Hi guys, I need to get new GMG sway bars and springs installed on my car and just got quoted $2000 (which is based on about 10 hours of labor and includes alignment). I have used this shop in the past and they do quality work I am usually willing to pay for, but the quote seems a bit high to me.

Is this cost reasonable? I am in the SF Bay area, BTW.

 

The front sways are a lot of labor, seems steep.

 

I paid $650 to do both (sways and springs) in NH. Then paid $100 or so for an alignment.

 

at the best place in boston w/ the alignment it was about 1100...TT Surgeon is right, the fronts require a great deal of disassembly to do

 

100-125 an hour plus 125-150 for an alignment, not sure how they are getting 2000 for 10 hours labor. Sounds pretty high to me.

 

I was just quoted 8 hours for the suspension work @$135hr and $200 for the alignment at my local Pcar dealer. So that quote seems high to me.

 

I don't know if this helps, but I find that it's easier to talk about "hours of labor" quoted vs price since labor costs varying across the country. So someone's $600 install is another's $1000 install for an equivalent project given similar time but pricier labor.

In any case I got my GMG springs installed for 4 hrs labor. I imagine there are synergies doing the sways at the same time since they are disassembling a lot of things to do the springs anyway so the cost should be incremental.

Good Luck!
Art

 

Curious what the op's mechanic says his rate is, seems like its around 185 an hour which is ridiculous

 

I got the Springs and Sway bars done back in Feb (bay area) of this year, $1400 for labor. (Not including alignment)

 

From what I know - and based on the feedback I am getting here it is starting to look like I am getting shafted - the shop's rate is $140/hour and the job was quoted at 10 hours. However, they have this rule that you pay an additional 10-20% upcharge if you bring your own parts (which I have to do, since they don't really offer GMG parts). The mechanic also insists on having the alignment done, but since they don't align on-site, he would have to take it to another local shop himself; that's $240 for the alignment.

The guy told me he's pretty busy this time of year, so it's starting to look like the quote was meant to send me away...

Thanks for the info guys.

 

Find another shop. A good motorsports shop will order the GMG parts for you and take accountability for the installation. Charging you an additional 10%-20% is not worth it. Furthermore $240 for alignment is pretty steep. Not sure what they're doing for that price. And lastly the labor quote of 10 hrs is at least 2 hours more than is reasonable.

Enough red flags to move on

Good luck!
Art

 

I went to a local high end indie shop specializing in Pcars.

6hrs @ 125/hr for my GMG spings and sways. No extra charge for the Tarrett drop links I added after the original quote, but they would have had to re-attach links anyways. 150 for the alignment.

You might want to consider replacing drop links. It takes out the pre-load on the bars and I read sometimes the stock one bend/break. For me, if it could eventually break, then why not get the benefits now....

 

Thanks for the advice. Tarett drop-links (and possibly camber plates) are next on my list. I just wanted to see how the sways fit with the stock drop links first. I've seen pictures here with the Tarett drop-links kind of crooked, not sure why. It's also a DIY I can handle.

Upgrade costs are climbing fast, track time is damn expensive (also replacing brake rotors and pads, track tires, refinishing track wheels...)

 

Thanks Art, there's definitely evidence that it's time to move on to another shop, too bad...

I'll get some more quotes, I will try Sonic too (wish I caught them while they were still in Mountain View).

 

Why not try Sharkwerks? it may be a little bit of a drive but they are stand up guys.

My sways and B16 was installed by them.