Need an advice in repairing the lens

[alekseyy]

Hi,
I have a question to those who know things about nikon lenses repair.
I recently dropped my lens (AF-S 18-55 VR) and one screw hole (out of three) was completely stripped. I made an attempt to put back the screw and glue it, but before i knew it, i broke the wire from the mount to the lens. there are two wires, i broke the copper colored wide one.
So I sent it to the Service center for repair and they want around $100 for it. And it's for $120 worth lens. Of course, I told them to send it back to me without repair. The reason why it's so expensive, they said that they have to replace the entire lens body.
My question is, is there any way to just replace the wire without changing the whole body? if so, is it possible to buy this wire somewhere and replace it by myself?
Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Thanks

[zona5101]

let me rephrase your question...

Doctor says i need brain surgery but it's going to cost too much. I think I can do it myself if someone can tell me where to get a #10 scalpel...

ok, i am only poking fun.

seriously? Cut your losses and just get a replacement lens.

[alekseyy]

well, i wouldn't do it myself if it was an expensive lens.
I already ordered a new different one, and I'll still have this dead lens on the way from the service center. If it's just a question of this one wire, I would like to have the lens fixed somehow, since there's nothing to lose anymore.

[sk66]

About the only chance you'll have is splicing in a jumper....but you said "wide copper one"..usually those are "ribbons" and contain numerous very small wires.
Probably the only DIY "potential fix" would be to buy another broken one (with different problem) for cheap off ebay or similar and combining them into one.

Probably a complete waste of money, but at least you'll learn how complicated and intricate a lens can be...