Cost for New Struts
#7112470
12/30/20 03:51 PM
12/30/20 03:51 PM
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 552 Maine
andrews1958
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I am by no means a mechanic but curious why it cost so much to replace struts on my 2005 Toyota Tacoma? The average price of a strut is $150. Watching YouTube it does not seem like much of a job. See link. Loosen and remove the lower bolt where it attaches to the truck some leverage may be required to get the bolt out. Loosen and remove the top three bolts and then remove the strut. Install the new one and tightened all of the bolts. A front end alignment may be required. I checked with the Toyota dealerships. Pep Shop Boys and two mom and pops shops and they are all quoting a price of $800 to $900 for the supply and install. Do you need to have a front end allignment when it is done? I just had one done a few months ago. Does this sound about right? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oC33zcI9mXY
Last edited by andrews1958; 12/30/20 03:52 PM.
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Re: Cost for New Struts
[Re: andrews1958]
#7112483
12/30/20 04:08 PM
12/30/20 04:08 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,880 williamsburg ks
danny clifton
"Grumpy Old Man"
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"Grumpy Old Man"
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,880
williamsburg ks
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I needed upper ball joints on my pickup. Firestone wanted 900 dollars to do them and a front end alignment. Said their book called for 4 hours of shop time. Parts were another 400. I bought moog upper ball joints at advance auto for 200 bucks retail. Put them on in less than 2 hours out in the front yard on a day it was real cold. Came inside several times to get another tool or warm up. Then paid the dodge dealer 80 bucks for an alignment.
I think 98% are crooked that way.
Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
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Re: Cost for New Struts
[Re: andrews1958]
#7112488
12/30/20 04:13 PM
12/30/20 04:13 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,880 williamsburg ks
danny clifton
"Grumpy Old Man"
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"Grumpy Old Man"
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,880
williamsburg ks
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You can buy stuff even cheaper on-line at rock auto. I bought a starter for pickup about 3 weeks ago from them. 100 bucks with shipping. Advance wanted 150 for a rebuilt one plus my old starter. Dodge dealer wanted 780 dollars for a starter and installation. I ordered it on a Thursday afternoon and Sunday afternoon a guy in a Penske box truck was knocking on my door with a starter. This was during the xmas rush.
Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
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Re: Cost for New Struts
[Re: BBarnes]
#7112512
12/30/20 04:32 PM
12/30/20 04:32 PM
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Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 4,770 Beatrice, NE
loosegoose
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Shop rates are a rip off. They go by what the book/computer says for the time and bill accordingly. Book may say 4 hours but only takes the mechanic 2 hours your still paying for 4 hours.
YouTube has helped me more than once on different projects.
IMO B You'll also only pay for 4 hours of labor if all the bolts are rusted and it takes the mechanic 6 hours to do the job. That's just how the flat rate game goes. Working faster than "book time" is how good flat rate mechanics make good money. I've worked with guys that consistently booked 90+ hours in a 40 hour work week. As to how much it costs, you've got to remember that the ship has to mark up the parts. I have no idea what labor time would be on the particular job though. Whether or not you need an alignment depends. On some vehicles, the struts control camber, on other vehicles they don't. If the struts don't control any alignment angles, I wouldn't pay for an alignment.
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Re: Cost for New Struts
[Re: andrews1958]
#7112522
12/30/20 04:42 PM
12/30/20 04:42 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,880 williamsburg ks
danny clifton
"Grumpy Old Man"
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"Grumpy Old Man"
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,880
williamsburg ks
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So why not charge whatever time it takes loosegoose? If I could do those upper ball joints in two hours with all the goofing off I did, a guy that wrench's every day, inside a shop, could have done it in an hour. If those bolts were rusted on could add a half hour I guess to that to grind them off. Customer is getting gouged, hard. I cant imagine how it could possibly take 4 hours to change those upper ball joints.
Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
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Re: Cost for New Struts
[Re: danny clifton]
#7112545
12/30/20 05:04 PM
12/30/20 05:04 PM
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Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 4,770 Beatrice, NE
loosegoose
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So why not charge whatever time it takes loosegoose? If I could do those upper ball joints in two hours with all the goofing off I did, a guy that wrench's every day, inside a shop, could have done it in an hour. If those bolts were rusted on could add a half hour I guess to that to grind them off. Customer is getting gouged, hard. I cant imagine how it could possibly take 4 hours to change those upper ball joints. I don't know. I hate flat rate, I'll only work at an hourly shop. I guess to make it standardized. Otherwise, you'll have customers complaining if I take an hour on your truck and 6 hours on the next guys truck, because his was rusty and yours wasn't. Also, if there was no standard time,what's to prevent me from taking my sweet time and maki g 6 hours on a one hour job, or at least telling you that what it took? It's not perfect, but it's probably the best thing around as far as how to bill jobs. I don't like it as a pay system, though. I think it encourages shoddy rushed work.
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Re: Cost for New Struts
[Re: andrews1958]
#7112548
12/30/20 05:07 PM
12/30/20 05:07 PM
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Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 4,770 Beatrice, NE
loosegoose
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Right now, I'm working on a 2005 dodge ram, replacing the blend door motor. Book time is 5.0 hours, the book calls for removing the dash to replace it. I was able to remove the glovebox and lower dash skin,and had it out in about 7 minutes. It doesn't matter in my shop, because we're a fleet shop, we don't have customers to charge. If I was in a regular shop, though, you'd likely pay for 5 hours of work for my 20 minutes to do the whole job. I don't like flat rate.
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Re: Cost for New Struts
[Re: danny clifton]
#7112562
12/30/20 05:20 PM
12/30/20 05:20 PM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 18,596 Green County Wisconsin
GREENCOUNTYPETE
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So why not charge whatever time it takes loosegoose? If I could do those upper ball joints in two hours with all the goofing off I did, a guy that wrench's every day, inside a shop, could have done it in an hour. If those bolts were rusted on could add a half hour I guess to that to grind them off. Customer is getting gouged, hard. I cant imagine how it could possibly take 4 hours to change those upper ball joints. because "everyone" wants a set price so everyone gets a set price that no one likes who knows who sets book time. then book time to change a headlight on a 1996 ford taurus was 20 minutes or a half hour. it has been 24 years, book had you take the entire headlight assembly off then change the bulb even I with meat hands and wrists that even the large watch band is on the last hole to fit my wrist ,I could stick my hand down in and turn the lock ring and remove the bulb replace and put it back in. 3-4 minutes then you get the service writer ," oh the cabin air filter is dirty and needs changing " me "ok how much ?" SW " 31.99 for the part and 20 to install" Me "so you took it out to see if it was dirty and it is so if I say no you have to put it back right?" SW " ahhh well I guess" Me , " can I speak with the manager " Manager saw it my way and was willing to replace no labor just one of the many things people who know nothing get taken on.
America only has one issue, we have a Responsibility crisis and everything else stems from it.
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Re: Cost for New Struts
[Re: andrews1958]
#7112596
12/30/20 05:57 PM
12/30/20 05:57 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,880 williamsburg ks
danny clifton
"Grumpy Old Man"
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"Grumpy Old Man"
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,880
williamsburg ks
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Charging 4 hours for a 1 hour job is theft
Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
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Re: Cost for New Struts
[Re: danny clifton]
#7112601
12/30/20 06:02 PM
12/30/20 06:02 PM
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Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 4,770 Beatrice, NE
loosegoose
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Charging 4 hours for a 1 hour job is theft I don't disagree at all. But at the same time, good luck trying to find a customer who's willing to pay for 4 hours of labor on what was quoted to be a 1 hour job that went sideways. When that bolt breaks and you've got to drill it out, and the vehicle ain't going back on the road unless you get it out, most customers won't pay for the time it takes to get it out,they'll want the flat rate time that they were quoted.
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