replacing my struts and shocks HELP!

[Loretta]

have a 96 Beretta base and I would like to put kyb gr-2's front and rear...got a quote from a shop (dumb idea) and they told me 900+ for parts and install...So i want to replace everything myself...car has 142k so i assume that i need all the upper mounts and stuff...never done this before so can someone tell me exactly the parts that I need to buy, the tools that i need to complete this project on my own....and i will be using my factory springs for now.
any help would be greatly appreciated

[Wanako]

$900???? HOLY CRAP!! A shop around my area would charge only $150 for labor including alignment. Goddamn! Those are some shady-ass motha****ers you've got over there.

Ok, here's the lowdown.

Many agree that Monroe Upper Strut Mounts last the longest. KYBs are garbage. ( ~$30/side)
KYB GR-2 struts up front ( ~$70/side)
KYB GR-2 Shock in the rear (you can use KYB Gas-a-justs for a bit more performance feeling) ( ~$30/side)
Strut Boot, Monroe still on these (~ $11-$15 each)
Lower Spring Seat (I think that's what it's called) ( ~$5 each)
At that mileage, You may need some new bumpstops too, but I don't remember the price at the top of my head.

Let's say just from parts it's $350. They're charging you up the ass for labor. You're better off doing it yourself. It's not difficult on these cars. Tools-wise, I don't remember at the top of my head the exacts, but I do know If you've got air tools, this will go a WHOLE lot faster. These guys right here should know. They can fill up on some parts I may have missed too.

[Loretta]

yea man 900! for some monroes to...

[Wanako]

yea man 900! for some monroes to...

FFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!

[3X00-Modified]

Remember the shop needs to make a buck on the parts too so the price they put down for each strut will be higher than what you can pay on your own... its not all labor costs.

[heavywoody]

http://beretta.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=4239

Read that too, good information in there.

It's not hard work to do; just time consuming your first time around (especially if you are nervous and extra cautious).

[Chad91GTZ]

Spring compressor. And be careful. You can loose fingers. It's a straight forward job tho.

[SuzukiGhostRider]

I don't know about $150 labor INCLUDING an alignment. Cheapest you can get an alignment here is $50 plus tax and up dependent upon vehicle type. Dealer is about $119 plus fees/tax.

I charge $60 a wheel for struts, $90 for rears if I have to disassemble the back seat to get to them (taurus's, escorts,sable's,etc. It's basically a Ford thing). I do shock installs for $45 labor for the PAIR. So, assuming a Beretta is the car and considering it's particular needs for installation, you'd be looking at $165 labor WITHOUT AN ALIGNMENT as I don't do them. Parts would run about $75 a strut (resale, as stated, we need to make our money on parts too) and about $35-$40 a shock. This is considering Monroe Sensatrac all the way around. So.. roughly $240 for parts and $165 for labor, you're looking at about $405. Rough estimate at my shop.

Now, I had Midas in Albuquerque quote a (not then, but I acquired her business thanks to this incident) a customer $200 PER WHEEL labor for strut installation. She had a ZX2 , so struts at all 4 corners. $800 JUST FOR STRUT installation. Now THAT'S a ripoff!! They were charging here $225 a strut PARTS. Again, one helluva ripoff!

For 4 struts, one outer tie rod end , an alignment they quoted her $2200!! AND they had the BALLS to print it out and hand it to her! Her response (was her mom and her at the time there) was to tell them (her quote) "We're women, not stupid!" That gave me a good laugh!!

I did all 4 struts, BOTH outer TR ends, BOTH lower ball joints, front brakes (pads and rotors) for about 33% of Midas's quote. Just under $700 parts and labor. This is how I've EARNED my customer's respect. HONESTY and good work as well as only try to make a living, not ROB THEM!

[Wanako]

well, i may have jumped a little too far on that one as I was referring to an independent shop run by a good bunch of essays, or maybe it was something else they quoted me for... i forget now...

but I know for a Beretta they're only charging $30 for alignment.

[diedemus]

$30 for an alignment.... we need those guys here, average is $80 for 2 wheel front, $90 for 4 wheel