Cost of labor to install rear shocks?

[Tom_C]

Rears are easy. I did it in my driveway and I'm no mechanic. I understand if you don't want to do it, so go with the local shop. They need the job and you can build a relationship with someone.

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[paval3]

Rears are easy. I did it in my driveway and I'm no mechanic. I understand if you don't want to do it, so go with the local shop. They need the job and you can build a relationship with someone.

I know there are some ladies out there capable of working on such things on a vehicle, but this gal isn't one of them. I'll of course take the Ranger to a Ford shop for warranty stuff and probably oil changes, but I do still have the ole 03 Mountaineer and was using a service shop in town. The only fellow there I ever allowed to work on my car is near retirement (I'd been taking my vehicles there once they were off warranty since the late 80's). So if shop near where I work works out, I will probably start taking the Mountaineer there.

 

[IcemanSTX]

What is the average going rate per hour at a service shop? I told the Ford garage I had my own shocks for the upgrade and they quoted me $98 - $149 to install the rear shocks. I asked the same thing at a small service shop and he said probably would take about 30 minutes then quoted $85 - $90 dollars. I really don't have a friend or family member to put them on for me, so I will be paying.

$90 is fair. Not sure if they have a minimum hour service charge? I paid $600 for front and rears installed with an alignment. Labor here is crazy expensive tho. Ford dealership quoted me $1600! Just the rears in that total was $500. That's crazy talk

 

[Joeiconic]

I paid $90 for the rears, $360 for the fronts and $90 to a tire shop for an alignment. In my area very few shops will install customer supplied parts, so I felt lucky that I didn’t have to pay even more.

 

[Apples]

One of the ladies I used to date, was a certified Ford mechanic. Her specialty was engine rebuilds. For her, a set of shocks was a rest period!

 

[JohnnyO]

What is the average going rate per hour at a service shop? I told the Ford garage I had my own shocks for the upgrade and they quoted me $98 - $149 to install the rear shocks. I asked the same thing at a small service shop and he said probably would take about 30 minutes then quoted $85 - $90 dollars. I really don't have a friend or family member to put them on for me, so I will be paying.

Around here labor is $125/hour and it shouldn't take more than an hour for a shop with a lift.
I just had the spare tire out to get the truck rustproofed and it looks to me like it would be pretty easy to do yourself if you remove the spare.

 

[rcairflr]

What is the average going rate per hour at a service shop? I told the Ford garage I had my own shocks for the upgrade and they quoted me $98 - $149 to install the rear shocks.

Just one thing to think about. If you are worried about warranty or have a extended warranty, I would have Ford do the install

 

[aeroshots]

An hour per side on the front is reasonable for something like the Bilsteins, where the entire assembly needs taken apart.

Agreed. The $100 previously stated was for spacers, as I understood. That's a bargain too.

 

[paval3]

Just one thing to think about. If you are worried about warranty or have a extended warranty, I would have Ford do the install

Is that a concern to anyone who has installed the shocks themselves?

 

[Tom_C]

Is that a concern to anyone who has installed the shocks themselves?

It wasn't until just now! No, I'm not concerned. The rears are simple bolt on parts. I can't see where that would affect warranty, but what do I know?

 

[paval3]

Got my Eibach rear shocks installed this morning while I waited! Only took 15 minutes at the local shop down the road from where I work. Only charged me $25! The owner who put them on said he used to work in service at a Ford dealership. Said he really checked my truck out since it was the first one he's had in and said "You got a nice truck there." LOL maybe they say that to everyone though that comes in with a new vehicle.
He commented that he hoped I would be happy with the ride and that it's not too hard now since he said the old shocks he took off he could compress with his bare hands.... but not these Eibachs.
I told him I am on a Ranger forum and this was one of the brands recommended. I only got to drive it about 3/4 mile so far (straight down highway to work) and I can say it did feel (as others described it) MORE PLANTED.
He was nice enough to take the red stickers off the shocks for me! He thought the boots with the zip ties were kinda cheaply made though.

 

[AdamHarris]

Look I know some people have no time and no interest in doing something like this but, speaking for the rear shocks, it’s a great time to go to Lowe’s or Home Depot and get yourself a nice set of metric ratchet wrenches and crawl under there and do this yourself. You’ll be shocked at how easy it really is, if you’re an able-bodied person at all, and you’ll have a great sense of accomplishment. Now the fronts? Yeah just pay to have that shit done LOL.

 

[paval3]

Look I know some people have no time and no interest in doing something like this but, speaking for the rear shocks, it’s a great time to go to Lowe’s or Home Depot and get yourself a nice set of metric ratchet wrenches and crawl under there and do this yourself. You’ll be shocked at how easy it really is, if you’re an able-bodied person at all, and you’ll have a great sense of accomplishment. Now the fronts? Yeah just pay to have that shit done LOL.

Not this lady, not at my age and not with my limitations.

 

[AdamHarris]

Not this lady, not at my age and not with my limitations.

Well absolutely I understand. I say it’s easy but it is kind of hard compressing them to get the bolts in. You’ll feel like you did a light work out afterwards LOL. But hey if you got them done for $25 I would’ve gladly payed that myself instead of doing my own!

 

[paval3]

Well absolutely I understand. I say it’s easy but it is kind of hard compressing them to get the bolts in. You’ll feel like you did a light work out afterwards LOL. But hey if you got them done for $25 I would’ve gladly payed that myself instead of doing my own!

I was expecting to pay more so that was a pleasant surprise. I already booked my state inspection for the ole Mountaineer with the guy since he was so nice and the location is convenient.

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