Rear Diff Cover Replaced

[bud4ya]

Hey guys I was wondering how bad I got taken today. When my car was in the shop they said the rear diff cover was leaking as there was a hole alomost rusted through the cover. So the told me $200 to replace. I was not sure if that was a good price or not so I said do it. They replaced the cover and gasket. They said when they pull the diff cover off they have to replace all the diff fluid. So they replaced the diff cover, gasket and said refilled it with new syn fluid and a additive.

So does $200 sound right for the job? If not this will be the last time I use that mechanic. I looked at it when I got it home and it just does not look like a $200 job even at and indy.

thanks

 

[budwich]

$30 for a cover, $10 for gasket, $20 for oil, $10 additive, 15 bolts to undo and retighten, $80 labor (1 hour)... clean hands priceless, thinner wallet well... I guess that's the reason for the post. Maybe clean hands aren't worth $80 but some people have "fought" with the "fill plug" and "lost" so maybe it ain't too bad.... me I am a "fighter".

 

[bud4ya]

Thanks for the reply. I figured $200 was to much. It not so much getting the hands dirty it is the time. Never enough of it working 60 houres a week and doing sports with the kids on the weekends. Last time I will use him. I figured he had way over charged. I thought it would take about an hour to do I did not realize the parts were so cheap.

Thanks for the info.

$30 for a cover, $10 for gasket, $20 for oil, $10 additive, 15 bolts to undo and retighten, $80 labor (1 hour)... clean hands priceless, thinner wallet well... I guess that's the reason for the post. Maybe clean hands aren't worth $80 but some people have "fought" with the "fill plug" and "lost" so maybe it ain't too bad.... me I am a "fighter".

 

[JIGAWHAAT]

me I am a "fighter".

Unfortunately so am I

 

[corkey]

if the cover is off there should be no fight with the fill plug,, you can heat it up with a torch a bit and not worry about the pressure,,
or you can drill it out,, if it breaks,,

some of us don't fight fair, that is why we have the forum, ,

 

[Dan Whitaker]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought the covers on 2nd gen Explorers were a composite plastic.

 

[aldive]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought the covers on 2nd gen Explorers were a composite plastic.

Mine isn't.

 

[CDW6212R]

Steel is normal, I haven't seen a plastic one yet.

 

[EMG7895]

replacement cover from the dealer is ~$75 so that doesnt sound too far out of line with the average shop rate.

 

[CDW6212R]

If you like buying new parts which should never need to be replaced. I'll stick to the more appropriate cost parts, that should be a $10 item used.

 

[Turdle]

On the other hand-
A repair shop may not want to use a used part which is all rusty. I could see that.
Not to mention he'd have to pay a guy to go pull the part.

 

[CDW6212R]

A shop does have to charge something like that. The trick is to know when to let them do it because it's your best choice. Most of us have the tools and minor skills needed to fix that kind of thing ourselves. If that cover was usable for any short period of time, taking it away from the shop is the best answer. It depends on the owner's skill and local parts sources. Regards,

 

[wyochimneysweep]

i spent 40 dollars on synthic lube for the rear end and 7 dollars for additive and why would a shop waste time calling for a used cover. i'd say 30-50 dollars for a decend aftermarket cover and hour to hour and half if they spent a little time cleaning and inspected the gears to insure there wasn't anymore problems. 200 sounds good if you don't know how or time to do it

 

[GRNMACHINE]

Old thread but that doesnt seem that out of line. Ford synthetic 75w140 is $21 dollars a pint at the dealer. My manual says 5.5 pints needed. Thats 6 bottles at $21 each, plus cost of cover, gasket, and labor. I am going to get Royal Purple today to do mine but the way I see it I am looking at over $100 just in fluid. I am not sure where you are going to find synthetic fluid for "$20" but I would like to find it. Even the generic 4x4 Gear Oil was $4 a bottle at Auto Zone. The LS additive from Ford was $4. Anyway, thanks to CDW Don for telling me Ford changed their recommendation of 80w90 in the manual to 75w140 synthetic for the rear. Almost put in 75w90 today. Making a note of it in my owners manual although I dont see myself replacing it again for awhile. This was also already brought up in a diff thread but Ford manual also says the diff fluid should not be changed til 100k, oh sure.... I think they should have sent a correction mailer like they did for airbag safety. I usually follow my manual pretty close.

 

[CDW6212R]

The longer 100k schedule was part of Ford changing to the thicker gear oil, and requiring synthetic. It should take 3 quarts bought to fill the rear (stock cover). The Ford gear oil is high, it's likely very good like Mobil 1 etc, but the Amsoil and Royal Purple are a little better.

The Amsoil is $9-11 per quart at the good member price.

 

[Fox Fader]

I wish you lived closer by. In the past month I've done 5 Jeep diffs. I could always charge you a little more, J/P

It's all relevant, if you feel ok with the price, it dosen't matter.

 

[GRNMACHINE]

The longer 100k schedule was part of Ford changing to the thicker gear oil, and requiring synthetic. It should take 3 quarts bought to fill the rear (stock cover). The Ford gear oil is high, it's likely very good like Mobil 1 etc, but the Amsoil and Royal Purple are a little better.

The Amsoil is $9-11 per quart at the good member price.

Don, where do I get the Amsoil at $9-11 a quart?? Purchased Royal Purple today at Peppie Boys @ $18 a quart--OUCH! Am I a Good Member?

 

[CDW6212R]

Amsoil is a direct marketing company, they sell through dealers. So a $10 for six month fee gets preferred pricing and a dealer to buy from. You deal straight with Amsoil, they just assign dealers to any customers/members. The dealers pay about twice that for their deal, and get slightly better pricing.

Their shipping is generally as quick as any for normal items. You can call them and register/pay/order on the same day, and get something a few days later. I have only seen the preferred pricing, which comes up on the site after you have registered etc.

Being a direct marketing company, they have some odd product sizes, so select the "quantities" carefully. There are some savings with larger containers, but not everything works that way.

Here's a link to the retail page for gear oil, ATF, and motor oils.

https://www.amsoil.com/a/synthetic-gear-oil
https://www.amsoil.com/a/synthetic-transmission-fluid
https://www.amsoil.com/a/synthetic-motor-oil-engine-oil

 

[GRNMACHINE]

Thanks Don, received my info from Amsoil/catalog etc. Much Appreciated. With the good member pricing, some of their oils are much cheaper than Mobil 1/RP etc.