jim1000

Labor only, guys:

(1) Replace front brake calipers; replace front pads; turn rotors - $90
(2) Replace rear shoes; turn drums - $90
(3) Flush brake fluid - $30
(4) Flush power steering fluid - $30
(5) Replace rear differential fluid - $20
(6) Replace front shocks - $100
(7) Replace rear shocks - $100
(8) Replace three accessory belts (A/C, alternator, and power steering) - $45

Total $505.00, with all parts and fluids being provided by me.

What do you think about the labor quote? Please advise.

mkgarrison5

3 4 and 5 are very easy to do and can easily be done by you.. that will save some loot.. but yeah some of that is a little steep but not too bad. i would (edit)him down to 480 or so.. see if he bites

MSR

for where you are thats great. You also didnt say what model. Labor rates in the bay is around 90 an hour if not higher, is this a brake and f end shop or a full service toyota specialty shop?

Tofer

save the 500 bucks, and post up offering beer and pizza for anyone who is in the neighborhood who wants to help. the only thing you cant do is turn the drums and rotors. i know there are a couple guys in the bay area that are very helpful and are more then willing to lend a hand turning wrenches. everything your doing can be done with decent set of hand tools and a weekend in the driveway.

Tofer

quick search of previous started threads left me with this:

JohnnyRanger54

That is a tish high to me... AT my shop i would only charge you 70.00 for the rear shocks installed and that would be with procomp es3000's.... Its about 10 minutes of work for those... I'm also a Performance shop tho too.. My rates for walk ins are 80 bucks an hour but if its quick and easy like new shocks all the way around ill flat rate it at 5 bucks a corner... Thats that..

Yodaforce

Wow! I need to adjust my prices!

cackalak han

Oh, frig no I wouldn't pay any of that. Caliper, rotor and pads are easy. So are all of the fluid changes. Like someone else said, just offer some food and maybe a little $$ to a local member.

JohnnyRanger54

HOLY POO!! Thats labor only! I just read it again.. Give that Mechanic a crack pipe cause Im 100% sure he's HIGH!!

X-AWDriver

Install on shocks front and rear is reasonable since most charge almost double that.

waskillywabbit

iTrader: (-1)

Looks pretty reasonable to me as my time is money, and if it is not making me money it does not get my time.

However, as for my personal friends, never a need for beer and pizza, although never turned down, as eventally it all evens out. Besides, that is what friends are for, to help unconditionally, otherwise it is business. Never confuse the two.

JohnnyRanger54

I have a shop of my own and if thats labor only that is steep... across the board here in southern oregon youre looking at 65 per hour.... According to All Data all that work can be done in 4.5 hours at 65 and hour thats 260 for labor... Thats ON THE BOOKS ALL DATA.... With parts and supplies close to 500.00.... I guess it also depends on where you live too...

pattycakes77

iTrader: (2)

i did the SS7.1 lift last december and had a friend of mine help me with it. we had the hydrolic lift at the dealership and all his air tools for the job, all parts provided and paid for by me, and i helped out. i know that help from some people would be more of a hindrance, but i've done a lot of my own work and i stayed out of the way when told to. that said, my stock shocks in the rear were rusted like crazy and had to be cut off, front wasn't too bad but still a challenge. after about 7 1/2 hours of working we got it done and he charged me $150, maybe that was more than i should have paid since i helped and he was a friend, but i would have gladly paid some one to do it for $200 like your guy charges. also, make sure the bushings are put on there correct, i have a little "clunk" in the front and i think it is from one or more bushings not put on, which i'll have to do myself in the spring.

pretty much, i could have done this myself but i had never done any suspension work, so i pretty much paid for some help and to observe how it's done so i can do it with confidence myself next time.

Tofer

^^ exact reason i want to open a U-Wrench auto shop.... staffed by master mechanics that help you work on your own rig, all tools provided.

infiltrator

my mechanic quoted me $60 to replace shoes, pads, discs and drums.
also to put new springs in rear, and shocks all around = $100

pattycakes77

iTrader: (2)

that's a great idea! man, i would do so much more of my own work if, some one was there to give me pointers when i can't figure something out, and if i had a place to do it in the winter. weather and space are my two enemies, tools i'm picking up slowly but i'm sure there are plenty of other things that you master techs out there have that would make things go easier than just the basic tools.

i hope you do this and it catches on everywhere!

waskillywabbit

iTrader: (-1)

Creative idea but that would be an INSURANCE NIGHTMARE!!!

Ironmike4x4

It all depends on the location of the business. If you were to go out of a busy city then it might be less. Our shop rate is as follows:
(1) 2.5 hr labor. $225
(2) 1.5 lbr/hr $135
(3) 0.9 lbr/hr $81
(4) 0.9 lbr/hr $81
(5) 0.9 lbr/hr $81
(6) 2.2 lbr/hr $198
(7) 2.0 lbr/hr $180
(8) 0.7 lbr/hr $63
Total $1044
Above is just quoted for a typical Trailblazer just for simplicity sake, not a 4Runner but you would get the idea. Our shop rate is $90. Most of our customers are Cadillac customers and my dealership is actually the cheapest for the dealers in our town. If I quoted you where I used to work then all of the above would be at $45 shop rate hours. Again it's all depending on how busy the dealer is and how big of a city it is. The bigger the city, the more the shop rate. The smaller the city or rural the location then the less it goes down. Where I used to work at another GM dealer was in a really small town where most customers were just local loyals. Needless to say they went out of business.

netwt12

do you know that most ase certified master mechanics earn 75k + per year. and i've never seen one who is interested in babysitting.

the labor quote sounds fair to me. i'd tell you to pound sand with bringing your own parts though.