Shock Replacement Cost?

[tac63]

Hey All,

Just curious replacement costs (labor only) for replacement of all 4 shocks. I have regular suspension, got Bilstein shocks to replace them. Called a few shops and got some labor bids for $800, just seemed much higher than expected. Planned to do it myself but time has caused issues where I'm considering it being done elsewhere.

Thanks

 

[mplaramie]

Hey All,

Just curious replacement costs (labor only) for replacement of all 4 shocks. I have regular suspension, got Bilstein shocks to replace them. Called a few shops and got some labor bids for $800, just seemed much higher than expected. Planned to do it myself but time has caused issues where I'm considering it being done elsewhere.

Thanks

Should be half of that cost to replace the shocks. Shop did my shocks, springs, UCA's and it was only $500.

 

[Cbty2050]

Hey All,

Just curious replacement costs (labor only) for replacement of all 4 shocks. I have regular suspension, got Bilstein shocks to replace them. Called a few shops and got some labor bids for $800, just seemed much higher than expected. Planned to do it myself but time has caused issues where I'm considering it being done elsewhere.

Thanks

Are the fronts assembled or do the springs need to be swapped to the struts? Not sure where you are located and what the labor rate is in your area. Some places are north of $200/hr.

 

[wrxified]

Even if the shop charges legal counsel rates per hour they’re charging too much at $800.

For a skilled home mechanic with a jack it should be maybe 30-45 minutes a corner for the fronts and a total of 30 minutes to do both rears. To be honest you could add maybe another 30 minutes for pulling the car in and gathering tools. 2 1/2 hours top to do this job. For a shop that does suspension work day in and day out it should be way easier. Also the fronts are easier if you remove the upper control arm to get it out of the way so replacing them should be the same cost labor wise as not replacing them.

If they’re charging you $800 and they’re good at what they do then they are crooks. That or they don’t know what they’re doing. Either way I would look elsewhere. A reputable shop can pay for its people and overhead charging $125-$150/hour. Even at that rate they’re probably only paying the tech half that and both should be smiling.

Don’t know why any place would charge $200/hour.

 

[tac63]

Thanks everyone. I was expecting 3-400 or somewhere in the range. The front are not full strut, just the shocks so they have to be compressed and swapped. I am in the Kansas City area, shops that have usually been fair with work, but now 750-850 is the range I keep getting. The fronts are an easy quick swap so I will just take care of them myself. The fronts I was bringing the truck in for some work anyways so figured I would have them done as well, but at those prices I may have to do them myself as well.