Author Topic: Front Suspension rebuild_OUCH !!  (Read 6329 times)

lurtch

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Front Suspension rebuild_OUCH !!
« on: May 15, 2015, 00:22:58 »
Hey all,

This invoice will be of interest to those of you who are realizing they need to do this big job. I think I got a fair deal, but please feel free to comment - - - .

We do not have these cars because they are cheap to own and operate, RIGHT?

Larry in CA

Larry Hemstreet  in  N. Cal.

1966  230SL  (restored) Met. Anthracite w/ Maroon leather
1981  300TD-T (Concours condition, 86K, GETRAG 5sp.)
1982  300TD-T (parted out)
1986  560SEC (totaled)
1991  300TE (gifted)
1998  E320 (sold)
2004  E320 wagon (gifted)
2008  CLK550 Cabriolet

wjsvb ✝︎

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Re: Front Suspension rebuild_OUCH !!
« Reply #1 on: May 15, 2015, 02:51:43 »
Did I miss the charge for the center link and tie rod ends?  Shocks?  Jon
jon

67 250SL early
12 Jeep GC (gone but not missed)
69 300SEL 6.3 Euro project (gone but not forgotten)
81 280SL Euro 4spd

cabrioletturbo

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Re: Front Suspension rebuild_OUCH !!
« Reply #2 on: May 15, 2015, 02:59:01 »
Yikes. With all that work, it better drive nice!



Hey all,

This invoice will be of interest to those of you who are realizing they need to do this big job. I think I got a fair deal, but please feel free to comment - - - .

We do not have these cars because they are cheap to own and operate, RIGHT?

Larry in CA


Igor
1965 W113 230SL, Ivory with Black

jpinet

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Re: Front Suspension rebuild_OUCH !!
« Reply #3 on: May 15, 2015, 03:14:53 »
I'm not shocked at all by the total of this invoice. It cost me more than that just to purchase 6 pistons! I think  get a deal whenever I spend less that 100$ for a part, no matter what the part is? Everything is expensive on these cars, but then, so is the car itself!

Garry

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Re: Front Suspension rebuild_OUCH !!
« Reply #4 on: May 15, 2015, 07:35:22 »
Larry

By Australian standards that is good value.  Bet it feels nice to drive now.

Garry
Garry Marks
Melbourne/ Kyneton, Brisbane. Australia
1969 MB 280SL 5 speed RHD SOLD.
1965 MB 230SL Auto RHD Lt Blue 334G, Top 350H, Tourist Delivery.
1972 MB 280CE Auto RHD 906G
2005 MB A200
2006 MB B200
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stickandrudderman

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Re: Front Suspension rebuild_OUCH !!
« Reply #5 on: May 15, 2015, 10:06:44 »
That invoice is all over the place!
Ceramic pads?
Separate inner and outer bearings? They come in a kit which includes the seals @ £87.00 per side.
Genuine pads £22.50
Genuine discs £42.80 each
No charge for grease & sundries?
Lower king pin kit 162.00 each.

Wheel alignment @ $75.00 is cheap.
Balance 4 wheels @ $50 is about right.
Replace centre link should be 0.5 hours maybe 1.0 if there's any difficulty with seized taper joints.
Tie rods, during centre link replacement maybe 1.0 hour.
"Replace upper outer pins & bushings" 1.6 hours is probably not enough but why does that repair kit not feature on the parts element of the invoice?
Replace king pins. This is easily a four hour job per side, if not more but again no king pin set on invoice?
Replace front shocks. AT 0.8 hours is about right, maybe 1 hour. I take it you provided the shocks?
Replace steering damper should be max 0.3 hours.
Re-line front disc brakes & lube caliper slides. This is the strangest of all. Have they fitted new discs or not? They've invoiced you for them (rotors) and new ones certainly don't need "relining", whatever that is. As for lubricating caliper slides, that is just pure BS.
Replace front discs should be 2.4 hours and that includes adjusting the front wheel bearings. Replacing the wheel bearings at the same time would be an extra 0.5.
Bleed brakes & replace rear shocks is about right.

In short, it looks to me like the bill is probably considerably less than it should be but the competency (or in the worst case the integrity) of the garage is doubtful.

« Last Edit: May 16, 2015, 19:06:22 by stickandrudderman »

Raymond

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Re: Front Suspension rebuild_OUCH !!
« Reply #6 on: May 16, 2015, 17:32:02 »
The price looks like a good value to me.  It'd cost you that to do Buick.  And, the work is laborious but it isn't a Swiss watch.  It doesn't take an exceptionally good craftsman to do that work.  The guy may be a great mechanic who doesn't excel at paperwork. 
Ray
'68 280SL 5-spd "California" Coupe

badali

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Re: Front Suspension rebuild_OUCH !!
« Reply #7 on: May 16, 2015, 21:12:11 »
Remember this, A finback 111 or 108 sedan involves the same work and they are not as valuable car at resale time.  I think it is a reasonable price compared to the value of the car as long as it was done correctly.
Brad

1961 220 Sb
1966 230 SL (Sold)
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stickandrudderman

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Re: Front Suspension rebuild_OUCH !!
« Reply #8 on: May 17, 2015, 10:02:05 »
The value of the car should have absolutely no bearing on the invoice except that customer's instructions are likely to differ.