How long for a mechanic to install front 5100's?

I just dropped my truck off to get stuff installed including 5100's. He said 2 front struts will be about 2 hours to install. Is that accurate?? I would have figured an hour tops for both! But what do I know!

I hate bringing vehicles into garages because I always feel like I am being ripped off.

 

I would say an hour tops. In fact I think that job only pays for 1 hour for mechanics. He probably said two because they have other stuff going on and to cover his back.

 

As long as he doesn't charge me that extra hour for covering his back lol

 

I could see it taking even longer than that depending on how corroded things are and you don't want them going at your struts with a torch. The nuts on the top of my struts barely look like nuts anymore and I couldn't budge them with a wrench and pipe extension so rather than take a chance at breaking something my 5100's get installed tomorrow along with getting the rear springs redone. Sometimes its just better to let someone else do it.

 

Actual time should be less than an hour. 2hrs book time sounds about right. That's how mechanics make money. Unfortunatly, it's how its done. I did my front and rear 5100s in alittle under 1.5hrs

 

Ok, we'll see what happens.

This truck is pretty much rust-free. So it shouldn't be that difficult.

I believe this truck lived in Labrador for awhile because, oddly enough, they don't use salt on the roads there and there is little salt in the air from salt water.

Anywho, I hope to post pics of the results later!

 

I think if he charged 120-140, it'd be fair

 

Well, I am guessing that he gave you a price before you cut him loose.

 

does he have to remove the spring if so book time on front sturts
is 1.7 hours pl the alignment

 

If the price is reasonable, I'd rather have a mechanic take his time to do any job right.

 

Like I said, I don't know. Maybe 2 hours is reasonable...thats why I asked here lol

I know my brother lowered his car in his driveway in an afternoon. Different vehicle yes but I figure it would be the same principle.

 

^^^^ This is your answer. But since your a bit north of us, it may range, they should be charging you around 1.5-2.0 hours labor.

 

it took me about 3 hours to get them off and on myself, i brought the coil assembly to a mechanic to swap out the shocks, that took him 10 minutes. 2 hours seems fair

 

My "book" at work says 1.6hrs to do one side and 1.7 for both.......

Remember his "time" includes paper work, going to the lot and getting the car, putting the car on the lift, doing the work, taking the car off the lift, finishing the paper work and spending 15 mins w/the customer on delivery. It all adds up and adds up quickly.

On top of that here in CA the BAR has a new law..... We have to measure and record the tire pressures of every car that comes into the shop and then adjust the pressure and record the final number when the car leaves. If the BAR thinks this is going to be free they need to remember that we don't do this for fun, we do it for money. The fun part is just a bonus.

 

^^^ I hate when labor guides do that. 1.7 for both is about right on but to only get 0.1 of an hour for the other side is rediculous haha . Guess they're figuring that you'd do both sides anyway

 

I just called for an update and they figure 7-8 hours to get the front struts in and rear airbags installed. He said there is drilling required for the no-drill kit.

I wish now I had tried the airbags myself...

 

You never said anything about airbags before

 

It took me and a buddy an hour to do my coilovers. If they have to put the springs on i'd say 2 hours sounds about right

 

I know...I had asked what the time was to get struts installed. Thats all I wanted to know really.

As for the airbags, it seems that many mechanics I have talked to have not installed them before (at least around here) so its a learning process for them too. I can understand that taking somewhat longer than expected.

Anywho, 1-2 hours seems to be the norm on struts.