Labor charges

[qship96]

What is a fair amount of labor charges to replace rack boots and also press in/out new tension rod bushings? One hour for each job? Two? Obviously the 4 wheel alignment will be a separate, additional charge when the boots/bushings are complete.

[Q451990]

I think so, assuming the shop has a press and the appropriate size drift to press the tension rod busings in and out.

Heath

[qship96]

My shop wants 2 hours labor to do the tension rod bushings, and 1 hour labor to change rack boots!

I ordered tension rod bushings from I.O.S Tuesday afternoon, they were in stock at $25/each.......it is now Thursday evening and they have not yet left IOS......ugh......wish they had a little better sense of urgency!!!!

[seldomseen]

What's the labor rate? Call around to get an idea of how long this job should take an experienced certified mechanic to perform.

[Trumpkin]

My shop wants 2 hours labor to do the tension rod bushings, and 1 hour labor to change rack boots!

Are you complaining? I thought you liked these guys? From what you said about them they seem good. 3 hours seems ok. Keep in mind you are providing the parts. That cuts his profit margin on a job. Most shops won't do that. Kind of like taking your steak to Texas Roadhouse. No offense.Lets face it, you are a very informed/ knowledgeable customer!

[Infinitiguy19]

If you can't do it yourself then your at the mercy of the mechanic or technician.

I think 3 hours is about right though. Well maybe 45 min for the tension rods, 1 hour for the rack boots (both sides) and what ever he charges for an alignment because those are set prices not based by hours.
Modified by Paul Wall at 7:21 PM 10/15/2009

[qship96]

No, not complaining....i know the job will be performed correctly and the car will be in excellent hands, just wondering on the time involved to r/r bushings with a press- I kinda thought each side could be done in 30 minutes, but I am no expert!

[Trumpkin]

No, not complaining....i know the job will be performed correctly and the car will be in excellent hands, just wondering on the time involved to r/r bushings with a press- I kinda thought each side could be done in 30 minutes, but I am no expert!

A simple solution would be to look in the labor guide. That is probably where he got his numbers.From what you said before this guy is worth every penny! Good shops are scarce! Let us know how things go.

[Q451990]

Keep in mind you are providing the parts. That cuts his profit margin on a job.

Ding ding... we have a winner! It sounds like they're padding the labor a bit to make up the lost parts profit... I guess a more up front way of doing this would be to have a "we supply parts" labor rate, and a "bring your own parts" labor rate - but the confusion with the average customer might be even worse that way.

Heath

[Q45tech]

T3 has a number of signs expalining the different labor rates around the public areas.

Most people forget that their vehicle is taking up space the moment they drive on the property and the time spent talking to service writer and the set up time and time spent securing parts, etc. Every moment must be paid for.

Amazing how we pay $100 for 10-15 minutes of a physicans time. Yet their cars are more valuable [raw resell value] of chemicals.

[NightRiderQ45]

I ordered tension rod bushings from I.O.S Tuesday afternoon, they were in stock at $25/each.......it is now Thursday evening and they have not yet left IOS......ugh......wish they had a little better sense of urgency!!!!

This isn't new with IOS! I've had this experience since I've first used them...hopefully you will receive the correct part the 1st time around!

[qship96]

Got the tension rod bushings, rack boots and Redline 0w-30/Pure One filter installed today.....total labor charges were 1.8 hours ....$135 out the door with my supplied parts/oil- I am a happy camper.Bushings pressed in/out like butter on the 60,000lb press.

The factory installed original tension rod bushings lasted 135,000 miles- this second set of Tension rod bushings had 100k on them and drivers side had just started dripping silicone fluid.......

Now must get alignment checked/set this weekend and we should be ready for winter!!!

[lino]

Well done . Sounds like you had a great day. Will you get a printout of your before and after specs of your alignment? If yes, I'd love to see them.