Im located in the San Francisco Bay Area and am thinking of gettting a new shop to do all my work because i believe im getting stiffed. I was quoted for $250 just to replace the bushing on the rack & pinion. is that reasonable? i also payed $240 to replace a broken E-Brake cable. was that fair? I have big plans for my car, HCI, full exhaust, and suspension. i have a steady income and just don't want to waste my hard earned money on a shady shop. Also $350 to install an off-road x-pipe, now i really think thats unfair, but please let me know all you Bay are people. I'm located on the peninsula so i would prefer shops on this side of the bay but am still open. Thanks.
Need an honest shop
- Thread starter Cali95gt
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MustangChris
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the one that gets me is the e brake cable. i dono about that one... geez... i can understand the 350 on the exhaust, shops always seem steep to me, and that sounds.... resonably steep. lol
sometimes they have to weld on exhausts, or drop the rear axles, or take apart the brake lines under the hood. it all depends on what car and what exhaust.
shops are EXTREAMLY expensive... HCI on my 96 were $1500.00 just to take off the stock ones...... not to put on PI.... so, i dono bro. lol.
but all the prices seem reasonable except for the e brake cable (to me anyways)
sometimes they have to weld on exhausts, or drop the rear axles, or take apart the brake lines under the hood. it all depends on what car and what exhaust.
shops are EXTREAMLY expensive... HCI on my 96 were $1500.00 just to take off the stock ones...... not to put on PI.... so, i dono bro. lol.
but all the prices seem reasonable except for the e brake cable (to me anyways)
Hoseitdown
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350 for off road midpipe?
is that including the price of the pipe or did you already have it?
if thats just for install, you got phucked.
if your any kind of handy, you could have done it yourself, with just a ratchet&sockets, and a wrench for the o2 sensors...
is that including the price of the pipe or did you already have it?
if thats just for install, you got phucked.
if your any kind of handy, you could have done it yourself, with just a ratchet&sockets, and a wrench for the o2 sensors...
MustangChris
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i was assuming that was for a geniric brand pipe added in... lol. 
Hoseitdown
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yeah, but i thought that id ask....
it was $350 just for the installation, the pipe cost 160 from americanmuscle. thing that really sucks is i got that put onto my brothers car when i was driving it. now he is back and i have my own 95 GT. im dumping all my money into it so dont wont to get played. Still shoutouts for shops in the Bay Area!!!
Rice_slayer
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Learn to do most of the work. You'd be amazed at how much money you can save by learning to do it yourself. Tranny work for me is a no-no, so I'm taking it out, getting a shop to rebuild it, then putting it back in. Exhaust systems are a pain in the butt to do, I wouldn't touch mine with a 10 foot pole...
What bushing are you trying to replace?
Just go buy a jack and some jack stands and a decent 100 pc. tool set from sears and do it yourself.
Seriously, should you have to ask if $350 was too much for an install for an H pipe that bolts in w/ 8 bolts?
If you have a local speed shop that only sells parts but doesn't do installs go up there and talk to the guys at the counter, they do a lot of side work. Thats what I used to do when I sold parts. I rented a small shop w/ a few friends of mine and we wrenched 3-4 nights a week and made bank but only charged about $30/hr for labor since we had very low overhead.
I'll do a walk through on any install you(or anyone else) wants to do just so you guys don't get screwed.
Just go buy a jack and some jack stands and a decent 100 pc. tool set from sears and do it yourself.
Seriously, should you have to ask if $350 was too much for an install for an H pipe that bolts in w/ 8 bolts?
If you have a local speed shop that only sells parts but doesn't do installs go up there and talk to the guys at the counter, they do a lot of side work. Thats what I used to do when I sold parts. I rented a small shop w/ a few friends of mine and we wrenched 3-4 nights a week and made bank but only charged about $30/hr for labor since we had very low overhead.
I'll do a walk through on any install you(or anyone else) wants to do just so you guys don't get screwed.
EastBayStang98
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well im from the east bay, theres a shop in hayward called nexgen motorsports, they told me 150 to install the midpipe theyre a great all around shop
I do have a basic mechanics knowledge plus a shitload of tools plus a garage. The only reason im looking for a shop to do my work is because i don't really have a lot of time between two jobs and school. only freetime is breaks from school but still then im busy in the p.m. but for the guy in the eastbay. i have heard of that shop before but not to much info on them. thanks do you have any other shops around maybe close.
Jrgunn5150
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Lol, a mid pipe at 85 dollar's an hour, book calls it a three hour job, plus materials, etc. Is roughly 260.00, after local tax it should be around 290.
So I guess their labor rate is somewhat higher than what I charge. You guy's need to look at the big picture here though. It's not 8 bolts and some hangers. It's 8 bolts and some hanger's the OP either couldn't, or didn't want to do himself. If it was so damn easy, he would have done it himself. If you want someone else to use their expertise, and want them to be crammed under your car, doing work that you don't want to do, then expect to compensate them. Not to mention an Offroad X can bring legal ramifications, I bet alot of places refused to install it....
You also have the fact that they have bills to pay around their, you aren't just paying for their time.
The important question to ask, isn't "can I get it done cheaper" it's, "Did they do a good job". Are you happy with the work they did already? Why not bring them more business? They'll probably cut you a break anyway.
When you guy's look for a shop, don't be cheap bastard's. A high labor rate doesn't mean they are ripping you off, it might just mean they are really good at what they do...
So I guess their labor rate is somewhat higher than what I charge. You guy's need to look at the big picture here though. It's not 8 bolts and some hangers. It's 8 bolts and some hanger's the OP either couldn't, or didn't want to do himself. If it was so damn easy, he would have done it himself. If you want someone else to use their expertise, and want them to be crammed under your car, doing work that you don't want to do, then expect to compensate them. Not to mention an Offroad X can bring legal ramifications, I bet alot of places refused to install it....
You also have the fact that they have bills to pay around their, you aren't just paying for their time.
The important question to ask, isn't "can I get it done cheaper" it's, "Did they do a good job". Are you happy with the work they did already? Why not bring them more business? They'll probably cut you a break anyway.
When you guy's look for a shop, don't be cheap bastard's. A high labor rate doesn't mean they are ripping you off, it might just mean they are really good at what they do...
IMHO
If iwas you I will look around for something cheaper on the midpipe, when I had mine installed the guy charged 70 it takes ab out an hour, now if you are getting Longtubes and midpipe installed, it sounds pretty fair.Longtubes are a major PITA.
On the suspension mods I will try to do it myself, they are easy and fun,
I've installed all my suspension parts.back when my mustang was my dd And I am mechanically challenged.
Good luck in your search.
If iwas you I will look around for something cheaper on the midpipe, when I had mine installed the guy charged 70 it takes ab out an hour, now if you are getting Longtubes and midpipe installed, it sounds pretty fair.Longtubes are a major PITA.
On the suspension mods I will try to do it myself, they are easy and fun,
I've installed all my suspension parts.back when my mustang was my dd And I am mechanically challenged.
Good luck in your search.
Jrgunn5150
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Cali95gt said:
No harm in looking, but at least right now you know what you have.
Try a local board.
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