I think I'm being taken to the cleaners by a mechanic, they quoted me $250 to swap rear shocks (I'm supplying the new parts) based on having to drop the lower control arms down to be able to remove the shocks, claiming that makes it a big job that could take hours.

Is the mechanic correct and rear shocks take hours to swap out? Or should I try someone else?

For those who've had it done, how much did you pay?

 

$250 is a deal. Are you getting all the rear upper shock mounts replaced as well?? It all has to come apart anyways. Even with the right tools it takes some time.

 

$250 is a steal for a shop to do it.
With my work discount (I work at a dealership) I will be paying about $300 when I do it (50% discount). If you go by AllData for book time, it's about 3hrs labor to replace the rear shocks.

 

You definitely should replace all the rubber parts while doing the shocks. With that low quote in the NYC area I would be worried about getting a call saying 'it's turning into a bigger job than expected and we need a few hundred more'.

Does this shop work on Jags routinely? If so, that is a great price.

 

My mechanic quoted me $200 to do the back shocks, and told me he regretted it afterwards as it took more like 4 hours. So $250 is a very fair price.

Buy the Bilstein shocks, they are much better, and come with both mounting bushes, upper and lower.

 

This.


I've had the rear end and the shocks out multiple times. I can close my eyes and describe how to do it. Just be careful you don't get a follow up call asking for more money. It may look like a fairly straight forward job but there are so many ways it can go south. The shock mount bolt/nuts have been a problem every time. I think I've replaced almost all of them..

 

Yes $250.00 is a good deal. I replaced mine and although it was a real pain in the ***, I'm glad I did my own work. I know the job was done right.
Dave

 

So what's the best way to do it?

 

If doing at home, drop entire subframe and pull out back. gives you a chance to work on, inspect and fix anything there. To get it to this point you need to remove 4 bolts on each shock tower mount, the A-frame front mounts 2x19mm and 17mm, the 19mm A-frame bolt, the exhaust hangers above the diff and two of the K-bar mounts.

 

This video might help you

 

About the same price I charge for rear shocks labor on an X300/X308. If it is the first time all those bolts have been turned on an east coast car, it can be a bear, so $250 is very fair

 

Remove and support the calipers
Remove the lower A- frame
Remove the lower shock bolt (sometimes rusted in place)
Remove the upper shock tower bolts
Pry the lower control arms downward and you can remove the shocks & springs as a unit

 

That's a hilarious question, I'm probably the only jag they've ever seen; for most repairs I take my cars to the chop shops of nyc, I find their ingenuity better than official places, prices are much better and nobody thinks twice about bringing customers under the car to discuss issues (which adds to the value = free education)

The front suspension overhaul (shocks, upper+lower ball joints, tie rods, etc.) was $450 (using my parts from rock auto) and that seemed sky high for chop shop standards, is that considered a good deal for labor?

 

I would say yes. As long as they do good work you have a source that's saving a lot of money

 

I paid my Indy (Abacus Racing) $250 and provided the newBilsteins and some of the upper mounts. They had to use an 8ft breaker bar to get some of the bolts loose. And then supply some extra new mount hardware. A shockingly difficult effort -- way too hard for a 70 DIYer. Money well spent.

While they were doing the rears, I asked the techs to change the differential fluid, grease the Zerk fitting on the half shafts and change the fuel filter and inspect everything. Total bill was less than $350 for close to four hours of labor (most in getting old shocks off).

On the other hand, took about an hour and a half to replace the front shock myself.

 

And so it totally did! THANK YOU!!!

Got a better quote for $140 from a mech I've used prior and did good work but the guy was leaving for a week's vacation and couldn't do the job until returning, so now inspired, I kept looking for a mechanic available at that price.

Went to place that quoted me 3+ hours of work at $90/hr and could take up to 5 hours, when I offered to show the YouTube he said "no offense, but we've been doing this 30 years and we know what to do" - I walked out and went to the next shop 1/4 mile down the same street.

This guy opened the shop at age 18, he's now 54, his 2 mechanics have both been there 15+ years, and he was humble enough to watch the entire video with me and then do the job using that technique for $140 flat rate, taking about 75 minutes per side (mostly due to rusted on bolts.) He removed the entire coil from the car (unlike the video).

 

This is great info, I'll be doing the rear shocks soon.

 

If you're a mechanic is anywhere around the New York City metro area let me know who they are cuz I'll be there Monday to have my Bilstein shocks put in my 2001 Jaguar XJ8 at that labor cost. Not all shops want people buying the parts so that's a bonus that they even allow that. The rear bilsteins go from about $100 on RockAuto to about $140 on most other sites. I don't have a problem with labor when people do work, but I hate when you know the cost on parts and they get a little carried away. It's like paying $60 for of wine at a restaurant that you you have at your house that only paid $30 for.

 

Yeah...for sure...the "standard procedure" of marking up the parts has
often caused me to do the work myself. When asked why they do it,
i get back the reply..."we have to charge something for our time in
locating, researching part quality, and guaranteeing that part does
not fail within our warranty period, as well as actually acquiring the
parts needed."