dzhenou

I took the car in for regular maintenance and was notified that both my front lower control arms were "moving" and need replacing. It was noted that my front tires were getting worn as a result and now need two new front tires. Quote from dealer $750. My question is do you know if this quote is fair and do you have any advice?

TYM.

KzooTL

2 tires installed at @~125 each so 250-300 just for tires leaving 500 for the lower control arm problem.

I think they will just replace the bushings (30 per side) and give your car an alignment. Dealerships charge $70 an hour for jobs, and they give you prices based on how many hours their manuals say. Local shops are bound to give better prices.

01tl4tl

Its faster, and easier, and safer, to replace the entire arm with its new bushings installed than to remove the arm- press out old bushing- press in new bushings, install arms and align
The dealer likes to replace entire assemblies- thats how they make money for parts dept and service dept. Also there could be excess wear in the place the bushing fits into very tightly. We are talking a 20 ton hydraulic press to remove and install them.
Ask around at local honda acura specialist shop- every town has a few of them, look in the real phone book yellow pages- automobile repairing and service.
You should always get 4 wheel thrust alignments, since the rear toe can be adjusted on the TL

Are you running lowered car- bigger tires by chance?

dzhenou

I'm not sure but i dont think the tires were included in the estimate. I'll look around the phone book for an independent dealer. Is there a way to tell if they really need changing? Nah, i never customized the car all that much, not lowered and does not have larger tires. Its been over six months now paid off and I just want to keep it going and going and going....

bmaczo6

iTrader: (1)

With 125k is not that unusual to have the bushings on the control arms wear out.

DMZ

I discovered my left lower control arm bushing cracked at 11,500 miles.
Dealer replaced both and did an alignment under warranty.

01tl4tl

get confirmation by taking it to an alignment shop

dzhenou

Here is a break down of the quote from the dealer for those who may want to know my experience. Each front lower control arm $165 plus $420 in labor = $750.

Eoanou

I'll go pull up my service record when the control arm was replaced, I'll let you know how much they charged me.

Eoanou

Alright I just pulled it up,

I paid $144.85 for the R/F control arm
and $137.85 for installation (Doesn't mention hours but they charged for 1hr45mins, I'm guessing since they charged $85.20 an hour at the time).

Bear in mind that this was a year and a half ago Feb. '07 so the prices may have inflated some along with labor rates.

dzhenou

It sounds like you had only one control arm replaced. to compare your cost to mine i would have to double your cost because you only had one replaced while i have to replace both of mine.

144.85 for one control arm
137.85 for the labor of replacing only one control arm
-------------------------
282.70 I would take this and double it, 282.70 x 2 = 565.40

that's 184 dollars less then my quote of 750. Does this comparison look accurate or am i getting ripped off? They did say they'd take off 10% of the 750.

Eoanou

Sorry for not coming back to the thread in a while, yes I only had the R/F (Right/Front) control arm replaced, the numbers I gave you were so you can see the cost for doing one as a reference.

So doubling it would be accurate.

Is the dealer only charging you for two new control arms installed are they doing anything else?

dzhenou

No worries. Yes, only the control arms replacment was mentioned in that quote. Do you know of other services that should be done?