Install time for new shocks

220,000 miles on my 2016 & time for shocks. Bilstien standard replacement shocks. My shop said leave it for 5 hours (all 4). Does that seem right? Thanks.

 

5 hours!
Are they including the Lower Control Arms (LCA) in the time? You will likely have seized LCA bolts which is common to replace the bolts and the LCAs. THEN maybe I can see a 5 hour quote?

Otherwise to remove and replace the shocks takes about 1.5 hours for me in my garage, and I probably do that very quickly compared to most.

 

How much rust?

 

Are they assembling the front shocks? Are you getting a new leaf packs? Are they doing an alignment?
And most importantly did they say 5 hours so they just have enough time to work on it or are they charging 5 hours of labor?

 

Took me about that (5hrs) in the cold of January doing the 6112/5160. 28 degrees F but sunny. In the driveway. pre assembled fronts. Had to use a multi tool to cut off one of the threaded ends of a rear shock that was rusted. The rear reservoirs were a challenge due to the cold and tight spaces to run the mounting bolts.

 

2.5 front
0.9 rear
1.2 alignment

 

They said to plan on 5 hours to leave it- as in don't wait around for it. That could be in the 4hr range. But I did forget the alignment time. I see Bishop84 says 1.2 hours for alignment I didn't know it took that long. Anyway, thanks for all the good responses.

 

In theory you shouldn't need to align. You are not changing the angles. Shocks do not change ride height, but it is good practice to do so. 1.2 hours is a bit generous. I'm guessing it is based on old technology where you would have to attach heads to the wheels and pull strings. Modern machines you drive on the rack and in minutes have the angles measured. The adjustments are only the lca and tie rods. A skilled tech should be able to knock out a toe set in 15 minutes. Thats a lot of cash to pad his time.

 

I think a lot of people could do shocks in under 5 hours, but I don't think the shop is ripping you off if they say 5 hours.

And you should definitely get an alignment if you're doing fronts. In most cases, the LCA bolts need to be loosened to drop the arm enough to fit the coilover in. I was super careful and I still had atleast one of the cams turn. Even with markings on them, I was out of alignment.

 

If you are doing it properly and most shops will, you remove the shock and spring assembly together and then use a spring compressor to remove the spring. You will have plenty of room without loosening the LCA.

 

5 hours is nothing, that's not even a full day. If they're a busy shop they likely have other stuff going that day than just your vehicle.

 

OP, your post eludes to 5 hrs for the truck to be at the shop, but others here have assumed you meant 5 hrs of shop labor ($$$).

Which is it? What are they quoting for install?

For reference, I was previously quoted $450 (So Cal) for installation - I bought shocks Monday afternoon, installed front and rear at home that evening in about an hour and a half with a floor jack and some hand tools.

 

So I work in a shop. The labor time isn't the only factor in how long the repair will take. For our shop, we have to factor in the time for the parts to arrive and the fact that my techs work on several cars on a day. If something gets diagnosed and sold on the car in front of yours, that could cause your repair to take longer. If a bolt breaks, or we get a wrong part, on your car or the one in front of yours, that will delay the repairs. Someone gets sick or injured, that will cause your repair to take longer. There's a ton of things to consider here. Typically we ask people to drop off their cars and we call with updates.

To answer your question though. If they are just doing your rear shocks, that's a pretty long time. If they are doing the front struts and an alignment too, that's a pretty fair estimate. Remember that the Alignment happens in a different bay than the struts. Most shops with an alignment rack have it booked back to back whenever they can. Also remember that Tacoma alignments are not the easiest alignment in the world. Frequently, we get seized tie rod ends, camber bolts, and more. We are in a dry climate with minimal rust issues too!

If you want to be nice to the guys at your shop, make an appointment so they can plan. They will get your parts coming if its a known repair like shocks. Then drop your truck off, tell them when you need it back, and make sure they have your phone #. Then be patient. They want you to pick up your truck as much as you want to have it back.

 

So let me get this straight. You want me to actually plan ahead and make an appointment. THEN I have to be patient, reasonable, and remember that I am not the only customer! On top of that I have to understand that if a bolt breaks or is rusted on my truck during the install it’s not my fault even though I drive through water crossings on the weekends. I don’t know. That’s really pushing it.

 

Completely Mind blowing concept, I know!

 

So..are you expensive than Toyota dealership?

 

Not sure what you are asking here. Are we less expensive than a dealership? Yes, most all repair shops are cheaper than a dealership.

-Dane

 

Do you quote based on alldata or other source of standards or usually call the customer every time you encounter challenges to adjust the price?
In my area, the dealer charged a bit less for the alignment services.

 

Who cares if it’s 1 hour or 5 hours? It doesn't make any difference. Who gets a work estimate and just looks at how long it takes. What matters is what the estimate shows they are going to do, what parts and the cost. Lots of reasons that it make take 5 hours.
OP post a copy of the estimate.

 

This is a good thread. But it is not as simple as it seems. Consider the following, which is my personal perspective.
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^ This is good info above and I'm going to assume that is Flat Rate labor.^ By the proverbial reference book. Dealerships will use the book (software) from Toyota for quoting labor. They are generally required to do so by dealership licensing agreements. Independent shops will use a different reference source such as ProDemand or AllData online. They do so in order to be competitive and quote fairly. A Toyota dealership pretty much only services Camrys and Tacomas, and you get the point. An independent shop may have someone come in with a BMW all wheel drive SUV that is outside their usual diet of Wranglers and F150s. But you get the point.

* One variable or question is whether the labor quote for the front is to replace the strut assemblies as a whole? Either way, the front is just inherently more difficult. As above, this would coincide with the parts quote. Are you getting complete new front struts? Know what you are paying for!

* Another variable, particularly with independent shops, is how they might adjust for synergies? Like this --> you only have to rack the truck once on a lift to change front struts / rear shocks on all 4 corners. Tool usage, tool arrangement, tool cart(s) placement, parts delivery, and that kind of time saving stuff is way more efficient if you do all 4 corners at once. Rather than just fronts. And then maybe 3 or 4 months later realizing you also should have replaced the rears.

* What does that mean? 2.5 hrs plus 0.9 hrs = 3.4 hrs of actual labor time. By the book. The dealership is going to charge you that. At my shop, I might quote you 3.0 hrs of labor to get your business. Especially if I can lay eyes on your truck for a quick visual. On the other hand, I'm definitely protecting myself and being cautious if you are requesting a quote on the phone. Sir, you said your truck has 220k miles on the odometer. Unfortunately, we've never had the privilege of servicing it for you. May I ask when was last time you had it serviced? Like for brakes? Or new tires? I can give you an exact parts quote and a labor estimate, but I cannot guarantee them until I can see your vehicle.

If yours is a New England truck and you bring me a basket case with frame rot and a truck that should have been crushed a long time ago, then we will need to talk. I ALWAYS WANT YOUR BUSINESS. But I retain the right to refuse service to anyone - for safety and profitability reasons.

As stated above, corrosion and prior maintenance or lack thereof can be a big factor. Am I going to need to use acetylene to torch off bolts? Is every bolt / nut already rounded and corroded? Am I going to discover the lower shock mount brackets in the rear left the structural integrity chat 50k miles ago?

If you bring me a cream puff from south Florida, then yeah, that's a discount consideration!
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It all depends. LOL.
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Last but not least, some of these new alignment machines with lasers and 3D scanning technology are crazy insane.

But yes, the alignment rack is separate. And yes, doing an alignment on a 4WD SUV is inherently more difficult than say a RWD Mustang with a solid rear axle.
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BE INFORMED. BE SPECIFIC AS POSSIBLE. GET A DETAILED QUOTE.
ASK QUESTIONS IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.