Having Rear Struts Replaced Today!

[ricamryman]

Lately my rear struts have been creaking & making noises over bumps & ruts in the roads.....After 17 Yrs., & 116K miles I am having them replaced today at Firestone with KYB's w/ Lifetime Warranty Warranty for $559.61 including tax!.......
The fronts seem to be just fine at this point..........

[4Cyl'erThriller]

Id plan on doing the fronts too. Soon!! They are probably just as bad if not worse shape than the rears. They do after all have 120k on them.

[Nervous]

My struts are 143Kmiles/14 years old and since no problems with them.

[4Cyl'erThriller]

Yeah they may be fine I replaced mine at around 135k just because they didnt perform quite like new. just a personal preferance thing I guess.

[ricamryman]

I am waiting to do the fronts for when they really need it, as I plan on also replacing tie rods, CV axles, & ball joints if needed at that time too! For now, they are still firm & don't creak or groan at all.......

[ricamryman]

Originally Posted by 4Cyl'erThriller

Id plan on doing the fronts too. Soon!! They are probably just as bad if not worse shape than the rears. They do after all have 120k on them.

correction 116K!.....

[PhatRoyale]

You're getting ripped off. Big time!

[ricamryman]

Originally Posted by PhatRoyale

You're getting ripped off. Big time!

I actually think that is quite cheap including parts & labor! Everybody else was in the $800+ dollar range! I have 6 months interest free also on my Firestone card! It will be paid in full way before the 6 months is up too!....

[PhatRoyale]

You have no idea...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/KYB-4...Q5fAccessories

That's the cost for ALL 4.

Assuming that it costs $300 for labor (seems to be the norm with most shops I've seen), you're still coming out on top since you're getting all 4 replaced at once. With that many miles and number of years on the struts, I guarantee that you'll be replacing the fronts not to long from now.

[ricamryman]

Originally Posted by PhatRoyale

You have no idea...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/KYB-4-GR-2-STRUTS-SHOCKS-ES300-TOYOTA-CAMRY-92-93-94_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem5d286e3db8QQitemZ400 110271928QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAcces sories

That's the cost for ALL 4.

Assuming that it costs $300 for labor (seems to be the norm with most shops I've seen), you're still coming out on top since you're getting all 4 replaced at once. With that many miles and number of years on the struts, I guarantee that you'll be replacing the fronts not to long from now.

On the fronts I plan on doing Monroes Quick Struts or KYB Strut Plus...+ what ever front end parts need replacing too! There is no rush right now, the fronts are firm & creak free! For now! (LOL)...... I have absolutely no time to tackle these things on my own! So it's worth it to me!.....They just called & my car is ready to be picked up!.........

[LynchburgCSI]

Originally Posted by PhatRoyale

You have no idea...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/KYB-4...Q5fAccessories

That's the cost for ALL 4.

Assuming that it costs $300 for labor (seems to be the norm with most shops I've seen), you're still coming out on top since you're getting all 4 replaced at once. With that many miles and number of years on the struts, I guarantee that you'll be replacing the fronts not to long from now.

+1 on getting ripped off. The cost of all for shocks is $255... so you need 2. call it $126 for 2. your paying about $400 in labor. Seem fair now?

[projektvertx]

Originally Posted by PhatRoyale

You have no idea...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/KYB-4-GR-2-STRUTS-SHOCKS-ES300-TOYOTA-CAMRY-92-93-94_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem5d286e3db8QQitemZ400 110271928QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAcces sories

That's the cost for ALL 4.

Assuming that it costs $300 for labor (seems to be the norm with most shops I've seen), you're still coming out on top since you're getting all 4 replaced at once. With that many miles and number of years on the struts, I guarantee that you'll be replacing the fronts not to long from now.

+1

Here is a breakdown of the calculated cost as I gave another member earlier, bear in mind, I bought the toyotapartszone and rockauto parts myself, that is my own invoice:

For all 4 struts:

Labor: 300$

Parts bought from toyotapartszone.com:

-Rear Lower coil insulator: 2 X 9.46$
-Rear Strut Bumpers: 2 X 9.13$
-Front Strut Bumper: 2 X 8.79$
-Front Upper Insulator: 2 x 14.19$
-Shipping: 9.00$

Partial total: 92.14$

Here is what I bought from Rockauto.com

-Front Strut mount w/bearing: 2 X 38.79$
-Rear Strut mount: 2 X 28.79$
-Front Lower coil insulators: 2 x 12.36$
-Rear Upper coil insulator: 2 X 13.65$
-Shipping: 13.00$

Partial total: 200.18$

Alignment, Belle Tire: 64.99$ + tax.

Struts: 255.82 from that ebay link posted which is a killer price.

Grand total: 912.84$

Bear in mind, this is a BRAND NEW suspension setup, minus springs... This is going OEM on a lot of things... So for 353.23$ more, you could have gotten all new plastics and mounts and front struts. I'm sorry if that's depressing, and I know what you mean about other places charging a heck of a lot more, but there it is for ya Hope it helps for the front struts!!

[primo382]

Originally Posted by PhatRoyale

You have no idea...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/KYB-4-GR-2-STRUTS-SHOCKS-ES300-TOYOTA-CAMRY-92-93-94_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem5d286e3db8QQitemZ400 110271928QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAcces sories

That's the cost for ALL 4.

Assuming that it costs $300 for labor (seems to be the norm with most shops I've seen), you're still coming out on top since you're getting all 4 replaced at once. With that many miles and number of years on the struts, I guarantee that you'll be replacing the fronts not to long from now.

let's be honest PhatRoyaleif you are purchasing parts on ebay then you probably aren't very well versed on labor prices because your car is probably not there very often (if at all).

$255 for 4 struts is a great price I agree. But you would probably have to travel to Mexico to find a shop that is going to install those particular struts for $300. Approx 3.5 hours labor at a fair rate of $85/hour... no way! You might... might be able to find someone to install some quick struts for $300. But of course it's going to run you a little more than $255 for 4 struts also...

So all in all, considering average shop prices ricamryman, you paid a fair rate. You also didn't have to: take out your backseat, remove your back dash, strip out the rusty allen head of the sway back links, cut the lock nut off of said sway bar links, touch a spring compressor or an impact wrench, pull you neck straining to tilt the hub to insert the second strut bolt... you get my point

Cheers to you sir for keeping your hands clean! I'm sure you'll be more than happy with your new rear struts.

[PhatRoyale]

Originally Posted by primo382

let's be honest PhatRoyaleif you are purchasing parts on ebay then you probably aren't very well versed on labor prices because your car is probably not there very often (if at all).

$255 for 4 struts is a great price I agree. But you would probably have to travel to Mexico to find a shop that is going to install those particular struts for $300. Approx 3.5 hours labor at a fair rate of $85/hour... no way! You might... might be able to find someone to install some quick struts for $300. But of course it's going to run you a little more than $255 for 4 struts also...

FYI:

I undertook the same project for my uncle's 93 Camry just last year around Christmas time, purchased KYB Excel-G struts on ebay, everything on projektvertx's list + bump stops, dust boots, new front and rear end links + bracket replacements. Including labor and an alignment, everything came up just under $1000. All new OEM Toyota parts mind you. Brand new suspension (minus the OEM springs which were reused).

EDIT: Forgot to add new front and rear sway bar bushings.

Would've saved even more if we DIY'ed but he was inept with tools and refused to get his hands dirty.

LOL I dunno what shops you're dealing with, but he paid $200 for labor costs. Flat rate.

Just goes to show you how much money can be saved when you take the time to do a little research and plan things out.

[JohnGD]

I thought KYB does not warranty normal wear and tear? Said so on their website. Does the shop give you lifetime wear and tear warranty? Just curious.

Originally Posted by ricamryman

Lately my rear struts have been creaking & making noises over bumps & ruts in the roads.....After 17 Yrs., & 116K miles I am having them replaced today at Firestone with KYB's w/ Lifetime Warranty Warranty for $559.61 including tax!.......
The fronts seem to be just fine at this point..........