Is €300 fair price, new shock and ball joint??

dumbledee

I recently failed my nct, I need a set of new front shocks and a ball joint to be replaced as it's worn down. Got a quote today of €300, this seems a bit pricey for 2 hours work?

Is there any mechanics out there that could let me know if this is a fair price?

Its a mazda 323f, 1997
Thanks

draward

need to know what car ,year

TWEEK1979

What car is it?

dumbledee

Sorry forgot to write that, Its a mazda 323f, 1997?

BrianD3

Sounds fair to me. Car will probably need a wheel alignment afterwards, check that this is included.

Nissan doctor

Your saying €300 is expensive for 2 hours work, how much do you think the parts are?

itarumaa

Similar job for my S40 was 310e (2 front shocks + balljoint) so 300 does not seem to be too far from the truth.

dumbledee

he said ball joint was €35 without fit, dunno about shocks, said €110 each for supply and fit?...he's defo making between 100-180 for 2 hours work...seems a lot. Takes me a full day to earn around that

ianobrien

dumbledee wrote: »

he said ball joint was €35 without fit, dunno about shocks, said €110 each for supply and fit?...he's defo making between 100-180 for 2 hours work...seems a lot. Takes me a full day to earn around that

I reckon your maths are slightly incorrect. Shocks MUST replaced in duplicate, so the costs of materials are €255 (110 + 110 + 35), which leaves 45 for fitting.

Typical garage costs include PRSI, light, heat, insurance, rent etc which must be paid before the garage man gets his payment. I'd say you're getting a good price there so go for it.

dnme

ianobrien wrote: »

I reckon your maths are slightly incorrect. Shocks MUST replaced in duplicate, so the costs of materials are €255 (110 + 110 + 35), which leaves 45 for fitting.

Typical garage costs include PRSI, light, heat, insurance, rent etc which must be paid before the garage man gets his payment. I'd say you're getting a good price there so go for it.

Shocks do not have to be replaced in duplicate, I recently got a single shock done on Megane for re-test. 100 quid Plus labour.

znv6i3h7kqf9ys

dnme wrote: »

Shocks do not have to be replaced in duplicate, I recently got a single shock done on Megane for re-test. 100 quid Plus labour.

Yes but if one is gone the other might not be far away. Always better to replace both.

ianobrien

dnme wrote: »

Shocks do not have to be replaced in duplicate, I recently got a single shock done on Megane for re-test. 100 quid Plus labour.

I'd hate to drive the car afterwards, with different damping on two sides of the car (one new, onte old).

Ask any mechanic worth his salt, and he'll say to replace shocks in duplicate.

dnme

Quincy Petite Robbery wrote: »

Yes but if one is gone the other might not be far away. Always better to replace both.

ianobrien wrote: »

I'd hate to drive the car afterwards, with different damping on two sides of the car (one new, onte old).

Ask any mechanic worth his salt, and he'll say to replace shocks in duplicate.

Wear on left shock was significantly more than right shock (good old Irish country roads). Car drove beautifully after it was done, also got it tracked etc. I had already spent nearly 3k on replacing the common rial fuel system so my budget was literally shot. I just wanted to get the car through the test and then sold, which it subsequently did.

Regardless, the point I was making is that you don't have to replace shocks in duplicate, you can source them singularly.

Nissan doctor

dnme wrote: »

Wear on left shock was significantly more than right shock (good old Irish country roads). Car drove beautifully after it was done, also got it tracked etc. I had already spent nearly 3k on replacing the common rial fuel system so my budget was literally shot. I just wanted to get the car through the test and then sold, which it subsequently did.

Regardless, the point I was making is that you don't have to replace shocks in duplicate, you can source them singularly.

They don't have to be replaced in duplicate and in your case, if you got throught the test then your other shock was obviously in very good condition but most of the time if one shock is replaced due to an nct imbalance failure then it will often fail again with the imbalance being to opisite way then before.

Assume one of you shocks has(to simplify) 60% wear and the other only 35% wear. If you only change the 60% worn one you will then have a 0% versus 35% imbalance.

hiluxman

did he tell ya the job was only goin to take 2 hours? also its good workshop practice to replace shocks in pairs

mickdw

dumbledee wrote: »

he said ball joint was €35 without fit, dunno about shocks, said €110 each for supply and fit?...he's defo making between 100-180 for 2 hours work...seems a lot. Takes me a full day to earn around that

Garage & equipment doesnt fall from the sky. Price is not bad for a 2 shocks & balljoint fitted.

BrianD3

Nissan doctor wrote: »

They don't have to be replaced in duplicate and in your case, if you got throught the test then your other shock was obviously in very good condition but most of the time if one shock is replaced due to an nct imbalance failure then it will often fail again with the imbalance being to opisite way then before.

Assume one of you shocks has(to simplify) 60% wear and the other only 35% wear. If you only change the 60% worn one you will then have a 0% versus 35% imbalance.

A relevant question is, do shocks wear gradually (like brake pads, tyres etc.) or do they fail? I've been keeping NCT white sheets for years and based on them I would say that the Mm values barely change with mileage.

Also, like the other poster I have replaced one shock absorber on an axle, I then went to the NCT with one shock with 20k miles on it and its partner with 190k. Imbalance in the NCT was 0%

I think it is a bit pointless automatically changing shock in pairs especially on Irish roads where the nearside shocks can get a hammering. You could well kill several nearside and no offside shocks over the life of a car so why keep replacing the offside each time.

Nissan doctor

BrianD3 wrote: »

A relevant question is, do shocks wear gradually (like brake pads, tyres etc.) or do they fail? I've been keeping NCT white sheets for years and based on them I would say that the Mm values barely change with mileage.

Also, like the other poster I have replaced one shock absorber on an axle, I then went to the NCT with one shock with 20k miles on it and its partner with 190k. Imbalance in the NCT was 0%

I think it is a bit pointless automatically changing shock in pairs especially on Irish roads where the nearside shocks can get a hammering. You could well kill several nearside and no offside shocks over the life of a car so why keep replacing the offside each time.

They do wear gradually alright but the nct test for shocks, as with brakes in measured as a balance of the 2 sides. so in theory both your shocks could be fcuked by the same amount and you would pass the nct which is a bit rediculous.

Changing shocks in ones is a very irish thing to do, its not recommended but the car manufacturers or the shock manufacturers as it can cause uneven bound and rebound and lead to poor handling.

But I must say, even throught the good finansial times, I find people so uninterested in the correct way to maintain cars in this country and I would be willing to bet that a huge amount of the accidents in this country were helped by defects in the cars involved!


As for always damaging the inside shock on potholes, its the same with wheels, I always wonder:rolleyes: to myself how many drivers can go around without hitting potholes and kerbs and yet other people seem to always be complaing about bending an alloy or busting a shock!

mickdw

Nissan doctor wrote: »

I always wonder:rolleyes: to myself how many drivers can go around without hitting potholes and kerbs and yet other people seem to always be complaing about bending an alloy or busting a shock!

Me too. Although speaking to one of these wheel breakers the other day, his attitude was ..slow down for nothing, once ya get through it its all good!
That would explain a lot. Now I run 18" rims on bad roads & I havent damaged them in 4 years of running that size wheel and I get where Im going pretty quickly

Theta

dumbledee wrote: »

he said ball joint was €35 without fit, dunno about shocks, said €110 each for supply and fit?...he's defo making between 100-180 for 2 hours work...seems a lot. Takes me a full day to earn around that

Is it a main dealer? Last time I was in a main dealer labour was 75 + VAT p/h so its about right but even if it was an indie 40 - 50 + vat is about right no? id say he has quoted for both shocks there.

BrianD3

Nissan doctor wrote: »

As for always damaging the inside shock on potholes, its the same with wheels, I always wonder:rolleyes: to myself how many drivers can go around without hitting potholes

Maybe they're the same ones who drive in the middle of the road on country roads, oblivious to the oncoming traffic that they've forced to pull into the ditch!