Did I get screwed out of 1,250.88

[Derekjeterkid2]

I own a 1994 explorer, I had my ex fixed just the other day becuase of bad ball joints etc, the following is what was fixed and the bill

QTY labor Price
Replace front drive axel U-joints:2 1.00 110.00

Upper ball joints 2 77.56 155.12

lower ball joints 2 77.56 155.12

U-joints 2 34.30 68.60

seals 2 13.87 27.74

center drag link 2 106.69 106.69

replace and repack whell bearings, 4, .50 110.00

Wheel Bearings 4 27.24 108.96

Seals 2 8.42 16.84

Alignment 1 35.00 35.00


Labor Rate= 55.00/hr

Did I get Ripped off?

 

[jimbo74]

its sounds like they really nailled you on the labor..... out here, we charge $85 for the labor an hour..... most of that stuff is relatively easy, but i am a mechanic, so what is easy to me, may be hard for someone with less mechanical ability

 

[Byrd91]

I agree, can't really make it out but it looks like they charged you individually for labor on each part, when all the labor really goes together. To get to the balljoints you have to do all the other stuff, but that labor is usually included in the book balljoint rate. Like to do the upper and lower as compared to just one or the other is literally only 5 minutes difference.

 

[zavetsky]

It's funny you ask this now,...I *just* got my truck back yesterday, similar work....

I paid $220 per side for upper and lower balljoints, and $41 per side for the U-joints to be replaced.....I had already done bearings, seals, etc.....My total was like $550 or so, parts included.....Ouch.

I couldnt tell if "replace ujoints" and "ujoints" were all for the front axle ujoints....If so, they hosed you on THAT aspect IMHO....My ujoints were $21 each x 2 and $20 per side to install....they already have the axle out when they do the balljoints.

The garage I went to (Meineke) said that a lot of shops go by "the book" and use individual R/R rates.....for instance, it may be $140 to do a lower balljoint, and $145 to do an upper........If you want both, they add them together.......He said that he doesnt feel right doing this since if you are doing the lower, all the work is done to get the upper done, except for physically popping it out and pressing back in.....I appreciated his honesty...EVERY garage I called locally wanted $475 + tax (7%) PER SIDE just to do upper and lower balljoints.......My total bill was $550 including tax, plus I got my ujoints in the front replaced too.....I didn;t need an alignment (the could have done one just to do one, but again, he explained how the lowers dont effect alignment TOE, just camber, and mine is already maxed out.......drives fine so far. I am not so happy about spending that kind of $$$$, but its a HELLUVA lot better than the alternatives! Thankg God for credit cards.....

The garage was Meineke in Irwin, PA....I feel like they are very honest and can be trusted...they dont try to pressure you into a sale/repair, that's for sure.

On the downside, the clunks that I had prior to going in are still 90% there......apparantly my radius arm bushings are loose, and they were just done (by ford, with eurethane) 1.5 years ago! But thats another thread.....

I feel your pain dude......I really do......

DZ

 

[Derekjeterkid2]

hmm

well actually they did say that it was a pain in the ass getting out the joints and ball bearings or whatever, they had to heat them with a torch they were so bad. im only 18 and its my money paying for this so i just dont wanna get screwed and trying to learn as I go. since i got the car in august for 6,000 ive had the tranny go $2,000 and now this $1,200 this car has gotta last me at least 10 more years, the good part is its only got 79,000 miles on it. thanks for the replies, and another thing is the clunks are still there just on my drivers side, pretty annoying becuase i do live on a bumpy road. oh well it gets me to where i wanna go thats all that matters right.

 

[zavetsky]

Hey Derek...

...probably your radius arm bushings......I plan on trying to cut my rivets and drop the crossmember,.....taht sems to be the easiest way, once the rivets are out.....Ofcourse, I expect to have a lot of fun doing THAT...<grin>

My tranny went on mine when it had like 70 k or so on it....about 5k after I bought it (used).....and it cost me $3k, WHILE ON VACATION with my family.....

Cars are great when they work.....but when they break, it sux bigtime!

 

[Zukster]

Originally posted by Derekjeterkid2
Did I get Ripped off?

Yes. You could of gotten the work done considerably cheaper.

 

[AlaskanJack]

JimaBena - So what would you say total would be a reasonable estimate to replace all the u-joints on an Ex and fix axle seal?

My wife gets taken by just about every shop she goes to. They see blonde in SUV and bam, and of course she doesn't know what is reasonable.

She was quoted 750 to replace all u-joints and another 350 to replace a seal that is leaking brake fluid into rear axle.

 

[zavetsky]

I paid $150 or so to have one rear axle seal changed......