Gears & Axles Driveshafts | Rearends | Differentials | Gears | 12 Bolt | 9 Inch | Dana

going rate for a gear swap?

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Old Dec 15, 2007 | 04:48 PM
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Default going rate for a gear swap?

Just kinda wanting a ballpark figure on what the labor usually runs?
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Old Dec 15, 2007 | 06:00 PM
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'round here most shops charge 175-200 if you bring them the rearend, or 250-300 if its in the car.
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Old Dec 15, 2007 | 07:19 PM
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I own driveline shop and the price should be the same in or out of the car. Motive Perf gears or Strange Pro-line gears work great. They should be priced around 200.00-220.00. ALWAYS replace the bearings when putting in gears, preferably Timkin bearings. National seals (red coating) and you should have a very reliable diff.
gears- 200-220
bearing and install kit-120-150
seals-20 or less-pinion and 2 axle seals
lube-torsen or Zexel style you can use synthetic, Redline shock-proof or Amsoil Severe.
clutch type-80w90-145 hd lube with posi additive, preferably GM.
labor-3-5 hours@shop rate. We are 70/hr=210-350.00
Total-700-1000.00
Advice-free.
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Old Dec 15, 2007 | 10:59 PM
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Originally Posted by 382ssz28
I own driveline shop and the price should be the same in or out of the car.
by your hourly rate, yes. its good for you. not for the customer. if ive already got it pulled, especially f body cars with 9" rearends, i can save a buck.
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Old Dec 16, 2007 | 01:12 AM
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Originally Posted by TJ
'round here most shops charge 175-200 if you bring them the rearend, or 250-300 if its in the car.

I agree with TJ.

A buck and a half to two for bench... and two fifty to three for most passenger car and light truck differentials. Three to three fifty for DANA 80's and up... and a little more fo max effort race items, Top Fuel, Pro Stock and EATON 16k+ GVW differentials.

I charge flat rate's... because it doesnt take me anywhere near the book time to do the job. Ill flip gears and bearings (to include wheel bearings and seals) all day long for $650... in most passenger car differentials.

But that only depends on if that is all that needs to be done (or replaced)... so yeah, it could be $650 to 1000.
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Old Dec 16, 2007 | 01:17 AM
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Damn, you guys are expensive. Last time I only paid $400, that's with the gears/LSD swap/bearings/shims/fluid/labor included.

BTW, it was this year.
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Old Dec 16, 2007 | 02:27 AM
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Originally Posted by bene
Damn, you guys are expensive. Last time I only paid $400, that's with the gears/LSD swap/bearings/shims/fluid/labor included.

BTW, it was this year.
hmmm... good deal there. if someone wants to do that kind of work and do a good job, for that money... then they can have it.

i get 150 out of the car, 250 in the car labor... its a shop space thing
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Old Dec 16, 2007 | 02:49 AM
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Last time I got it, it was 125 with it in the car. I put over 70k on that gear swap in a 10 bolt and never had an issue.
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Old Dec 16, 2007 | 03:51 AM
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Don't forget to change the PCM to the different gears.
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Old Dec 16, 2007 | 08:54 AM
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when I had my 10 bolt done, I paid $400 complete for the install, gears, and master rebuild kit. I bought Motive performance gears, and labor to do it was $150. $1000 Is Way to High shop around.
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Old Dec 16, 2007 | 10:34 AM
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wow at the prices in the posts. THATS CHEAP!
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Old Dec 16, 2007 | 11:09 AM
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I would question some of the prices I see as if it is an actual shop with a business license or if people are getting paid cash under the table and working out of their garage. $400 for a gear, bearings and labor??? I personally do not see how someone can do the job that cheap and still be in business. Either that or your not getting everything you think your getting????

Interesting though,

Jeff
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Old Dec 16, 2007 | 12:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Jawsgear
I would question some of the prices I see as if it is an actual shop with a business license or if people are getting paid cash under the table and working out of their garage. $400 for a gear, bearings and labor??? I personally do not see how someone can do the job that cheap and still be in business. Either that or your not getting everything you think your getting????

Interesting though,

Jeff
He was a buddy of mine that used to work at a diff shop and charged me $150 to put them in. Reguardless, My next best price was $225 at a shop down the street from me. I bought my gears and rebuild kit on EBAY and got a good deal. You just need to shop around. So worst case I would have paid $475 for everything. I forgot to add I also Paid $25 for the gear oil (6 qts, 3 to brake in the gears and another 3 after 500 miles)

You can buy gears a whole lot cheaper than $225 and a master rebuild kit is not $150. Myself I do some comparison shopping, I don't like paying more than I have to. I bought Motive Performance gears and master kit on ebay for $250 with free shipping.

Yes, I have used the shop down the street before and they have been in business for 30 years. They did a timeing belt on my Honda and treat people really good.

Last edited by Jays00ss; Dec 16, 2007 at 12:39 PM.
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Old Dec 16, 2007 | 03:59 PM
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Originally Posted by Jays00ss
He was a buddy of mine that used to work at a diff shop and charged me $150 to put them in. Reguardless, My next best price was $225 at a shop down the street from me. I bought my gears and rebuild kit on EBAY and got a good deal. You just need to shop around. So worst case I would have paid $475 for everything. I forgot to add I also Paid $25 for the gear oil (6 qts, 3 to brake in the gears and another 3 after 500 miles)

You can buy gears a whole lot cheaper than $225 and a master rebuild kit is not $150. Myself I do some comparison shopping, I don't like paying more than I have to. I bought Motive Performance gears and master kit on ebay for $250 with free shipping.

Yes, I have used the shop down the street before and they have been in business for 30 years. They did a timeing belt on my Honda and treat people really good.

Now that makes sense. Price on the parts is about right. We charge about $180.00 for the gear, $82.00 for a Master Timken Kit and $200.00 Labor out of the car and $340.00 in the car. Each area varies on labor though. Buddy's are cool if you are sure they know what they are doing LOL. Sounds like your guy did.

Jeff
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Old Dec 17, 2007 | 08:43 PM
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Well you guys are all businessmen with lots of overhead and living in the worst state, Mich, right now. I charge the same whether or not the diff is in the car or not, the labor is the same. Personally, I find it easier in the car. If the governor in our state would stop charging businesses the massive taxes, which by the way the customer eventually pays, our rate would be less. Most of the people at the track I sponsor and my personal friends are $100.00 labor. I did have a mechanic apply from Indiana this summer, he said his shop rate was $55.00 P/H. Don't go nuts because our state is being run into the ground. I just as PO'd as anyone. The guy asking the question wanted info, I don't know what state he is in. Besides, the national average for labor rate is 70.00 P/H in 5 of the leading tech publications. PS, thanks Jeff.
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Old Dec 17, 2007 | 08:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Jawsgear
I would question some of the prices I see as if it is an actual shop with a business license or if people are getting paid cash under the table and working out of their garage. $400 for a gear, bearings and labor??? I personally do not see how someone can do the job that cheap and still be in business. Either that or your not getting everything you think your getting????

Interesting though,

Jeff
The guy who did mine owns a mechanic shop, certified ASE, knows fbodies pretty well, owned WS6 that ran 8s in 1000', built other LSXs engines for his customers. So yeah, he knows his **** and he is still in business.

BTW, he let me watch him doing the gear swap. So I know everything was replaced.
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