A rant

[skeets]

Took the Silverado in for inspection this morning. 2 hours later they came out saying it wont pass because it needs up ball joints both sides, OK maybe so, estimate was 900 bucks per side and labor plus a line up, 4000.00 .
I think the paint is still pealing off the walls and they DONT HAVE THE PARTS IN STOCK! Maybe a week maybe 10 days to get the parts. I dont mind paying my fair share but if IM getting screwed buy me diner first. My old mechanic went to visit his daughter out west, and died there. So there ya go I hate dealers to start with, but there is so many horror stories about any of the local shops.. OK rant over, I didnt want to eat this month, they say its over rated anyway.

 

[JohnDB]

Is the inspection and the repair done by the same business? Can you shop around?

 

[jimh406]

That sounds awfully expensive for that work.

Google of FB search for a new mechanic and read their reviews.

 

[JohnDB]

@skeets a friend and I have independently encounted 'dynamic pricing' where potential vendors assume that being old(er) we were suckers and didn't shop around. I saved $3k on a $7k plumbing job where I'm pretty sure that the high quoter assumed I was some senile old fart (could be true...) too tired to shop around.

Not making any assumptions about your age, guessing you are older than 25

 

[dirtydeed]

Took the Silverado in for inspection this morning. 2 hours later they came out saying it wont pass because it needs up ball joints both sides, OK maybe so, estimate was 900 bucks per side and labor plus a line up, 4000.00 .
I think the paint is still pealing off the walls and they DONT HAVE THE PARTS IN STOCK! Maybe a week maybe 10 days to get the parts. I dont mind paying my fair share but if IM getting screwed buy me diner first. My old mechanic went to visit his daughter out west, and died there. So there ya go I hate dealers to start with, but there is so many horror stories about any of the local shops.. OK rant over, I didnt want to eat this month, they say its over rated anyway.

That's ridiculous. Not even close. You can find the whole upper control arm (with ball joint) for what... $250.

Take it to another shop (after you check for play in the ball joints yourself). Then, you can do this:

just kidding (about the meme, that is). Not kidding about the first line of my response.

 

[whatsupdoc]

$4000 for ball joints, shop must be looking to throw an all you can eat Wagyu party.

Ask them what their shop rate is and how much shop time for that job.
5-6 hours MAX.

 

[Splinters and Sparks]

Uh..... That is completely INSANE!!

Not sure your silverado, but pulled up the upper control arms w/ joint for my 21 trailboss....
MOOG driver side-$117, passenger side $134

I would absolutely be looking for a reputable independent shop nearby if I was not up to doing the job myself.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Took the Silverado in for inspection this morning. 2 hours later they came out saying it wont pass because it needs up ball joints both sides, OK maybe so, estimate was 900 bucks per side and labor plus a line up, 4000.00 .
I think the paint is still pealing off the walls and they DONT HAVE THE PARTS IN STOCK! Maybe a week maybe 10 days to get the parts. I dont mind paying my fair share but if IM getting screwed buy me diner first. My old mechanic went to visit his daughter out west, and died there. So there ya go I hate dealers to start with, but there is so many horror stories about any of the local shops.. OK rant over, I didnt want to eat this month, they say its pop over rated anyway.

Had that job done on my 4WD Ram 1500 a couple years ago. Two new upper control arms and labor was a biscuit short of $1K i guess inflation is out of control

Dan

 

[jyoutz]

Had that job done on my 4WD Ram 1500 a couple years ago. Two new upper control arms and labor was a biscuit short of $1K i guess inflation is out of control

Dan

It’s more likely that the shop that provided that quote was hoping for a sucker to agree to that price.

 

[Daren Todd]

@skeets a friend and I have independently encounted 'dynamic pricing' where potential vendors assume that being old(er) we were suckers and didn't shop around. I saved $3k on a $7k plumbing job where I'm pretty sure that the high quoter assumed I was some senile old fart (could be true...) too tired to shop around.

Not making any assumptions about your age, guessing you are older than 25

I think some of the high price is just the shop doing the work.

When I priced out getting my septic system installed the average was around $8,000.

The first company I called though was $15,000

That person got really offended when they reached back out to me wanting to know if I was going to hire them. I gave them an honest answer. They bumped their head if they think i'm gonna pay $15,000 for them to install an $8,000 septic system.

 

[#40Fan]

$1200 or less with alignment at a good shop.

Heck, I bet that you could drive it here, have the parts shipped from RockAuto and return home for less than a $1000 if I did the work for you.

 

[yorkies77]

Years ago I had a 1974 Plymouth Duster and I took it to sears for an alignment. When I went to get it they said they couldn’t align it because it needed upper and lower ball joint’s, new tie rod ends, and a new idler arm. He showed me the movement of the ball joint’s, there was no movement. He wanted $900.00 for the work. My car handles to good for all that to be wrong. I drove it straight to big Okay! Tires and had them check it. He aligned it and I talked to him about it when he was done. He said the front end on my car was tighter than almost every new car on the road. I would suggest a second opinion. Sears has never gotten any of my business.

 

[John T]

You need to grease the right palms. Safety inspections are a scam.
shop around... there are probably 100 places to go in your area.

Worse case, You can do ball joints in an afternoon.... for the cost of a case of beer.

Did you test the ball joints yourself?

 

[D2Cat]

Skeets, I read all your post because they're interesting and entertaining! You know this but I'll say it again, unless you know the person personally all answers need scrutinized. I have a Dodge Dakota and use it for everyday errands. I took it to an independent shop to get the front end aligned. I had already talked to him about cost and how long the job would take and made the appt. He called and i thought he was telling me ready to pick up. No, he gave me a laundry like of what needed to be replaced to get the alignment done.

I asked him to make a list of parts needed because I was driving and wouldn't remember it all. Parts $750 and labor about the same. I had driven the truck for a while and felt like when turning on a on ramp it took too long, like it was drifting. I could go down a straight stretch of road and leave my hands off the steering wheel for a quarter mile and the truck went straight.

Took it to a friend who does mechanic work and asked him to put it on his lift and tell me what I need for front end parts. What he discovered were the two bushings that the rack and pinion bolted to the frame were destroyed....$40 for the pair.

Decided to have him replace the upper and lower ball joints and tie rod ends. I got Moog parts and had him install everything. I spent about $600.

You're doing the correct thing to ask around. Like a good attorney, know the answer to the question before you ask and you'll be able to tell if you're being taken advantage of.

 

[TheOldHokie]

It’s more likely that the shop that provided that quote was hoping for a sucker to agree to that price.

That was wee bit of sarcasm sir

Dan

 

[Orangeglow]

Like I tell all my female friends, get these ridiculous quotes in writing. Make sure they are very detailed so there can be no mis-understanding or he said, she said. I trust very few shops re their honesty. I have a nephew that was a mechanic at a large big three dealership, and he has told me so many stories about these stealerships that I have become very weary about believing them. Definitely get a second opinion from someone you trust. I would try to find a retired mechanic in your area.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

I think some of the high price is just the shop doing the work.

When I priced out getting my septic system installed the average was around $8,000.

The first company I called though was $15,000

That person got really offended when they reached back out to me wanting to know if I was going to hire them. I gave them an honest answer. They bumped their head if they think i'm gonna pay $15,000 for them to install an $8,000 septic system.

That 15K is real low in my area. ever since 'Walkerton', installers have been gouging , typically 35-45K for a septic system,takes all of 2-3 days. Next door would have been >$50K until I asked WHY 2 pumps, 3 tanks when GRAVITY works just fine....

as for ball joints, check Rock Auto for them, next day delivery and say $150 per hour X 4 ?

 

[Bmyers]

I'm a firm believer in shopping around. As other posts have noted, prices can vary greatly.

We needed two trees taken down, we would do all the clean up, just needed them dropped. Got three quotes, $4,800, $5,100 and $7,500. We were told about another tree service, so figured one more quote wouldn't hurt. He came out, quoted $1,000. I questioned him about the quote and he said he could charge more if it would make me feel better, but it would take him about 20 minutes to drop each tree with most of the time being setting up his truck. If we wanted him to clean it up, it would be a little over $5,000 for the cleanup. We hired him, he did a great job.

All that being said, make sure you shop around.

 

[dirtydeed]

Back in the day, it'd be 1.2 hours per side plus 1.2 hours for the alignment. So, 3.6 hours flat rate labor.

Tell that shop to get bent.

 

[D2Cat]

I think some of the high price is just the shop doing the work.

When I priced out getting my septic system installed the average was around $8,000.

The first company I called though was $15,000

That person got really offended when they reached back out to me wanting to know if I was going to hire them. I gave them an honest answer. They bumped their head if they think i'm gonna pay $15,000 for them to install an $8,000 septic system.

Daren, many times the quotes received are high because of all the criteria, inspections, etc. Some contractors add charges because "they can" and if the person in need is impulsive they just say yes.