$275 labor to do front struts on f-bodys, WTF!
#1
$275 labor to do front struts on f-bodys, WTF!
Just to see, I called a few places in my area to see what they charge to swap out front struts on f-body car like ours...to my amazement, the going book rate is like $275 labor to do both front struts...WTF! Seems killer high???
One shop quoted $630 to do all four w/ a 4 wheel alignment, WOW!!
(not including parts!)
One shop quoted $630 to do all four w/ a 4 wheel alignment, WOW!!
(not including parts!)
#2
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Holy cow...the guy that I had do mine in Panama City Beach did the whole thing in a little over an hour (he had never done a Ground Control setup), and all he charged was beer. If you have the tools, I'd say give it a shot yourself...just take the front shocks/springs to someone with a compressor if you don't have one. Other than that, it ain't rocket science.
#4
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Originally Posted by dopy
I would pay for work that i could do my self.
J/K, I know what you meant.
To the OP, that does seem way too high. The job really isn't that difficult. I've done it several times on my car using the crappy (according to a lot of people) autozone spring compressors with very little trouble. The most difficult part is being sure you align the shock assembly correctly so the holes on the lower A-arms and shock tower line up correctly. I say give it a try yourself if you have the tools. All you need is a set of hand tools.
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It's booked as a 3 and a half hour job... but in reality, it takes about 2 hours with the right tools... shop I went to charged about $120ish when all was said and done... didn't bother me at all to pay for it, mostly because it's a shop I've gone to a few times before and I live in an apartment complex so to me it was worth it
#7
Yup, its a 2 hr job if everything goes smoothly and the nuts arent rusted to the shock. In reality alot of people run into problems doing the fronts, which is why there is a high quote. Do a search and see how many people have problems doing front shocks and springs.
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#10
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Originally Posted by 99'CajunFirehawk157
One shop quoted $630 to do all four w/ a 4 wheel alignment, WOW!!
(not including parts!)
(not including parts!)
#11
TECH Veteran
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They do alignments on FWD drives with twist beam axles. They have to remove the whole axle and put a shim on it. It is more a safety precaution to have all four wheels tested as you aren't going to do anything if it is just marginally out of spec.
A 4 wheel alingment is what lead me to the purchase of aftermarket LCAs and a panhard bar. Mine was off from the factory. The shop won't do an alignment on your axle but will notify you if there is a problem.
A 4 wheel alingment is what lead me to the purchase of aftermarket LCAs and a panhard bar. Mine was off from the factory. The shop won't do an alignment on your axle but will notify you if there is a problem.
#12
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Originally Posted by z28bryan
Did you ask them how they do an alignment on the rear wheels on a solid rear axle?
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Originally Posted by VIP1
Adjustable LCAs and PHB will give something to align.
#14
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Originally Posted by z28bryan
Right but I always considered alignments being adjustments to camber, caster, and toe which you can't change in the rear.
#17
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I did my car without any issues and didn't take long at all. I then offered to install shocks and springs for a friend and those two f#cking rusty nuts on the fronts springs were the biggest pain in the ***. I'll never attempt to lower another Fbody unless it's my personal vehicle.
#18
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Originally Posted by 2002_Z28_Six_Speed
That would make a very interesting ride on slick roads and ice.
What are you getting at?
A badly aligned car will drive badly in all weather conditions.
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Originally Posted by spy2520
when thrust angle is off and front toe is set, its called dog-tracking. thats an interesting ride on any road surface lol