So I took my coupe (04 with 92k miles) to a shop today to get an estimate for how much it will cost to put on Tein S-techs and front/rear SPC camber arms. I've been tempted to put the springs on myself, but with so many miles on my car I'm afraid of running into some problems with the bolts, especially some of the strut bolts which apparently can be hard to get off as is. Anyways, opinions would be greatly appreciated about if this is a fair estimate (I don't think so), and if it's not whether, I should find another shop or just do it myself.

Remove and replace both front struts and install springs: $170 and 2 hours
Install rear springs: $212.50 and 2.5 hours
Install rear camber arms: $85 and 1 hour
Install rear arms: $297.50 and 3.5
Full alignment: $138
Total labor= $930

Much of the problem I see with this is the estimated times. When reading the DIYs, it seems people have been able to knock this all out rather quickly. The guy said it'd take him bout a day and a half. Sure I don't know much about the process or how a shop functions, but still. I find it hard to believe them when the estimate cost for the front/rear SPC arms that they'd order was $1089.95....THMotorsports can get me them for $500, and that's through a middleman (so to speak).

All comments and opinions welcomed, and thanks!

 

It only costed me $90 to install all four of my springs

 

That's a ridiculous estimate. I'd charge somewhere around $150 for that work (excluding the alignment). With that kind of mileage, you should consider replacing the struts while you are at it. Another option is coilovers.

 

wtf.. are you serious?.. I'd kick them to the curb tell them to eat **** if they gave me that estimate.

You'd be getting robbed if you had them do it.

 

ditto. if they got impact guns and a lift times should be a lot less. does this shop only have a pair of jack stands and a scissor jack?

i did rear camber and toe bolt and coilovers in less time with no power tools on my garage floor

 

^ Agree with what everyone else said above.
It only cost $150 to do all 4 on my coupe and that's in Los Angeles.
Look into a shop around you that specializes in modding cars.
They usually know what to charge and know what they're doing.
Go into the regional section and ask about any good shops.

 

I've found two local shops that hopefully will work better. But do you all suggest putting on the springs myself to save some money or just let them do it since they'll be in there already when putting on the camber arms?

 

Holy crap! 2.5 hours to do rear springs?! Haha, they're just pulling numbers outta their a$$! Or, you went to the dealership service dept! Haha!

In my experience, when a shop throws a ridiculous estimate at you like that, they really don't want to do the job. That should translate into, they don't want you as a customer and you should take your money else where. Which is exactly what you should do. As mentioned already, search the forum and check your regional section for reviews of shops in your area. As far as doing it yourself to strictly save money, don't do it. If you have some mechanical experience and necessary tools (you will need power tools) then you wouldn't have ask, you would have already done it. Ya know what I mean? If you're a beginner, you more likely to run into issues, it's gonna cost you more money to get it fixed or find/buy tools to complete the job. I'm speaking from personal experience here. Plus, you're talking about the suspension of your car, vital components, if they're not reinstalled properly, you can hurt yourself or worse, someone else, as your wheels fly off while you're on a public road. And please don't take that the wrong way, as I did not intend to judge your mechanical expertise. Another idea is to find another forum member here (or my350z) that has done the install a couple times and work together on it. Some guys work freelance and charge a small fee to do basic installs in their home garage or driveway, you can check that out as well. That's my 2 cents, I hope everything works out.

 

If you haven't had this done yet all this can be done in one day by yourself. You are doing springs not coils so that won't be too bad. But that is me an I love DIY. Out of all of this the alignment is what requires any specialty equipment...well that and a dremel for the camber arm toe bolts oh and rent some spring compressors from Autozone. I'm just saying.

 

I didn't take that offensively, don't worry. I need people like you to be straight up with me, and I do agree. Realistically I should have professionals do it because I wouldn't be prepared for any problems I may run into. I'd like to rest easy knowing that when I drive my car my suspension's not going to give out on me.