Is the Dealer Messing With Me?
 

My dealer quoted $1000.00 to install new Springs, Swaybars (both Eibach) and four wheel alignment.

This seems very high. Would appreciate your feedback on whether this is reasonable or not.

Not terribly far off given most dealer's labor rates. It's not generally a good deal to get work done at the dealer.

Springs and sways are a pretty easy install if you've got a toolkit. Any reason you can't tackle the project on a Saturday?

:iagree:


I did the same setup myself and was able to get it done with a 19MM, 17MM, 14MM socket, impact wrench and pry bar. The rear is a little tricky just cause you have to detach the muffler from the exhaust and loosen the exhaust hangers.

The front was STOOPID simple and had Pepboys mount the springs for $20 each.

Get a friend to help it will be done in like 3 hours.

also you should be changing your rear camber arms while you have the suspension out.

:iagree: The guys at the body shop here charge $90.00 per hour. They estimated my Springs and Coilover upgrades at 4 hours with a maximum of $75.00 additional for misc. parts/connectors or whatever may be necessary.

IMO (for what its worth) ask around town for the most reputable tuner/body shop nearby, and let them do the work. Dealerships normally pride themselves on selection and sales, not extra work.

Did the whole shebang (springs, sways, links and short shifter) with a friend in one day with breaks included. Come to think of it, we did the brakes too. Muffler hangers were a bit of a pain, true. If I had known to take my springs to be mounted at PepBoys, I would gladly have paid the fee and saved myself the two hours and 500 wrench turns on my flimsy spring compressors.

Springs, $75/corner, sway bars, $100, alignment $100-150 depending on the rape

hahaha after reading so many complaints about compressing the springs it was WELL worth the $40 and 30 mins of my time to have them do it.

Wha?

Thanks gents. I guess I was just expecting it to be much less.

I can handle the swaybars, but my main intention in contacting the dealer was for the springs install. I've heard these can be a real PITA.

Andrew, your figures are in line with what I thought it should be.

I'll shop around and see what I can come up with.

Again, thanks for your input.

That was my estimate on prices... Those aren't GOOD prices but kinda fair prices.
I bought my mechanics a $30 lunch to install my sways, and lifetime alignment through Firestone for $150-160.

I had Swift Springs with Camber Kit/Toe Bolt installed for 350 bucks. Sways hell do them yourself those are simple!

Call Firestone and ask them about the springs and alignment prices.

The rear springs are in a bucket all you need a is 17MM socket and a floor jack to remove them. Once you have the car jacked up its literally a 3 minute process.

I guess the benefit of going to a shop is they can align it right there vs. you having to limp it to a shop to have it aligned. the Firestone lifetime alignment is WELL worth the price especially if you get new rims/tires.

I will contact Firestone tomorrow morning and see what they can do.

As far as an alignment is concerned, their lifetime warranty is hard to beat. I took my wife's Odyssey there and we've had a new alignment with each new tire purchase. It's worked out well.

Thanks for the update regarding the Rear Springs. Didn't realize it was that easy. I take it the Fronts are a different story.

Fronts are easy as well, you just need to actually use a spring compressor.

You can get a nice wall-mount style one without dropping too much cash...and then you can always do springs yourself.