

[Jim Stewart]

I've got an almost 10 yr old 97 Brighton Wagon with 144k mi. Never
replaced anything in the steering, suspension (or drive train). And as
far as I can tell, don't need to. Is this unusual, or can I expect
many more miles before something goes?


Only major repair was a failed belt pulley last year - $900 repair
which also solved my oil leakage problem of several years.

Now, if only the car got mileage befitting its 2.2l engine.

I think that part of it will be your tolerance
for a soft/mushy ride. I noticed that my '99
Outback started to lose it's firm stance at
about 100k and I started looking at new struts
and shocks. I've sorta put it as a low priority
and may handle it when the weather cools off in
the fall.

The car now has 126k miles and doesn't seem to
be getting any worse. I could drive it indefinitly
the way it is, but I would prefer the firmer ride.

 

[Dominic Richens]

I've got an almost 10 yr old 97 Brighton Wagon with 144k mi. Never
replaced anything in the steering, suspension (or drive train). And as
far as I can tell, don't need to. Is this unusual, or can I expect
many more miles before something goes?

you should be due for your first wheel bearings any time soon.

My 95 Brighton, 233,000 km has had 3 replace in the last 60,000km

 

[kaplan3jiim]

you should be due for your first wheel bearings any time soon.

My 95 Brighton, 233,000 km has had 3 replace in the last 60,000km

I'd forgotten I did replace the right rear one a year ago.

 

[Sheldon]

I've got an almost 10 yr old 97 Brighton Wagon with 144k mi. Never
replaced anything in the steering, suspension (or drive train). And as
far as I can tell, don't need to. Is this unusual, or can I expect
many more miles before something goes?


Only major repair was a failed belt pulley last year - $900 repair
which also solved my oil leakage problem of several years.

Now, if only the car got mileage befitting its 2.2l engine.

Jim

Depends how you drive it. My old Loyale felt fine and had 165K on it. My
new '97 Outback has a new engine, but the rest of the chassis has 200K on
it. No problems except for the occasional torn boot and CV joint.

 

[Richard Heckman]

We sold a 90 Legacy wagon last year with 267K miles with norunning gear
problems other than front CV joints occasionally.

Dick