please critique this estimate from a local 4x4 shop

PGT FTW

PGT FTW

NAXJA Forum User
Location
DC
I picked up an '01 XJ and had it looked at. I've already replace the front wheel bearings, rotors and pads. Some of this work can do myself (rear brakes and valve cover for example). The labor looks to be a flat rate....no idea of the hourly they're charging (though it looks to be fair at roughly $80/hr).

2001XJ.png


Please comment on which items are DIY for a guy who's done turbo rebuilds, headers, etc....above average for a shadetree. Also...how fair the prices are....seem high to me, but that's par for the course in this inflated area.
 
if you've done turbo rebuilds and things of that caliper, most of it you can do yourself with a little time. the only thing i wouldn't do myself is the front axle stuff just because i haven't ever done it before but i'd try to find someone to help out first before paying those prices. seems too high to me, but then again no shop has ever touched my rig.
 
I can tell you that the price on the powersteering flush,trans flush, coolant flush and brake rotor turn is higher than I charge and I am a Dealer in So. Cal.
 
It all depends on how much your time is worth.
All you have listed is doable by the "above average for a shadetree" mechanic except the flushes and turning rotors.

I don't make $80/hr, so I'd do all listed myself except the flushes and I'm "above average for a shadetree" mechanic.
 
hahahha....$175 total parts and labor to do a valve cover gasket...and $96 alone just for the gasket....now that's a good one! And i've never heard of a valve cover gasket SET....just the valve cover, and you can get a good one for ~$40 at your local auto parts store.

Really all of that can be done yourself with some time, patience, perhaps the help of some friends...and plenty of searching on here for what parts to go with, and what to stay away from

Things to definitely do youself:

-Valve Cover gasket
-Oil Pan gasket
-Oil Filter adapter o-rings (make sure you get the o-ring set from the dealer....should run you about $3-4
-Brakes both front and rear
-Water pump

Don't know if i'd run synthetic ATF in the tranny.....i've heard many say they tend to be real picky about what you put in there, and that you should stick with the regular DexronIII or IV (whatever it is they're up to now).
 
any shop with a BG setup can do the flushes. I can call around to check the prices locally. the only thing I'm uncomfortable with is the front diff service....like what has been said...never done it.

the oil pan seems simple....drain oil, unbolt pan, reinstall, torque to spec and in the proper sequence, refill, done?

same for the water pump...lots of room to work.

$260 to resurface rotors and pads is a joke. I bought new rotors and pads for $120/shipped. Five minutes of extra work while doing the hub bearings (which were a PITA and I'm glad I had another shop do it).
 
99XJSPORT06 said:
hahahha....$175 total parts and labor to do a valve cover gasket...and $96 alone just for the gasket....now that's a good one! And i've never heard of a valve cover gasket SET....just the valve cover, and you can get a good one for ~$40 at your local auto parts store.
Click to expand...

4wd.com has a nice red valve cover with gasket for $99. a socket, the cover and gasket and what, ten minutes (if I wanted *bling* under the hood...don't much care to be honest)?

99XJSPORT06 said:
Things to definitely do youself:

-Valve Cover gasket
-Oil Pan gasket
-Oil Filter adapter o-rings (make sure you get the o-ring set from the dealer....should run you about $3-4
-Brakes both front and rear
-Water pump
Click to expand...

my thoughts too. The front brakes are done...just need to get the parts for the rear.
 
I have done everything on that list to my XJ with the exception of the axle stuff and the oil pan gasket, and I think those charges are outrageous. I've done water pumps on 2 XJs, they cost around ~$35 and takes less than 2 hours to install. Rear brakes, I have never needed to change my wheel cyls, I bought a set of them just in case, but have not installed them, it cost me $10 for the pair.

Like Cornflake said, the axle stuff is about all I would pay a shop to do, and around here you can get a full gear set installed for ~$350 an axle, so $740 for seals sounds really high.
 
I think the prices are in line for the BG machine flushes. Cheaper actually. BG's machines are EXCELLENT and in my opinion the best!

The labor rate is great considering the Chicago suburbs are averaging $110 an hour.
 
I would never pay that much for any of the work. Shoot just look at the prices for the first two gaskets alone! You should be able to do all of the work that they say they need to do. for 1/4 of the price if not less. The only thing im not sure about is the axle stuff. I have yet to do anything more then replacing the gear oil myself... so i wouldnt know much about that work. The rest is all straight forward. The hardest job on there is the oil pan gasket.. and thats really not all that hard just time consuming.
Also, they may just be replacing all these seals / gaskets because you have a leak. So they could be replacing something that doesnt even need to be replaced!
 
it's pretty much all doable except for the ring and pinion bearings. but shop around on that a little bit. maybe save you a few bucks if you shop around. and the tranny flush could be sort of 1/2assed at home, but having a shop do it would be nice.

other than that, everything else you should be able to do.

FRONT BRAKES= easy. look at it. take it apart. clean the upper and lower sliders and contact points (just purchase a front hardware kit, sliders and boots and you'll see what to replace/clean) then put it back together the way you took it apart.

REAR WHEEL CYLINDER= replacement itself is easy. it's usually the rusted on brake line that might snap off that will make it difficult. and then you need a second person to help you bleed the brakes.

WATER PUMP= litterally nothing more than removing a bunch of nuts and bolts. if you look carefully and pay attention, you could probably do it without a service manual. Purchase a couple different gasket scrapers before starting this job, and a box of razor blades.

OIL PAN GASKET= not really so much on the difficult side, but more on the messy and time consuming time if you haven't done it before. if it's your first time, i would recommend asking the parts store for the higher quality gasket kit that INCLUDES the dowel pins to locate the gasket while you re-install the oil pan.

OIL FILTER ADAPTER= get the gasket kit from the dealer. shouldn't take more than like 1/2 hour if you take your time.


as far as the prices..........they're not to horrible. some of them are about what i would charge. basically anytime you shop around, you'll always find places that will have a tad bit lower price. but overall, if you take your vehicle in for work, then you'll end up paying.
 
Those parts/labor prices are outrageous. First of all, I wouldn't dare let a stealership touch my XJ. Secondly, if you don't want to fix the items yourself, find a good shop (not stealership) that isn't looking to stick it up your a** and break it off. If you do the items yourself you are going to save yourself a buttload of money. Good luck.
 
that's not a quote from a dealer, but a well established 4x4 shop near me. the guy who sent me the quote used to work for me at a previous job. no favors here, clearly.
 
i agree with you guys that some of those prices "seem" high compared to if you walk into the parts store and then do your own work.

BUT.....why do you guys have such a hard time understanding that the second you walk through the doors of a shop, YOU are not doing the work. anytime you walk into any store whether it be a auto repair shop, walmart, kohls, best buy, etc... there is ALWAYS a markup on parts. and it also depends on where the parts come from. napa parts are usually more expensive than autozone parts, and the dealership parts are even more than napa.


now as i posted above. most of the work is stuff you can do yourself. so go get yourself a couple tools if you don't have them already, and do them in your garage.
 
PGT FTW said:
that's not a quote from a dealer, but a well established 4x4 shop near me. the guy who sent me the quote used to work for me at a previous job. no favors here, clearly.
Click to expand...

No kidding!!! I think I paid $30 for my Felpro valve cover gasket and $20 something for the Felpro oil pan gasket. You must have really pi**ed this guy off when he worked for you. :roll:
 
scorpio_vette said:
i agree with you guys that some of those prices "seem" high compared to if you walk into the parts store and then do your own work.

BUT.....why do you guys have such a hard time understanding that the second you walk through the doors of a shop, YOU are not doing the work. anytime you walk into any store whether it be a auto repair shop, walmart, kohls, best buy, etc... there is ALWAYS a markup on parts. and it also depends on where the parts come from. napa parts are usually more expensive than autozone parts, and the dealership parts are even more than napa.


now as i posted above. most of the work is stuff you can do yourself. so go get yourself a couple tools if you don't have them already, and do them in your garage.
Click to expand...

I understand that you pay more, BUT a +300% markup on a part (valve cover gasket) is obscene.
 
the specific part number listed on that bill (VS50458R) goes for an average of $35-$46 depending on where you buy it from.

so that's only about 100-170% markup depending on how much the paid for it.


either way............i'm not trying to defend them. what i'm saying is, that's business. businesses have to 1) pay their bills and 2) make a profit. you guys don't honestly think that the stuff you buy at walmart and other places don't have 100-200-300% markups???


you wanna see some ridiculous markup??? car audio equipment. now there is ridiculous markup.
 
Well, this estimate is almost more than I could sell my 90 for.

Of course a shop has to make money and pay rent, utilities, taxes, etc. but it still feels like getting reamed.

If it were me I'd buy the parts and blow a weekend (and have fun doing it), bu then I'm cheap. For about $ 300 in parts I would:

$25 Valve cover gasket - Felpro (rubber)
$38 Pan gasket - Felpro (rubber, one piece)
$30 Ceramic pads + $40 to turn the rotors...I would lube the caliper slide myself with a finger full of grease.
$28 rear wheel cylinders...I would have the drums turned and replace the shoes for a total of about $60.
$60 Water pump (new, not reman)
$ 9.99 for coolant flush kit and $20 for coolant
$ 30 for Dextron III
$ 14 for filter
$ 7 for gasket (would just drain and fill, not flush tranny)
$ 15 for new brake fluid and just run it through the system yourself.

$ 6.99 for a 12 pack of Bud and $5.00 for a good cigar when you're all done.

Then take the wife out to a great dinner and get lucky. $100

Knowing you did the work yourself and saved 2 grand - priceless

:cool:
 
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