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Just wondering what replacing four struts on an All-Trac would cost? And, does anyone know how many hours it would take to do the work?
I'm trying to decide whether I should buy my own parts then have an independent shop do the work (it does great work) or leave it to Midas or the Toyota dealer.
Any thoughts would be welcome.
TIA.
Blaine
88 All-Trac
89 Mercedes 420SEL
95 BMW 525i
the sad thing about the all-trac is no-one makes replacement struts for the rear... so you're just left with the dealer for that part so if it's fine just leave em alone..the fronts you can go with KYB if you have non-serviceable struts or tokico inserts if you have serviceable ones... buy the parts online it's usually cheaper then have a shop install it for you
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Quantum mechanics - the dreams that stuff is made of.
I've been doing some research, and you are right. I can find the front struts, but the rears are harder to come by.
I found that ThePartsBin.com has front struts ($100), while the dealer has rear ones for the All-Trac ($330). The strut mounting kits (4) would run an additional $170.00.
Do you think I am missing any other parts I would need for the job? And, how many hours do you think it would take to replace all the struts?
it's also a good time to decide if you want to lower the car or not because you can do it both at the same time..... i did all 4 struts and lowering the car in about.... 3-4 hrs with a spring compressor you're going to need that and an impact gun is helpfull but not needed... to take off the strut..from the control arms.. a breaker bar would do though.
front-(not in order from what i remember) 3 12mm top nut...brake line...2 19mm bolts/nuts on bottom
rear- same top 3 10mm nuts but it's behind the rear seat so that has to come off first and there's a lil cover that's held on by a 10mm bolt..brake line...2 19mm bolts/nuts again.
oh yeah i think the strut is held to the strut mount with a 19mm nut with nylon center
__________________
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( - -)
((') (')
Quantum mechanics - the dreams that stuff is made of.
it's also a good time to decide if you want to lower the car or not because you can do it both at the same time..... i did all 4 struts and lowering the car in about.... 3-4 hrs with a spring compressor you're going to need that and an impact gun is helpfull but not needed... to take off the strut..from the control arms.. a breaker bar would do though.
front-(not in order from what i remember) 3 12mm top nut...brake line...2 19mm bolts/nuts on bottom
rear- same top 3 10mm nuts but it's behind the rear seat so that has to come off first and there's a lil cover that's held on by a 10mm bolt..brake line...2 19mm bolts/nuts again.
oh yeah i think the strut is held to the strut mount with a 19mm nut with nylon center
Front strut bottom bolts are 22mm, not 19...
Also, the all-trac has different rear springs - so no luck there with the standard Intrax lowering springs.
-Charlie
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2003 Impreza WRX Wagon 5spd - 2.2L stroker + other goodies
1989 Camry Alltrac LE 3S-GTE 5spd - SV25/ST205 hybrid
1990 Camry 3S-GTE 5spd - parted out / junked
1990 Camry DX 3S-FE 5spd - The original white90dx; gone but not forgotten
The Toyota dealer, by the way, wants $700.00 USD to replace the rears only. But, two other companies said they could do it for between $250-350 USD. I made both of them print out an estimate.
The plan is that when they call me, to tell me they got my car apart and realized they don't have the right struts, I'll run down the street to get the ones from the dealer (each strut is $165 USD) so they can install them. That way, I get the cheaper labor costs of one of the repair shops, and Toyota parts from the dealer that are cheaper than the aftermarket ones.
Hope that's how it goes down.
Blaine
88 Camry All-Trac
89 Mercedes 420SEL
95 BMW 525i
The Toyota dealer, by the way, wants $700.00 USD to replace the rears only. But, two other companies said they could do it for between $250-350 USD. I made both of them print out an estimate.
The plan is that when they call me, to tell me they got my car apart and realized they don't have the right struts, I'll run down the street to get the ones from the dealer (each strut is $165 USD) so they can install them. That way, I get the cheaper labor costs of one of the repair shops, and Toyota parts from the dealer that are cheaper than the aftermarket ones.
Hope that's how it goes down.
why don't you just buy the toyota parts and have the shop install them?
The independent shop I use (for my Bimmer and Benzo) has a high per hour charge compared to Les Schwab or Midas. The latter two insist that the job will only cost between $250-300 USD. I've even gone to several parts places to get the strut assmblies (NAPA, Pep Boys) and a few online websites. The problem is that the All-Trac does not use the same struts as the other Camrys.
I don't want to have to buy struts and then have to return them. At the same time, I'm hoping that the place that I'm taking it to (Les Schwab) will be able to do the work for what they quoted. I'm just very skeptical is all. The Toyota dealer, from research, is the least expensive parts option for once, but they charge even more than the independent shop I use for its installation.
I'd rather do the running around than have Les Schwab take it apart and then have to put it together without replacing the struts; it would be a big waste of time. Usually, cost is not a consideration, but I happen to have been lucky enough that my other two cars had to have major service this month and bought a run around car, so I'm a little sensitive to spending extra at my indepenent mechanic, even though he and his business do great work and will take the Camry.
That is why it's a little complicated. I want to believe that Les Schwab or Midas can do the job, but my head says that whoever does my struts, besides my mechanic and the dealer (who charge and arm and a leg), will find that the parts they have ordered will not fit, and I'll get a call as to what I want them to do.
This happened once to my BMW, so I would not be too surprized. With that car, they said they may be able to do it. With the Camry All-Trac they were positive they could do it, and for $250-300 USD.
A) Buy all Toyota parts and take it to whomever you want (or)
B) Talk to the Toyota dealer and show them other estimates, tell them you'd like them to do it but their price is way out of line, dealers can negotiate. Service advisors are paid based on how much they can charge you and what kind of service you get. Jon.
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Cost of All-Trac suspension replacement
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