What is a Reasonable Price?

[ricamryman]

Today while I was having my oil changed at a local FireStone shop, it was brought to my attention that both my oil pan & steering rack are seeping/leaking oil. I never have to add any oil to my engine between oil changes since I already had my leaky valve covers fixed along with the distributor Oil seal, so the last oil leak I have to fix is the oil pan...I also have a leaky steering rack. both leaks are not at the point yet to leave any spots on my driveway, however I did get underneath the car while it was on the lift & observed both leaks for myself....Firestone quoted me $1222.93 to fix both including parts/labor with 10% off if done on a Sunday......What do you guys recommend?......My car is a 1993 Camry LE-V6....132K miles...

[Mister_Perkins]

holy crap. There are DIY on this forum for the steering rack. Oil pan gasket is easy.

i wouldn't pay $1222.93 for someone to repair a steering rack / oil pan gasket

[ricamryman]

Originally Posted by Mister_Perkins

holy crap. There are DIY on this forum for the steering rack. Oil pan gasket is easy.

i wouldn't pay $1222.93 for someone to repair a steering rack / oil pan gasket

I priced out a Rack & Pinion seal kit Gates part # 349340 $58.79 & a Oil pan gasket Fel-Pro Part # OS30405C, $2.92 both from RockAuto, I'm sure I can find a good Independent Shop to instal these for cheaper.....Do you recommend the repair kit for the steering rack?

[TOYOPARTSMAN]

A OEM remanufactured rack is $363.98 and I offer TN members 30% off MSPR and I charge actual shipping costs plus a couple of dollars. So that would be $254.79. There is a $150.00 core charge that is refundable when the old core is returned. You may even be able to take it to your local dealer for the refund, but that is up to them of they do or don't.

Just to give you an idea of parts pricing when looking at the total for the job.

[projektvertx]

For the oil pan gasket, it's Toyota FIPG (Form In Place Gasket). You can go with the Felpro rubber gasket, but the disadvantave of that is that all of the bolts have to be torqued evenly or the seal will leak. FIPG is about ~13$? Maybe Gary (Toyotapartsman)has a better price on that I don't know how much a shop would charge for labor on that.

For the rack & pinion, I doubt you will find a non-rebuilt unit anywhere. 2wickedtoyz has a rack with 20K miles listed a week ago(?) in clasified. You can touch bases with him as well.

Labor on the rack & pinion, including the alignment, should be around 300$, or ~3 hours of labor + alignment charges.

[Mister_Perkins]

What's going to bring the numbers up is the Labor involved. They may not even be using OEM parts. You should ask them how much labor, and what parts they would use. That would give you a better idea.

[ricamryman]

Originally Posted by TOYOPARTSMAN

A OEM remanufactured rack is $363.98 and I offer TN members 30% off MSPR and I charge actual shipping costs plus a couple of dollars. So that would be $254.79. There is a $150.00 core charge that is refundable when the old core is returned. You may even be able to take it to your local dealer for the refund, but that is up to them of they do or don't.

Just to give you an idea of parts pricing when looking at the total for the job.

Thanks!......

[projektvertx]

Originally Posted by Mister_Perkins

What's going to bring the numbers up is the Labor involved. They may not even be using OEM parts. You should ask them how much labor, and what parts they would use. That would give you a better idea.

I doubt any shop, other than the dealership, will use OEM unless you give them the part

[Mister_Perkins]

for the oil pan gasket, they will probably do an oil change to since the pan is removed. ($20-$25.00)

They will replace the Exhaust manifold to Downpipe Gasket ($3.00)

Oil pan gasket $12-$15.00

It would be about an hour of labor too

All together on parts and labor with the steering rack and the oil pan gasket, I would expect to pay around $500 - $600.00 at a shop. Parts included. Your estimate seems high. Thats assuming the labor rate is $90.00 / hr

Originally Posted by projektvertx

I doubt any shop, other than the dealership, will use OEM unless you give them the part

At the shop I worked at we gave the customer two quotes . Oem quote and Aftermarket quote. Most customers took the aftermarket quote because they saved money, but I would explain to them that aftermarket is a crap-shoot (never know what your gonna get til' ya get it ~ forest gump) so some customers wanted to OEM.

[projektvertx]

Originally Posted by Mister_Perkins

for the oil pan gasket, they will probably do an oil change to since the pan is removed. ($20-$25.00)

They will replace the Exhaust manifold to Downpipe Gasket ($3.00)

Oil pan gasket $12-$15.00

It would be about an hour of labor too

All together on parts and labor with the steering rack and the oil pan gasket, I would expect to pay around $500 - $600.00 at a shop. Parts included. Your estimate seems high. Thats assuming the labor rate is $90.00 / hr

On the V6 (at least the 1MZ) you don't need to remove any exhaust components to change the oil pan gasket I didn't have to when I did it

[Mister_Perkins]

oh yeeeeaahhhh .. its V6 hehe. NVM on the $3.00 gasket then I was thinkin 5sfe

[projektvertx]

Originally Posted by Mister_Perkins

oh yeeeeaahhhh .. its V6 hehe. NVM on the $3.00 gasket then I was thinkin 5sfe

It's all good Other than that, your estimate seems accurate as far as what's involved The only real variable, which you mentioned, is the hourly labor rate. That might drop/hike the price like 50$

[ricamryman]

Originally Posted by Mister_Perkins

for the oil pan gasket, they will probably do an oil change to since the pan is removed. ($20-$25.00)

They will replace the Exhaust manifold to Downpipe Gasket ($3.00)

Oil pan gasket $12-$15.00

It would be about an hour of labor too

All together on parts and labor with the steering rack and the oil pan gasket, I would expect to pay around $500 - $600.00 at a shop. Parts included. Your estimate seems high. Thats assuming the labor rate is $90.00 / hr




At the shop I worked at we gave the customer two quotes . Oem quote and Aftermarket quote. Most customers took the aftermarket quote because they saved money, but I would explain to them that aftermarket is a crap-shoot (never know what your gonna get til' ya get it ~ forest gump) so some customers wanted to OEM.

I purchased a Fel-Pro gasket from RockAuto.com for $2.92 + shipping, I will be purchasing my Steering Rack from them also, they have great prices! I will have my Independant Mechanic install the parts at the next oil change, since the leaks are not bad & I just had my oil changed today!.....

[esvipron]

Originally Posted by ricamryman

I purchased a Fel-Pro gasket from RockAuto.com for $2.92 + shipping, I will be purchasing my Steering Rack from them also, they have great prices! I will have my Independant Mechanic install the parts at the next oil change, since the leaks are not bad & I just had my oil changed today!.....

With the Felpro gasket I would put at least some gasket sealant underneath on the pan side; a thin layer.

If it was for my own car I will put on the other side as well; however some people will not recommend that because next time you’ll have to scrape around; however at least on the pan side it will help the gasket to stay in place and seal. Check torque specifications and go evenly.