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I had a friend of a friend who replaced my motor mounts on my car. The shop quoted me $300 per motor mount, but I found them online for less than $100! The labor they quoted was $200. So this friend of a friend quoted me $150 for labor. I said okay because I was saving so much on parts and I thought it would take a while. He also confirmed it was bad motor mounts. But then it only took him 1 hour and I still had the exact same problem and still charged me $150.
1. Did my friend of a friend doing a side job overcharge me?
2. Why were the parts so much more expensive from the shop?
1. Does your friends' friend do this for a living weather for a company or on his own? If so he might have been charging you his regular rate.
2. There's a reason why a lot of parts that you buy online, or at some parts stores, are so much cheaper. Shops usually buy the higher end, OEM parts that last much longer.
1. Does your friends' friend do this for a living weather for a company or on his own? If so he might have been charging you his regular rate.
2. There's a reason why a lot of parts that you buy online, or at some parts stores, are so much cheaper. Shops usually buy the higher end, OEM parts that last much longer.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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He didn't rip you off, you agreed to a price, and it was less than the shop. As for the problem, if the bad motor mounts were bad they needed replacing. If you still have the same problem it's something else in addition to the bad motor mounts. What are the symptoms?
He didn't rip you off, you agreed to a price, and it was less than the shop. As for the problem, if the bad motor mounts were bad they needed replacing. If you still have the same problem it's something else in addition to the bad motor mounts. What are the symptoms?
This, sounds like you have an additional issue. What is the problem?
He didn't rip you off, you agreed to a price, and it was less than the shop. As for the problem, if the bad motor mounts were bad they needed replacing. If you still have the same problem it's something else in addition to the bad motor mounts. What are the symptoms?
Well I've now heard that mechanics charge around $50 per hour for side jobs.
If your tire has abnormal wear, not sure why the motor mounts are suspect.
I'm guessing it's a bad bushing or balljoint in the front suspension. You also don't list the make and model but since you mention CV axle, then I assume it's a FWD vehicle?
FWD vehicles tend to be sensitive to worn bushings/balljoints in the suspension due to the ability to drive the front wheels and change the load on the suspension. When accelerating, the front wheels pull the suspension and will change he drive angle. The car may pull, or veer or vibrate as the suspension fights the force of the drive tire.
Wear on the outside of the tire is indicative of improper toe angle. Something in the steering is loose, but may only be loose when under load (acceleration). The tire with the wear is the side to suspect.
Inner and outer tire rod ends would be suspect, but it could also be a sign of a worn control arm bushing allowing the wheel to toe in and out. That movement, combined with the tire trying to drive the car, could be the cause of your vibration.
I'm leaning towards you overpaid but I wouldn't be so quick to assume the friend of a friend's intent was to take advantage of you. What year, make, and model? What are your symptoms? What brand of parts did he use? What's the average dealer quote for comparable work in your region?
Typically replacing the motor mounts requires a hoist or some floor jacks and plywood. Depending on the make/model, the job can take 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on how many parts have to be removed to access the mount bolts. I know a handful of honest indy mechanics in California who charge $60/hr for labor...but they literally own their business, land, and are their own labor force. In other words, their input cost is as low as possible.
My mechanic charged me $500 for a 98 Integra GSR, I could feel the engine moving around through the gear shift lever and hear it clunking. I think there were 5 mounts.
I'm leaning towards you overpaid but I wouldn't be so quick to assume the friend of a friend's intent was to take advantage of you. What year, make, and model? What are your symptoms? What brand of parts did he use? What's the average dealer quote for comparable work in your region?
Typically replacing the motor mounts requires a hoist or some floor jacks and plywood. Depending on the make/model, the job can take 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on how many parts have to be removed to access the mount bolts. I know a handful of honest indy mechanics in California who charge $60/hr for labor...but they literally own their business, land, and are their own labor force. In other words, their input cost is as low as possible.
I bought the parts myself. It was a 2013 Sonata with a 4 cylinder. He used floor jacks and did it at his apartment with no input costs.
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