$275 labor to do front struts on f-bodys, WTF!
#1
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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.
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Originally Posted by dopy
I would pay for work that i could do my self.
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J/K, I know what you meant.
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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
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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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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
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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. ![The Judge](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_judge.gif)
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What are you getting at?
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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