Rear Shocks Labor Cost

[Brentster]

I have a rear shock that is leaking on my 2004 Mercury Marauder so I picked up some new Monroe Shocks. In my area there are places that will only put on parts if they get them, basically a ripoff, Now I do have a place that will put on my rear shocks for about $185.00 basically an hour and a half labor, is that a good price?

I will say this place is ok, I had a fuel pump that needed to be replaced and the Bosch fuel pump from NAPA was like $230.00 at the time, and they quoted me $400.00 for the part, and I knew where they got there parts. The person on the phone was like, well we can not guarantee the part, I was like, the part only has a 1 year warranty.

I do have a drive on lift at my house, not the scissor type, but where you park 1 car above and drive the other underneath, since I have never done this job and these are original shocks I just do not feel comfortable doing this myself. Any help is appreciated.

[RubberCtyRauder]

Define "good" price? Most shop rates are $100+ an hour. If you can't do it yourself, it does not seem excessive to me.

[Brentster]

It seems are cars have some sort of rear air bags in the rear, and yes I thought are cars had rear shocks when in fact they have rear bags!

[justbob]

It seems are cars have some sort of rear air bags in the rear, and yes I thought are cars had rear shocks when in fact they have rear bags!

And… Shocks.


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[Brentster]

I meant to say that I thought our cars had Air Shocks when in fact they have regular shocks with air bags!

[Mr. Man]

Rear shocks on a Marauder are as basic as it gets. Take off the tire for some room to work and go for it.

[Brentster]

Rear shocks on a Marauder are as basic as it gets. Take off the tire for some room to work and go for it.

Ok, since they are the original shocks would it be a good idea to spray the upper and lower bolts and nuts with some penetrating fluid?

[blazen71]

Ok, since they are the original shocks would it be a good idea to spray the upper and lower bolts and nuts with some penetrating fluid?
That's always a good idea.

[PVEPANTHER]

I had my rears installed for $120 labor in Oregon. Check the airbags while you are under there, for small perforations. If the air compressor cycles on and off it signals a leak. Also I used KYB Gas Adjust in the rear and they are great. Front struts are Monroe Severe Duty. Good luck.

[Brentster]

I had my rears installed for $120 labor in Oregon. Check the airbags while you are under there, for small perforations. If the air compressor cycles on and off it signals a leak. Also I used KYB Gas Adjust in the rear and they are great. Front struts are Monroe Severe Duty. Good luck.

I found a mechanic from NTB that does work on the side, he said he will come over and do it for $80.00

I was getting prices for labor on installing these rear shocks for about $300.00 best price was $180.00 Most places in my area will not let you bring in your own parts.

[Agent2006]

Owning old cars, even panthers can get pricey if you have to pay a shop to do things. Case in point: 2006 MGM transmission went out at 141k.

Rebuild at a shop , $2600 .
Buy a trans out of wrecked 2006 off C/L , $400. A shop wanted $1000 to install that no warranties of course 10 hrs labor plus fluid. I did it myself for $64 +21 , fluid plus exhaust connector or $75. So $475 total. 35,000 miles, drives great. Took me 18 hrs though in an unheated garage.

[Brentster]

Owning old cars, even panthers can get pricey if you have to pay a shop to do things. Case in point: 2006 MGM transmission went out at 141k.

Rebuild at a shop , $2600 .
Buy a trans out of wrecked 2006 off C/L , $400. A shop wanted $1000 to install that no warranties of course 10 hrs labor plus fluid. I did it myself for $64 +21 , fluid plus exhaust connector or $75. So $475 total. 35,000 miles, drives great. Took me 18 hrs though in an unheated garage.


I would do this myself, but I have never done something like this before, and the mechanic who said he will come over has a Ford Crown Vic so he is familiar with the Panthers.

[Agent2006]

I would do this myself, but I have never done something like this before, and the mechanic who said he will come over has a Ford Crown Vic so he is familiar with the Panthers.

For 80 bucks great deal I can understand....

[Comin' in Hot]

I know you think the price is crazy, but any successful repair shop is not a charity organization. You’re probably not taking into consideration things like rent/mortgage, utilities, liability insurance, payroll and medical insurance. Shops need to make money off parts and why they don’t make money off parts they need to make money off strictly labor. And if they’re making money off strictly labor they’re going to charge you for everything from the 10 minutes to put your car up on a lift, to the time it takes to lower it down and put it in the parking lot and do your paperwork. It’s an evil necessity, but if they install YOUR parts at a reasonable price, they will be losing money.

[justbob]

10 hours for a tranny swap? And I thought I bent people over as Plumber?


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[Brentster]

I know you think the price is crazy, but any successful repair shop is not a charity organization. You’re probably not taking into consideration things like rent/mortgage, utilities, liability insurance, payroll and medical insurance. Shops need to make money off parts and why they don’t make money off parts they need to make money off strictly labor. And if they’re making money off strictly labor they’re going to charge you for everything from the 10 minutes to put your car up on a lift, to the time it takes to lower it down and put it in the parking lot and do your paperwork. It’s an evil necessity, but if they install YOUR parts at a reasonable price, they will be losing money.

I thought I would update this thread, I got the shocks on yesterday and only paid $80.00 but I did help out the guy that came over to put them on. Luckily I had a compressor and 1 of those tools that you can use to cut metal. Even though I sprayed both upper bolts a few days before they were not coming off, everything had to be cut off, these are the original rear shocks. The bottom bolts came off easy, oh well. I learned something yesterday, even though I saved some money, the aggravation was not worth it.

This same guy will be coming over next week to replace my brake pads and since the pads and rotors are original he said to replace the rotors. I am going with his advice, since he said new pads on old rotors could lead to problems.

1 shop near me wanted $400.00 to put the shocks on, then when I said I will think about it, they said $300.00, I will treat this mechanic from from NTW right since he does work on the side.