Fair price for ball joint replacement?
 

I was quoted $600 to have both front ball joints replaced on my 2001
Civic (price also includes wheel alignment, which I'm told would be
necessary with the job). I live in Buffalo, NY. Does this seem like
a fair price? A quick google search makes me believe the job should
cost closer to $300 or so...

Re: Fair price for ball joint replacement?
 

martin lynch wrote:
> I was quoted $600 to have both front ball joints replaced on my 2001
> Civic (price also includes wheel alignment, which I'm told would be
> necessary with the job). I live in Buffalo, NY. Does this seem like
> a fair price? A quick google search makes me believe the job should
> cost closer to $300 or so...

Re: Fair price for ball joint replacement?
 

martin lynch wrote:
> I was quoted $600 to have both front ball joints replaced on my 2001
> Civic (price also includes wheel alignment, which I'm told would be
> necessary with the job). I live in Buffalo, NY. Does this seem like
> a fair price? A quick google search makes me believe the job should
> cost closer to $300 or so...

what makes you think they need replacing? honda balljoints are usually
good for at least 200k miles.

Re: Fair price for ball joint replacement?
 

jim beam wrote:
> martin lynch wrote:
>> I was quoted $600 to have both front ball joints replaced on my 2001
>> Civic (price also includes wheel alignment, which I'm told would be
>> necessary with the job). I live in Buffalo, NY. Does this seem like
>> a fair price? A quick google search makes me believe the job should
>> cost closer to $300 or so...
>
> what makes you think they need replacing? honda balljoints are usually
> good for at least 200k miles.


Second that. As for the price, it's probably ballpark for having a
dealer do it. The $300 is probably about right for an independent shop
using aftermarket or Honda parts purchased directly.

Re: Fair price for ball joint replacement?
 

On Apr 5, 1:49 pm, martin lynch <odiegoo...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> I was quoted $600 to have both front ball joints replaced on my 2001
> Civic (price also includes wheel alignment, which I'm told would be
> necessary with the job). I live in Buffalo, NY.

Buffalo has snow and salt galore. (You're hardy!) Eight years of
driving in these and I can see the ball joints needing replacement. Go
ahead and get the second opinion. Or google and see how you can put
the front of the car on jackstands, grasp the wheels and pull and push
on them and do a cursory inspection.

Re: Fair price for ball joint replacement?
 

On 2009-04-05, jim beam <retard-finger@bad.example.net> wrote:
> martin lynch wrote:
>> I was quoted $600 to have both front ball joints replaced on my 2001
>> Civic (price also includes wheel alignment, which I'm told would be
>> necessary with the job). I live in Buffalo, NY. Does this seem like
>> a fair price? A quick google search makes me believe the job should
>> cost closer to $300 or so...
>
> what makes you think they need replacing? honda balljoints are usually
> good for at least 200k miles.

We get lots of snow/ice, road salt, and potholes galore up here. Road
maintenance is near non-existent between November and March.

Things like ball joints don't last around here at all.

As for the price, I would say you should look around for some other
shops, get another estimate or two. You can probably get it cheaper,
though we don't have a LOT of independant Honda shops around here...


--
Joe - Linux User #449481/Ubuntu User #19733
joe at hits - buffalo dot com
"Hate is baggage, life is too short to go around pissed off all the
time..." - Danny, American History X

Re: Fair price for ball joint replacement?
 

Parts plus labor and the resetting of the toe-in, a complete alignment is
not needed.
Price it out and check the labor, I bet labor rates are in the $100 range,
which the mechanic will get $20 + benefits of that $100, and beat the time
allowence by 20-30%.
Dealer makes $70/hr on each mechanic....


"martin lynch" <odiegoogle@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:6747c432-6e59-4bc6-a0e2-0319b3f0d31c@o11g2000yql.googlegroups.com...
>I was quoted $600 to have both front ball joints replaced on my 2001
> Civic (price also includes wheel alignment, which I'm told would be
> necessary with the job). I live in Buffalo, NY. Does this seem like
> a fair price? A quick google search makes me believe the job should
> cost closer to $300 or so...

Re: Fair price for ball joint replacement?
 

"I'm Right" <ImRight@URwrong.net> wrote in
news:746q7pF11da1qU1@mid.individual.net:

> Parts plus labor and the resetting of the toe-in, a complete alignment
> is not needed.



Next time why don't you try asking the alignment tech for toe adjust only
and see what kind of discount (or laughter) you get.



> Price it out and check the labor, I bet labor rates are in the $100
> range, which the mechanic will get $20 + benefits of that $100, and
> beat the time allowence by 20-30%.



Or encounter a severely rusted bolt, or break something, and run over the
time allowance by 20-30%, which he can't bill for. It works both ways.



> Dealer makes $70/hr on each mechanic....



And out of that $70 he has to pay all the invoices, payroll and taxes that
the mechanic doesn't have to worry about.



--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/