Suspension replacement costs estimates

[andibell]

Hi everyone,

Wondering if anyone could tell me what's a reasonable price to pay to have suspension swapped over.  I have the replacements ready to fit (Tein Super Streets), but I'm a complete liability with a spanner so need someone to fit them.  I called my usual garage who service my other cars and they seem to think it's a day's labour and around £500, which seems quite long and a bit high to me.  They also said it wasn't something they'd ever done before, so I'm not convinced I want mine to be their trial run!  

So Im wondering what other people might have paid to get this done and if anyone can recommend somewhere in or near Dorset where I could go?

Thanks

[Essex2Visuvesi]

sounds a bit steep unless it includes a full wheel alignnment

[shnazzle]

It so does not take a whole day. Not even close.

[Topdownman]

They can spend a lot of time adjusting the ride height and may not set it where you want it either!

I would make sure the fronts and rears are set the same across each axle when you give them to the garage and tell them not to do anything with the ride height as you will do that. If you are going for adjustable coilovers you really do need to know how to adjust them yourself to get the best out of them.

Garages can usually estimate times for jobs and I would have thought 2-3 hours to change suspension? They dont have to mess with dismantling springs either with C/Os.

You can help by adding plusgas to the bolts at the bottom of the struts and rear droplinks too beforehand (most people buy new rear droplinks too as they may need cutting off).

[lgriffiths]

Seems steep.
A garage near me who a bit of Motorsport stuff as well as road cars quoted £200 to change like for like and £300 to go for something non standard. They charge approx £50 per hour.
Can't remember if that included allignment after.

[jvanzyl]

£250 is the rate that I was quoted up where I am...
In all honesty, I've never done anything like this before and I managed to fit my Teins ok.
In terms of tools, the only "specialist" tool you might need is an angle grinder to get your drop links off (and a torque wrench) ... up to you clearly.. but it's not actually that hard, it takes a fair bit of time by yourself, but that's the only issue..

[simonc44]

I paid £150 to have coil overs fitted all round but at the same time change all front suspension components and the steering joint took less than a day to do.

[ChrisGB]

Don't know about garage rates, but it took me somewhere between 2 and 3 hours out in the street.

[shnazzle]

Same here. No angle grinder needed. I think you get the point... Shop around or consider diy with maybe some help from on here?

[andibell]

Thanks for all the advice everyone.  I found a local-isa garage (Swains in Poole if anyone knows them?) - they specialise in modified / customised cars and are happy to fit the parts they haven't supplied and to get the interior trim panels I've got resprayed for me as well.  Chap I spoke to on the phone was very happy to help and quoted around £150-200 for fitting the suspension and chassis brace.  They also have a "Street Team" who attend modified car events and offer sponsorship to people prepared to put Swains logos on their cars.  I'm popping down later today or tomorrow to drop everything off so will post up a review after the work is done.

[shnazzle]

Good find and sounds like a decent deal, even with a sticker or two on the car.

[stevex]

I'm not a mechanic, but handyish with spanners.

Bought a roadster and found it had a duff rear strut, ordered from ecp and attacked it with no experience on this car. Took about an hour and a half start to finish on one side, including jacking up, removal, disasemble of the old strut, reassemble the new one and transfer of parts the refit. Could have been quicker but I had to cut the drop link off with a grinder then wind the old one out of the roll bar. Also you have struts ready to fit I assume?

A competant person who knows what they are doing should do an hour a corner max I would think.

So 200 say 50 an hour sounds like a decent deal.

[andibell]

At last! All fitted and set up, although I expect some further adjustment of ride height and firmness will be needed after they've had a few weeks to settle down.  Although I think it's probably not going to get much lower, with the front splitter on, it barely makes it onto the driveway as it is...

Overall I'm really pleased with the work and would definitely recommend Swains in Poole for anyone local - they took good care of the car, ensured it was inside when it wasn't being worked on and overnight as I left it with them.  £200 was the final cost for fitting and setup, including bolting an chassis brace in place whilst it was on the ramps, which I think is a really good price.

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[mikek]

Looks good. Are you coming to shin ding south in Oxford this Saturday? Would be good to meet you and see your car.

[andibell]

Looks good. Are you coming to shin ding south in Oxford this Saturday? Would be good to meet you and see your car.

I'd not seen that one... I'm mostly free tomorrow, but it's a two hour drive each way.  I'll see how early I wake up in the morning and how hug over I am   s:lol: :lol: s:lol:   If I'm in a fit state to drive and be seen in public then I'll try to tag along.  Is there some kind of group drive going on from the deep south, if so I might try and join up.

[mikek]

Sutton scotney services A34 9.00. It's a good day out, over 25 cars booked in so should be fun. Turbos, v6, 2zz's all sorts. Your car will be popular as I know people want to check out your interior.!