guestimate for work done by a shop for suspension work

Hoffman912 · Hoffman912's Garage

I should be getting my motor back in a week.. im really anticipating it, but id like to also get the suspension set up so it handles well too.

Just wondering, how much should one expect to pay to have a shop replace the rear bushings, rear wheel bearings, front sway bar and lower and align? this is assuming, neatrix bushings, and a car that doesnt have a sway bar or bracket, with a paris-dakar ride height.

i have some cash left over after paying off the engine builder, but just wondering how much i should really have on hand for the job. i know it really depends on the shop, but thats why im just looking for some kind of realistic guestimate, so i have some kind of expectation.

thanks!

Harry

Hoffman912 · Hoffman912's Garage

anyone? bueller.. bueller...

juanbenae · juanbenae's Garage

the shop(s) i talked to before i ended up doing mine myself all shuttered at giving a defined price. there are a lot a variables and things that can seem easy, but go terribly wrong. example; when i did mine one ball joint took five minutes to remove from the A-arm. the second took two hours, a pipe wrench, 1/2 a can of propane and three people before it let go. i have heard the strut to ball joint pin can be a *****, although i got those pretty easy.

its under the car and nuts and fateners freeze on tight, getting the rear bushings off is a mess. many shpos will "suggest" you get new adjustable spring plates so they do not have to remove the old rubber. just too much that can go wrong to not have a person knowledgable in these cars doing the work, and those sorts cost.

good luck, and i consider doing it yourself. take your time, reasearch stuff here and make a run at it.

Moses · 04-17-2005, 08:18 PM

2 3/4

juanbenae · juanbenae's Garage

i will name that tune in 2 1/2.

Hoffman912 · Hoffman912's Garage

thanks. i dont have the room to do it myself is the problem.

IROC · IROC's Garage

This type of work on older cars can be very labor intensive, so shops shy away from giving you a firm quote. About 12 years ago I tried to find a local shop to install some rear torsion bars on my then 17 year old car and they all essentially "no quoted" it. One shop said they did torsion bars on the rear of an SC and said "never again".

Good luck.

Mike