Four Hours Labor To Install Springs And Shocks?
Did I Get Screwed By My Long Time Mechanic. (i Think He's Having Difficulty Making Enough Money To Fund His 911 Race Habit.)

 

Some places I inquired at quoted around $125 labor for a pair on 1 axle. I think that is a moderatly cheap quote. That sounds like about 2 hours worth, although I think they can realistically do a pair in 1 hour or less. I only inquired about 1 pair because that's all I need for my other car. Maybe I'm wrong, but I assume that if you wanted all 4 done (both axles) that would be $125 X 2 or roughly 4 hours worth of labor??? Not sure.

But what is the total labor price you got charged?

 

WTF!?...it took me 2.75hrs to do all 4 corners of my car...and i didn't even have my lift available...

 

Call some other places around town. Ask them for a ball-park estimate on cost and length of time for the install.

 

Remember that garages do not base their labor hours on the real-world time it takes to do the labor. The "blue book" also allows for other variables such as set up time, clean up, administartion, and so forth. To bill according to the time only spent touching the car doesn't allow any profit margin to make sure the garage remains in existence. This is why I paid $50 for a set of manual spring compressors and spent the time doing the springs and swaybars myself. The cool thing I am discovering about the RX-8 is that it is a very easy car to work on. Nothing exotic or difficult in its design and I have yet to use a service manual, even for the flywheel swap.

CRH

 

^^so true...

the only PITA is the electronics...

 

WTF!?...it took me 2.75hrs to do all 4 corners of my car...and i didn't even have my lift available...
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i thought i heard some guys were doing it in thier garages in less time.

this kind of confirms what i have thought about my hungry mechanic...
thanks for the input...
rudy
(i kind of screwed up the quotes on this reply...time to read the rx8 club instruction manual!)

ps i love the mazdaspeed spring and shock setup!!!

 

It took two of us 4 hours also... :o

 

And don't forget if he is a legit shop he as overhead, insurance, workers comp, rent, electric, tools, etc..............and that habit you talked about

 

i know...and i really like the guy. he is a good mechanic but pushes the limits..
there are not many people i know in this area that i can go to for performance work,
i guess if you gonna play you gonna pay.
i have not even installed the turbo yet, but my gearhead friend and patient is going to do the job for free (i think) because he wants to. i would have had him do the suspension too except larry wants to wait for 40 or above temps...and i just couldnt wait...
so i figured i would take it to "my mechanic"...lets just call him "MR OPEN POCKETS" for now.
because, how much could it possibly cost for a spring and shock (oops, i mean DAMPER job?)
about 300 i guess.

i want to have a permanent garage mechanic chained up in my garage. did anyone see Pulp Fiction...the poor guy who lived chained up in the basement of Zed's shop...with the leather cap...what did they call him anyways? the gimp?
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