Average rate of labour to change struts and shocks?

[m4gician]

Hey guys,

I wanted to pick up new struts, shocks and springs for my car (grrr....potholes --- they're also due for replacement), and was wondering how long it should take to do the following:

1) remove current suspension (no spring compression required)
2) compress new springs onto new struts and shocks
3) replace

If you guys can give me a good idea of how many labour hours this takes, I can know what to say to my mechanic and make sure he doesn't try and low ball me a little.

Thanks in advanced RFD~

[PriceMatchIT]

is it better to bring your own parts or buy from the garage?

[m4gician]

is it better to bring your own parts or buy from the garage?

Most of the time yes.

For small things like oil filters, probably not. I'm getting GREAT brand name parts at near cost from wholesalers vs. Mark-ed up to **** parts from a garage.

Anyways, how much time does this take? 1hour? 1.5 hours? 2 at most?

[tdott]

What kind of car is it?

All cars are different.

I think most cars have a book rate of around 1h per corner. If your changing all 4, the book rate is around 4hrs. The book rate is what dealers would charge, it doesn't actually take that long if the machanic is good.

I'd say around $200 for all 4 corners is reasonable, assuming it is a mc pearson strut n not some multi-link crap audi uses.

[virgoan]

Most of the time yes.

For small things like oil filters, probably not. I'm getting GREAT brand name parts at near cost from wholesalers vs. Mark-ed up to **** parts from a garage.

Anyways, how much time does this take? 1hour? 1.5 hours? 2 at most?

Wow...do you mind sharing this deal? I am looking for Struts and springs too...

[skidz88]

$200 is a good going rate. $50/corner.

Just remember, you will need an alignment afterwards so add anywhere from $60-100 depending on the car.

[m4gician]

$200 is a good going rate. $50/corner.

Just remember, you will need an alignment afterwards so add anywhere from $60-100 depending on the car.

Bloody hell, I may as well get him to compress the spring onto the shock for me for $50 and do it myself...


So that's roughly $50/corner + alignment (most likely 4 wheel). Heh, well good to know, I'm going to spend around $250 - $300 on labour. Thanks for that!

[tdott]

Bloody hell, I may as well get him to compress the spring onto the shock for me for $50 and do it myself...


So that's roughly $50/corner + alignment (most likely 4 wheel). Heh, well good to know, I'm going to spend around $250 - $300 on labour. Thanks for that!


Or rent a spring compressor and do it yourself. Obviously it's going to be cheaper doing it yourself? $200 is not alot of money for someone who doens't know how to, doesn't have the time, or doesn't have the tools.

[m4gician]

Or rent a spring compressor and do it yourself. Obviously it's going to be cheaper doing it yourself? $200 is not alot of money for someone who doens't know how to, doesn't have the time, or doesn't have the tools.

Thanks for that. I can definitely do it myself, I just thought it wasn't worth the trouble. I may change my mind later as I pick up the struts and shocks, but we'll see.

[rupert]

Please don't try to compress springs yourself if you value your limbs.

I do just about everything on my car myself except for the springs. I have seen way too many 'mishaps.'

[BobyYoo]

Please don't try to compress springs yourself if you value your limbs.

I do just about everything on my car myself except for the springs. I have seen way too many 'mishaps.'

+1

if you're not too much a mechanic, don t do it yourself.

Especially when you rent a compressor, you dont know how reliable it is.

i heard story of the compressor breaking, and the spring will bounce back and forward to you. You could injure yourself big time.

[Pete_Coach]

OP, I do not know your level of mechanical ability nor what tools you have available to you but, I am in agreement with the above two posters and would suggest strongly you do not do this in your driveway.
It is not just the removal of the strut from the strut tower, but disassembly of your brakes, of your suspension parts and, the need for the special tools so you don't damage your ball joints or tie rod ends. Let alone the fact that you will be hammering, pulling, prying and pushing while on small jacks. Then, you need to use a spring compressor and have a good solid bench to be able to clamp down the strut assembly to remove it. Also, if you come across an insurmountably problem in the middle of this job, you have, for lack of a better term, a chunk of concrete in your driveway.
And in the end you have to put it all back together again, good enough so you can go down the road at highway (or higher) speeds.
Please, think about this. A wise man is one who knows his limitations and lets those who know do the job. No disrespect is intended and please don't take it that way, just some experience speaking. :)

[alex_d10]

I know that my mechanic will do it on my car for $150. But I don't know if this is his rate for everyone lol. His name is Chi, a lot of guys on here can vouch for him

And I would not recommend you do this yourself, no matter how easy it looks.

[gamer123]

I know that my mechanic will do it on my car for $150. But I don't know if this is his rate for everyone lol. His name is Chi, a lot of guys on here can vouch for him

And I would not recommend you do this yourself, no matter how easy it looks.

yea chi from 360 auto, hwy7/mccowan, he quoted me 120 for just strut swap so 150 sounds about right with installing the springs

as for doing it yourself, you just gotta have the right tools and know what you are doing

[DrXenon]

I replaced all the struts in a '97 Camry myself using the preassembled Monroe Quik-Strut product. It's eminently do-it-yourselfable, and there's no spring compressing involved.