I knew what was coming for me when I went to the local dealer for service work this morning but I didn't have all the tools and manpower to do it myself. The scope of the work is that one of the wheel studs in my front wheel is cross-threaded, hence I couldn't put the lug nut back on without cross-threading it. So I was riding on 4 lugs on that wheel for a while, which under my impression I knew was unsafe (and also was an eyesore to see the missing lug). I got the wheel stud replaced at the dealer which was a $7 part, but the total bill (after 1.3 hrs wait in the dealer) turned out to be a whopping $200!! I calculated the labor rate to be $138/hr. I was extremely upset and at what they charged me and the rest of the customers whom they've caught bait no matter how minor the service work is.

Normally I do my own oil changes, filter replacements, suspension work and tire rotations, but when it comes to a sticky situation like this I kinda had to look to the dealer as a last resort. I know that the work is completed and all, but would there be any other cheaper way to fix the wheel stud problem elsewhere?

 

The installation procedure is somewhat lengthy so its not TOO outrageous. I'm sure an outside shop could have done it for $50-100 if you supplied the stud

 

As I am sure you are aware they do not charge you for how long they work on your car, but what the industry standard time is. From what I understand they have a book that tells them how long the job should take. If it takes more or less time they still charge you what the industry standard time is.

 

Thats correct, they have a book time and thats what they will charge.

 

yeah, I bet somewhere it says "for infiniti add $$$ over regular nissan time rate". J/k have no idea what those books look like.

 

ya it is not the easiest and considering you didn't have the tools that is not as bad of rape from the dealer as I would have expected. I am sure you could have got it done for 100$ at a local shop

 

damn... sorry to hear they got you like that, but i would have tried your local tire shop before i tried the dealer. one of my buddies used to work at a tire place up here and when i busted 2 studs on my truck he did it. he basically pounded the old stud out with a hammer and used a nut and a stack of washer with an impact gun to impact the studs on. he was done in 15 minutes.

anyways... its done with. have you put the new shoes on?

 

#1 reason I like doing things myself is the fact that labor cost goes into buying new tools I don't have. Usually in the end it's still cheaper and I get new tools.

 

That sucks. I do agree that on stuff like that it's better to take it to a different shop.

I just got the longer nismo studs for my car and am going to put them in myself. It's not going to be fun...

 

im currently on 4 lugs right now as well because of the same problem. planning on taking it to a local tire shop or working on it with some buddies.

 

i got a front and rear stud at nissan for $10 and tax. That was regular price, no hook ups. Looks like infinti charges more for the same thing too.... As for the labor charges, I got the BBK installed, front/rear sway bars installed, and the 2 studs installed for a whopping $100 . I love having friends at the service department at nissan

 

i broke one of my lock lugs 2 months ago and the hardest part wa drilling it out. All you have to do once you get it off is knock it out put the new one in and put the tire back on and tighten the lug to pull the stud in and seat it. It took me and my brother about 10 mins to do once we finally got the wheel off.

 

I had this happen to me once on my truck. I have the tire warranty from Discount Tire, so I took it in for a balance/rotation and they fixed it for free.

 

Wheels studs are fairly easy to replace.....(I'm sure everyone remembers my issue with a certain dealer on here). I had to replace freaking 17 of them. From when I watched my mechanic he took down the brake assembly, took the root off, got to the housing with the studs and popped them out with a hammer and a screw driver. Ok, don't take those instruction literally but I remember it was a fairly easy operation.

 

at my shop, we replace the first stud at $49.00 and every stud after (if on the same corner) for $9.80. Plus the cost of the stud and nut. So i'd say that you definitely got raped.
-GP-