I posed a question about a clicking noise in the front end of my 200- Wrangler and a member suggested it may be my axle U-joints. I watched how to do that on YouTube and concluded that it is WAY over my ability to do. So I was wondering what a fair price would be for a garage to do it for me.
Price to have axle U-joints replaced
- Thread starter FirstJeep
- Start date
I was quoted 1.5 hours for each side at $85 an hour. It's a good idea to change the wheel bearing/hub assembly at the same time, since it has to be removed and shouldn't be any additional labor charges. I had a mechanic do my XJ because it was below 20 degrees outside.
This seems reasonable. You can also pick up your own Spicer U-Joints to save a little on parts. Plan on $25-30 per joint.
I just did mine and I don't remember removing the hub assy, but maybe that's my onset of dementia showing.
That's exactly what I did. A lot of shops around here won't let you do that because they lose money when they can't double the price of the parts.
You won't save a little on the total doing it that way unless you clear it with the shop ahead of time. If they can't make money on the part, they may work just a tiny bit slower to make up for it. Specify the part, let them make a profit on the part.
The hub assembly has to come out of the knuckle, it doesn't have to be separated from the stub but it is far more difficult to swap out the u-joint that way.
So true. The only mechanic I trust around here, gives me the quote up front and tells me I could probably get the parts cheaper than him. He sticks to his quotes even if it takes him longer than expected. He quoted me $85 labor to replace both motor mounts on my XJ, so I let him do it. Tiny shop with two employees. I tip him often.
p.s. Another shop wanted $115 per side plus their cost for the motor mounts.
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This is true. Whenever I'm calling around for quotes, I always preface with "I have the parts, how much do you charge for the labor?" The caveat being, most shops will not warranty the parts or labor if they are supplied by the customer. In my neck of the woods, I've found I can still save money because the shops I deal with will quote the labor the same way, whether they're making money on parts or not.
The bit of profit you are screwing them out of generally winds up being very expensive if a warranty is needed. You want me to install Moog ball joints that you are supplying? No problem, when you come back in 5000 miles because you have DW, bring another set with you and you're paying me to do it all over again.
All the gear shops in this part of the world are the same, supply gears and locker, no problem. Have a problem, you get to pay them to remove them, then you get to pick up the parts, go get them warrantied, and then pay to have them put back in. Don't dilly dally or storage fees can start to apply.
OTOH, they supply the parts, drop it off and pick it up all fixed for no charge.
You are correct. This method is not for everybody but it works for me when I don't have the time/ ambition to do my own repairs. It's a gamble - as with many things in life.
Vtx531
TJ Addict
If I’m a regular guy buying a couple u joints at retail price from a store...why the hell can a shop not charge me that same retail price and still make a profit on the parts? Do shops not get better pricing than me? Or they just like to squeeze every penny out of a customer?
Sometimes, other times is they are installing something they may not be fond of or at least unfamiliar with.
The sad but honest truth is that the (for the most part) the shop is buying that part for maybe a couple bucks less than you are, there really is no profit to be had. If the shop offers a warranty on there parts and labor, some times they may never see a dime from the vendor that sold them the parts, they have to absorb it.
Since the day of rock auto and amazon, where a customer may buy parts direct from a warehouse, the price difference has gotten even smaller. I have had cases where I flipped my monitor around for a customer and showed them the real price I was paying was more than what it was listed for on rock auto.
If you got a good shop with good guys, and you want them to be there, give them a break, they ain't gunna stay in business trading dollars with you.
As to why shops don't want to install parts you bring in?
Well many on here will bring in the best parts available, they love there car and want to have control that the best parts available are being used.However as @mrblaine has pointed out, some got no clue and are just trying to save a buck. And when there sh#tty part inevitably fail 2 months later, guess who's name gets dragged though the dirt, not the manufacturer of said parts, but he shop who installed them.
Word of mouth is very powerful, and if your shop starts getting a bad name, it's hard to get it back
Well many on here will bring in the best parts available, they love there car and want to have control that the best parts available are being used.However as @mrblaine has pointed out, some got no clue and are just trying to save a buck. And when there sh#tty part inevitably fail 2 months later, guess who's name gets dragged though the dirt, not the manufacturer of said parts, but he shop who installed them.
Word of mouth is very powerful, and if your shop starts getting a bad name, it's hard to get it back