A Thai friend with a 5 year old Civic needs to replace the springs. He said he was quoted Baht 12,000. I need to check with him again to make sure that quote was for the springs only, but it struck me as being rather expensive ... but then I don't think I've ever had to replace the springs on any car I've owned so what do I know?

Can someone more knowledgeable than I am tell me if that sounds reasonable or excessive or a bargain?

Thanks in advance.

Including labor, that's rather cheap. More of a question would be if the new springs are really new. But once again, I just read the Topic title & ignored the contents...

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Now I've read it. For Thailand, couldn't say. Also depends on how many wheels? In the US, I just bought the part & installed it myself. Rather easy & fun with a massive amount of beer & a friend or two.

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Now I've read it. For Thailand, couldn't say. Also depends on how many wheels? In the US, I just bought the part & installed it myself. Rather easy & fun with a massive amount of beer & a friend or two.

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"In the US, I just bought the part & installed it myself. Rather easy & fun with a massive amount of beer & a friend or two."

Four wheels as far as I know, but I'm pretty sure the labor factor in the US would be a good deal greater than in Thailand. Also, if I were involved in the installation you'd need a whole lot more beer for it to qualify as fun.

Springs aren't that difficult if you have a driveway & a portable lift. Could actually do it yourself including beer with tunes. Using just a portable lift & concrete blocks, I removed my transmission - took it to a repair place & once done, reinstalled it.

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Unusual for a 5yr old car to need all 4 springs replaced.

Dampers maybe, but not springs.

Though wouldn't attempt messing with a cars warranty nor the transmission of a foreign car.

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Springs aren't that difficult if you have a driveway & a portable lift. Could actually do it yourself including beer with tunes. Using just a portable lift & concrete blocks,

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Without a spring compressor tool it would be very difficult to replace the springs

in fact near to impossible.

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Unusual for a 5yr old car to need all 4 springs replaced.

Dampers maybe, but not springs.

Springs aren't that difficult if you have a driveway & a portable lift. Could actually do it yourself including beer with tunes. Using just a portable lift & concrete blocks,


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Without a spring compressor tool it would be very difficult to replace the springs

in fact near to impossible.

He bought it used (against my advice) a couple of years ago. I suppose it was in pretty good condition, but I think it was not treated with much love. Doing anything with the car on a DIY basis is not worth considering.

Unfortunately for economic reasons he needs to deal with a "neighborhood mechanic" rather than a Honda dealership. I don't think he's being scammed, but I don't think the advice he's receiving is necessarily the best. I'm pretty clueless, but I diagnosed the initial problem as springs or shock absorbers, but it took the "experts" awhile to come to the same conclusion.

From the time I had my first post-college car in the US I always bought new cars and used the dealer for all servicing, and that included when I was living in the UAE and in Africa, but obviously that route isn't open to everyone. Buying a used car, whether in Thailand or anywhere else, is asking for trouble in my opinion and his experience has done nothing to change my mind.

Still can't see why a 5yr old car with the reliability of Honda would need new springs.

The main reasons for spring replacement are:

(1) Broken or cracked coil that would create a knocking sound and sagging on that

same side.

(2) Due to age and wear, springs can cause uneven body ground clearance from

side to side or front to back.

Well, I know it was riding low and even going over a small speed hump meant there was some scraping sound. He had something done which I thought was replacing the shocks (obviously talking about car parts and maintenance raises some language issues). That brought about some improvement, but it still seemed to be riding low and when he used the brakes there was what I thought sounded like the noise a spring would make, but I was informed it had to do with new brake pads being needed. Once that was done, surprise, surprise, the sound was still there. From the way the car is still riding I have some doubts about what was done with the shocks.

I thought I recalled that if springs were in need of a clean they could be noisy, but I have no idea where I heard that or when. As I have implied, I don't think he's getting good advice. It would probably be better advice from the Honda dealer, but the prices they charge are also at a higher level. I have neither the auto expertise nor the language skills to get too involved, but it seems this has become something of an expensive joke as the "mechanic" makes what seem to be wild guesses at what needs to be done. Very frustrating all 'round.

Can anyone recommend an inexpensive but competent Thai mechanic east of Sukhumvit in Pattaya?

Sorry to the OP & other posters, just educated myself with the Springs for the model & year. Definitely need a compression tool.

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I would drive it in to Honda and ask for an assessment and estimate on the problem.

Then he'll have a correct diagnosis to make his decision on who would be best to repair the car.

The Honda dealer opposite the Ambassador Hotel Sukhumvit Rd would be better as they seem

to be less busy than the other one in North Pattaya.

I would drive it in to Honda and ask for an assessment and estimate on the problem.

Then he'll have a correct diagnosis to make his decision on who would be best to repair the car.

The Honda dealer opposite the Ambassador Hotel Sukhumvit Rd would be better as they seem

to be less busy than the other one in North Pattaya.

That sounds like a good idea. Thanks.