Axle seals and rear brake job

[deskjockey]

Hi Guys,

I am having some work done on my 95 xlt Explorer.
AXle seals replaced, rear brake job - rotors, pads,,,
emergency brake being fixed,,
I am paying 811.00 bucks all in,, parts , labor and taxes.

Is this an ok price. I am asking in the interest of learning and
trying to find a good and reasonable mechanic.
I am not looking to present this info to the mechanic, just for my
knowledge

thx guys

 

[JoeMahma]

Hi Guys,

I am having some work done on my 95 xlt Explorer.
AXle seals replaced, rear brake job - rotors, pads,,,
emergency brake being fixed,,
I am paying 811.00 bucks all in,, parts , labor and taxes.

Is this an ok price. I am asking in the interest of learning and
trying to find a good and reasonable mechanic.
I am not looking to present this info to the mechanic, just for my
knowledge

thx guys

My opinion...it looks to me that you being charged well over 100 dollars per hour for labor. I'm figuring at the VERY most he's paying 300 for parts and 5 hours of labor (probably won't take him that long.) That seems awful steep to me.

 

[HahnsB2]

Other than the e-brake problem (since you didn't specify what the problem was) you could do the work yourself for under $200.

 

[wyochimneysweep]

what part of the country are you in?

 

[MountaineerGreen]

I'd do that work for waaayyy less than $800- seems a bit high to me.

 

[deskjockey]

i am in the Northeast, Mass.

347.00 for parts,,, e-brake cable and e-brake kit,,,
is that an ebroake replacement?

i am hoping to get my hands dirty, but i don't have a floor jack yet,, we have a Civic, Odyssey, and the XLT,, need a big honking floor jack, that can also fit under the Civic,,,

need a new radiator, and i am definitely doing that,,
i know this is a question for another thread, but is that a tough
job?

thanks guys

 

[techieman33]

I didn't see bearings mentioned you might as well replace those too since they'll be right there when he does the seals.

 

[96eb96]

Hi Guys,

I am having some work done on my 95 xlt Explorer.
AXle seals replaced, rear brake job - rotors, pads,,,
emergency brake being fixed,,
I am paying 811.00 bucks all in,, parts , labor and taxes.

Is this an ok price. I am asking in the interest of learning and
trying to find a good and reasonable mechanic.
I am not looking to present this info to the mechanic, just for my
knowledge

thx guys

You can use the jack that comes with the truck, then put jackstands under the axle. The truck does not have to be high for this, just clear the tires. DO NOT USE THE JACK ALONE. Maybe use it as a secondary support on the side you are working on.

I asked my friend who owns a shop he said what you need is in the low 700s give or take, including cables. Your price includes tax too, so I guess its around there. Its probably book time labor, but he is not really giving you a benefit of one job shortening the next.

If you take the axles out the ebrake is VERY easy though. The only snag I could see on this job is the axle carrier bolt breaking off, but that is doable.

On a northeast car, there may be lots of labor to restore the ebrake, if it was broken for years it is going to be rusted frozen. My truck was originally from Mass, and the parts were welded with rust. So there is an hour or 2 of labor right there to grind down the rust.

Axle Seals:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=214805

Brake:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=147823

You can look on autozone.com to get the actual service manual too.

The parts seem high too, I think he is charging you full dealer retail. I think you can get all that stuff for $150-$200 if you shop around.

 

[96eb96]

i am in the Northeast, Mass.

347.00 for parts,,, e-brake cable and e-brake kit,,,
is that an ebroake replacement?

i am hoping to get my hands dirty, but i don't have a floor jack yet,, we have a Civic, Odyssey, and the XLT,, need a big honking floor jack, that can also fit under the Civic,,,

need a new radiator, and i am definitely doing that,,
i know this is a question for another thread, but is that a tough
job?

thanks guys

Radiator is very easy, do the thermostat too with a motorcraft unit.