Labor to install shocks and springs? Fix rear brakes?

[ebalita]

I called my mechanic and he wants $300 to install my shocks and springs.He also is charging me $120 to do the rear brakes.

Is that the going rate? I am in the LA/SFV area.

Thanks in advance for your replies.

[biggie]

Sounds high, but pretty normal. For the most part a mechanic is gonna be around $75 per hour.

Should be able to find a local 240 guy to do the work for much lower price. Would suggest posting in the regional section about it.

[Eikon]

If it were me.. I'd do most of the work myself.

I've never installed springs on shocks before... makes me a little nervous because i've heard stories... I'd pay a shop to tighten those puppies down for me, then I'd take it home and finish all the rest of the work myself. Taking off and putting on shocks is a very simple process.

brakes are also very easy.

[biggie]

If it were me.. I'd do most of the work myself.

I've never installed springs on shocks before... makes me a little nervous because i've heard stories... I'd pay a shop to tighten those puppies down for me, then I'd take it home and finish all the rest of the work myself. Taking off and putting on shocks is a very simple process.

Renting a spring compressor makes it very easy, just a little time consuming without a lot of air power.

[-RJ-]

just goto autozone and rent a spring compressor, its like 20 dollars.

installing springs is easy as long as you dont rush

if the spring is still on the strut

1. Compress the spring with the compressor2. Unbolt the middle nut on the top part of the strut. when you twist it off it might pop so dont stand infront of it... if anything it will just scare you3. uncompress the spring4. compress the new spring5. repeat that process of taking of the spring but backwardsshould look like that

someone correct me if im wrong, i did this a long time ago

rear brakes isnt hard at all, but you dont compress the caliper like you would in the front. again goto autozone and tell them you need the tool to compress the rear caliper. it looks like a square you put on a socket wrench

good luck with it, IMO id rather spend that 400 plus dollars on something better like food for 3 months

[nissan_star]

He also is charging me $120 to do the rear brakes.

what exactly is he doing on the rear brakes? does that include the parts?

[bourngooy88]

just goto autozone and rent a spring compressor, its like 20 dollars.

installing springs is easy as long as you dont rush

if the spring is still on the strut

1. Compress the spring with the compressor2. Unbolt the middle nut on the top part of the strut. when you twist it off it might pop so dont stand infront of it... if anything it will just scare you3. uncompress the spring4. compress the new spring5. repeat that process of taking of the spring but backwardsshould look like that

someone correct me if im wrong, i did this a long time ago

rear brakes isnt hard at all, but you dont compress the caliper like you would in the front. again goto autozone and tell them you need the tool to compress the rear caliper. it looks like a square you put on a socket wrench

good luck with it, IMO id rather spend that 400 plus dollars on something better like food for 3 months

exactly what i was going to say. basically they just take collateral for a spring compressor. did it to my friends celica once. made it super easy

[Loki]

Can you expand on the rear brake compressor? My rears have been chirping every now and then and I'd like to know for future reference in case I want to change em.

[ishkabibble]

You need to use this or a needle nose pliers to spin the rear piston back in to the caliper.

[ebalita]

my pads are worn. I will ask him if it includes parts... at $120 should it include parts?

what exactly is he doing on the rear brakes? does that include the parts?

[Eikon]

$120 better include parts.

Replacing rear pads should be about 1/2 hour worth of work for a good mechanic. But of course they are going to charge you book time which is likely to be at least an hour.

Pads should only cost about $30 at most.

[nissan_star]

my pads are worn. I will ask him if it includes parts... at $120 should it include parts?

i just did my rear brakes, not very difficult to say the least. i was going to buy new calipers but i talked to a guy at autozone and i decided to just do a refresh of one of the calipers, my pad was worn crok'ed. i replaced one rotor, the 4 back pads, 2 caliper pins, and the 4 pad retainers for $80. +disc brake quite and brake cleaner since i had none, but a mech. should. the only thing i had trouble with was the e-brake cable, which was the reason for my brake problem in the first place.

here, read this zerothread/248077

[-RJ-]

You need to use this or a needle nose pliers to spin the rear piston back in to the caliper.

yea thats the piece, if you look in the middle of the caliper you will see a circle with i think 4 holes in each corner... cant remember but its obvious of what that piece is for.

dude changing brakes isnt hard to do, once you take out, its all common sense from there. you will look at it and say, "Dam, that was easy! Why did i want to go to a mechanic to get it done and spend more money. Gosh -RJ- is the greatest

[nissan_star]

dude changing brakes isnt hard to do, once you take out, its all common sense from there. you will look at it and say, "Dam, that was easy! Why did i want to go to a mechanic to get it done and spend more money. Gosh -RJ- is the greatest

correct amundo, and you might not need the peice either. i just used a needle-nose pliers and it worked just fine. try the needle-nose first and if that doesnt work then go get the caliper spinner from autozone or w/e. no need to spend money on something you might not need.

yea thats the piece, if you look in the middle of the caliper you will see a circle with i think 4 holes in each corner... cant remember but its obvious of what that piece is for.

dude changing brakes isnt hard to do, once you take out, its all common sense from there. you will look at it and say, "Dam, that was easy! Why did i want to go to a mechanic to get it done and spend more money. Gosh -RJ- is the greatest

Good luck

[-RJ-]

correct amundo, and you might not need the peice either. i just used a needle-nose pliers and it worked just fine. try the needle-nose first and if that doesnt work then go get the caliper spinner from autozone or w/e. no need to spend money on something you might not need. Good luck

i found it easier to use a 17mm open wrench to twist it

[94_240sx]

just goto autozone and rent a spring compressor, its like 20 dollars.

Don't they give your $20 back when you return it?

[-RJ-]

yeah, as long as its not broken

[KA27DB]

I called my mechanic and he wants $300 to install my shocks and springs.He also is charging me $120 to do the rear brakes.

Is that the going rate? I am in the LA/SFV area.

Thanks in advance for your replies.

hHey, I'm in LA. what'd you end up doing about your shocks and springs?