Need an Answer ASAP!!!!

[turboputz]

Hey guys,

I just got an estimate of $588 for all parts and labor to replace the front wheel bearings on both sides.

Does this sound like a reasonable price? At least in the ball park?

These are DC prices granted, so their rate is $79 an hour to start.
I just want to know that I'm not getting totally ripped.

Any knowledge on this will be appreciated. I'm going to call my old garage across town and get their estimate too. But then this place would charge me $87 just for scanning the thing.

 

[Dinzdale40]

thats pretty high...even if they go slow and granted alot of shops do...4 hours labor at $80/hr is only $320...and 2 wheel bearings shouldn't cost that much in parts....i'd say thats at least a $200 high...if not $300 too high...

 

[turboputz]

Thanks for jumping in.

I spoke with my old shop, who I trust.
They said $575. Chris said it's very labor intensive because you have to take apart the caliper, press the bearings out and press the new ones in. They have a computer that tells you how many hours it should take and you were right, 4 hours, 2 per wheel. What is really annoying is that most places just go by what the computer says. I bet the garage I'm using has the same system.
Then even if they did it in less time, or could have done it in less time they still charge you for the all the time. I'm pretty sure that's how it goes down.

I don't think it's $300 over, but my initial gut feeling and now after looking at some part prices is that it's about $150 over. Sadly that is just the BS Washington DC premium you pay for living in a city with a lot of rich people who can afford to get ripped off and don't have the time or care to keep garages honest. Also have to factor in that the real estate a garage sits on is worth a lot too therefore higher property taxes. Which means that relaistically they have to charge more to make the same money as somewhere else.

I know I could have got this done for under $450 up in rural Mass, maybe even $400. But then I would probably be building houses working for my dad's business and I chose another route.

 

[BlkCurrantKord]

If you have your own tools you could do it yourself. All shops have a basic rundown on how long it should take to do certain jobs.

Legendarry did his own last summer.

 

[SmrPants44]

Web site RepairPal provides independent repair estimates to help you decide if your mechanic is ripping you off. Just take your mechanic's quote and compare it to RepairPal's encyclopedia of repair estimates by specific make and model—RepairPal will even factor in your location and provide you with a breakdown of parts and labor estimates. The site also offers a review tool for finding trusted mechanics in your area, offers advice for common problems with your make and model, and can track all of your car's service and repair information.

http://repairpal.com/

they posted it up on consumerist a couple days ago, i just did a search an an 00 accord with 100k miles, looks like the repair should be between 549 and 799 (in oklahoma).



Parts: $310 - $494

* 2 Wheel Bearing Hub Assemblies

Labor: $239 - $305

 

[CHID0]

Not sure how much the front ones cost but i did my rear wheel bearings myself a few years ago and parts cost me 69 bux per wheel from hondaautomotive.com and free labor of course i just rented the tools needed from Advance Auto....

 

[JMillerUA6]

Turboputz, I had ONE of my front wheel bearings done at my moms dealership and it took 45 min to disassemble, press the old one out, press the new one in, and reassemble. I know because I was right there with the tech watching him.

The Bearing it's self runs about $50. So $100 parts, and we'll say two hours labor just to be safe, it shouldn't run you more than $260, $300 at the most for both sides.

 

[CHID0]

When you buy the hub assemblies theres no need to press anything cause the bearing is already in the hub with wheel studs too so it should only take 30 mins per wheel and thats for a person with intermediate skills.

 

[turboputz]

http://repairpal.com/

they posted it up on consumerist a couple days ago, i just did a search an an 00 accord with 100k miles, looks like the repair should be between 549 and 799 (in oklahoma).



Parts: $310 - $494

* 2 Wheel Bearing Hub Assemblies

Labor: $239 - $305

Thanks very much.
This is a useful site.

This is the result for my 99 w 110k miles in Zip 20007:

Parts: $310 - $494

2 Wheel Bearing Hub Assemblies
Labor: $323 - $413

Resulting in a range of $633-907

Makes me feel like the quote is definitely legit and even though it seems and IS high compared to many of your experiences, I am sure that I'm saving over going to a dealership (a small consolation).

I haven't made the investment in tools yet, and I don't quite have the confidence to work on something as mechanically important as this.
I hope to get more experience doing modifications myself, learn by doing, and slowly invest in some good tools.
I have funds saved for a motor swap (still need more) and I plan to be as involved as possible in that job, working with our local VA garage at home Honda guru. I am deciding between springing for an F20B or H22, or just getting a fresher F23.
Between the engine, the prelude seats I think I'll finally use, and the TL rear sway I want to do I think I'll be able to say I had a lot to do with building my car. I want the pride that comes with doing it yourself.

Thanks to all the replies, all very helpful and appreciated.

 

[Dinzdale40]

seems like your getting 2 diff kinds of estimates....like that last one...your getting 2 whole new hubs with bearings already in it....300+ in parts!?

but then like Jmiller said...you could just get new bearings...have them pressed into your current hubs...which is what i was thinking...$100 in parts max right? +320 for labor...equals like 420+tax...