1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass Identify problem please, and estimate to repair would be nice

1994 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS
47,000 MILES • 6 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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I'm a disabled veteran, out of work past year and a half, very broke... but need an HONEST answer, was coming off the freeway last weekend, got a heavy vibration in the steering wheel and thought I had a flat - couldn't get "over" to get off the road as there was no room on the street the offramp lead to. Abut 1/2 mile later with the feeling of very "soft" front end, and "mushy" ride, managed to get to a parking lot, checked the tires, they seemed soft ... but no noticeable flat or tire tread separation, etc. Long story short- AAA (next day) sent a smartass tow truck driver who refused to tow me anywhere but his own shop and wanted $190 an HOUR, to do the work, which he thought was to replace the struts and shocks... after he bounced on the hood a couple of times. He was such a jerk I decided to ask you guys instead... what do you think it might be? Thanks for your help. It's the original 47,000 miles, and I don't think the struts or shocks have ever been replaced. Brakes were done about 1.5 years ago.
Sep 18, 2009 at 7:01 PM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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That is on heck of an hourly rate. I wouldn't pay it. Regardless, struts can go bad in that mileage, but not all at once. In other words, it isn't fine one minute and not the next. When you felt it, were you on the brakes, turning, accellerating...? Also, was there anything you did that changed it? Did you only feel it in the steering or the seat too?

Let me know.

Joe
Sep 18, 2009 at 7:17 PM
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steering still worked...but car felt "skittish" is the only way I can describe it... shaky maybe... is another way... I was just turning from the slow lane onto the offramp at about 40 mph, so was "turning" yes...

By the way, I did complain to Triple AAA - later finding another complaint about them on Yelp..
Sep 18, 2009 at 7:28 PM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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I would start by checking the steering components especially the ball joints. The struts didn't cause this problem. Also, check wheel bearings.

Let me know what you find.

Joe
Sep 18, 2009 at 8:04 PM