My car is slated to go into the shop on Thursday morning to have the following done:

Replace all steering components; drag link, inner and outer tie rods, idler arm, couplers, etc.

New shocks and struts. New A-arm bushings.

Swap out the rear LCA's and Panhard.

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I am supplying my own parts for everything but the bushings and shocks and strust. They will be putting in KYB gas shocks/struts.

I was quoted $1017 dollars for labor ($79 an hour), shocks/struts, and bushings. I was told it is a day-and-a-half job.

For some reason, this sounds steep to me. I can imagine 3 hours for shocks and struts, 1 hour for the work on the rear, and maybe another 3 for the steering linkage.

Opinions? Anyone done it? I don't want to get screwed (my car has been in the shop ~3 times since it was new! I've done ALL my own work, including engine swap, etc!).

Thanks!

M

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'89 TA - 5.7 TPI (L05, was originally a 305TPI), T5-WC, 3.08 Posi (Drum)

 

I just got a quote on getting all of my steering components replaced(idler arm, inner&outer tie rod ends,center link and the couplers I think you called it. To total estimate was $500.00. I was thinking the samething as to wether this was high or not so I went to Autozone and all the parts I could get for $200.00 and when I got home I called to see how much it would be to get everything installed and aligned and the quote was $35.00 for alignment and $70.00 for installation which brings it to a total of $305.00. That's alot cheaper but don't kknow if one brand is better than another when it comes to these parts.

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See my Ride:
https://www.thirdgen.org/rides/index...ew&rideid=1324

 

I just found my answer in another post.

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See my Ride:
https://www.thirdgen.org/rides/index...ew&rideid=1324

 

You guys know that some mechanics make money off of the parts they install right? I had a guy pretty much tell me he does not install parts that people bring to him. I asked him why he charged my brother $105 for a center link that I could have got for like $60. He said he buys his parts for the same price I do and basically "sells" the part retail along with the installation and that's what the bill reflects.

I thought this was BS, and my brother doesn't go to him anymore.

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89' Firebird Formula
Black/grey cloth
305 TPI/5 speed/3.45 rear
dual cats/PW,PL/T-tops
K&N, SLP TB booster,
SLP exhaust, Jet chip

 

That guy will have plenty of business though, because it's worth it to most people. It's called capitalism!

Clem

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SCCA TransAm Series Race Mechanic/CrewChief
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1983 Z28 with LG4, 5 speed, and (unfortunately) T-tops
1983 Z28, NO T-tops, (unfortunately) Auto Transmission (hopefully not for long)
http://communities.msn.com/clemsprojects

[This message has been edited by clemsparks (edited November 07, 2001).]