Installation Cost - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

XPS9000 · 11-13-2007, 03:58 PM

How much does it really cost to install a TRD front Strut Tower Brace on a 05 Toyota Camry??? Dealer said around $170 and they need to work on it fot 2 hours. I was kinda guessing the install be around the below $100 or even $20. I would install it myself but I don't have a torque wrench or how to install one it might come off when I drive

JSM1284 · 11-13-2007, 04:02 PM

Should take about 15-20 minutes tops.

Tell the dealer that you dont pay for the techs lunch hour and that if it takes him an hour then they need a new tech.

XPS9000 · 11-13-2007, 04:05 PM

How much does it usually cost to install one?? Cuz $170 is way expensive

liquidi3ladz · 11-13-2007, 04:05 PM

A torque wrench isnt necessary for the ftb.

LE05 · 11-13-2007, 04:10 PM

2 hours and $170?!? jeez, just do it yourself. a torque wrench is a good investment... if you were willing to pay the dealer to install it, you could get a good torque wrench for that kind of money.

its very easy to install... undo 4 bolts, but the strut brace on, tighten 4 bolts to torque spec.

XPS9000 · 11-13-2007, 04:15 PM

If its so easy to install and stuff why is the dealer charging my 170 for the install and for 2 hours. There must be something u have to right and properly fof 170

njerald · 11-13-2007, 04:23 PM

Amazing!!....no not really.

JSM1284 · 11-13-2007, 04:39 PM

No, the dealer realizes that you dont know how to do it. So they will make you think that it is hard and takes a long time so that they make money. Go there and set a timer from the time the tech pulls it in his bay, then drives it out. You will see that he will do it soooo fast, in a matter of minutes, yet they will charge your for an hour or more. Its called flat rate. techs love it, its an easy money maker.

XPS9000 · 11-13-2007, 05:45 PM

So when they its 170 to install I say it only takes 15-20 min to install right why should it cost so much?? I basically say I just need u guys to install a tower brace to connect the two strut towers together right?? if thats the case they overcharge me couldn't I like sue them and report them to the BBB?

JSM1284 · 11-13-2007, 05:51 PM

They can charge you whatever they want. It's your choice if you want them to do it or not.

XPS9000 · 11-13-2007, 05:53 PM

If I watch them do it and it only takes 15-20 min then I wait for 2 hours. Why would it be 170? How much do they charge an hour for the tech??

JSM1284 · 11-13-2007, 05:56 PM

Is the dealer Moss brothers? Tell them that you know it only takes about 20 minutes to undo the 4 or 6 nuts(Im not sure how many the TRD uses), on the strut tower to install the brace. Stand your ground and dont be affraid to argue over how hard it is to install because it is not hard at all. Let them know you would pay no more than .5 hours. If they quoted you $170 for 2 hours, then they are at a labor rate of $85/hr.

BTW, the tech wont even use a torque wrench....

gdanaher · 11-13-2007, 05:57 PM

Is this any more complicated than removing 4/6 nuts, dropping the brace in place, and then putting the nuts back to a specific torque value??

JSM1284 · 11-13-2007, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gdanaher

Is this any more complicated than removing 4/6 nuts, dropping the brace in place, and then putting the nuts back to a specific torque value??

That is all there is to it.

XPS9000 · 11-13-2007, 05:59 PM

I called Moss Bros at first they said 172 then later when I called it jumped to 270. Then I called Toyota of Riverside they say 170. So i don't know whats going on