motor vehicle repair charges

[franksolich]

Because the regular mechanic's busy with mechanicizing farm equipment, I had to have another guy in town do some stuff on my motor vehicle.

This is stuff never done by the regular mechanic, whose charges are eminently reasonable, and so I have no comparison.

The second guy, the one who did this work, allowed me to purchase the parts, and charged only labor.

First repair: installation of new serpentine belt, front-end alignment, installation of new tie rod.

I paid $19 for the serpentine belt, $20 for the tie rod.

Labor charges: $75.

Second repair: installation of new brake shoes and fluid hose, plus machining of brake rotor.

I paid $18 for the brake shoes, and $16 for the fluid hose.

Labor charges: $50.

Someone said this is too much, but the guy has a sterling reputation, and I don't think so; in fact, it was less than I expected it to be.

How does all this compare with anybody else's experience?

[Chris]

The brake job seems reasonable.  It's a messy, dirty, nasty job and brake fluid is toxic.

The tie-rod/belt install seems a little pricey.

[franksolich]

The brake job seems reasonable.  It's a messy, dirty, nasty job and brake fluid is toxic.

You're getting hosed on the belt change.  Get a four-foot metal bar as a pry rod and do it yourself.

The "belt change" included new tie-rod installation and front-end alignment; all three for $75.

[Chris]

I missed that the first time and edited my post.  Sorry.

edited to add:  I've never done an alignment, but they usually charge $30 for the time it takes.  Those prices look allright to me.

[Flame]

My in-laws own a shop, and that sound very reasonable to me.

[Carl]

It sounds very fair especially without having any mark up on the parts.

In 12 years at the NAPA store I turned countless numbers of brake rotors and drums and it is one of the nastiest jobs you can imagine in a closed area.
Brake,rust and machining dust everywhere in the air and on your hands mixed with a certain amount of grease.
The junk iron used would rust badly in spots which would dull the cutting bits causing them to chatter against the surfaces or run out badly.
Fixing that once it happned was a very slow and painstaking process.

[Chris]

Prices have gone up.  I remember when Howard's motorcycle shop used to charge $60 for an hour's labor.  Now they're $90.

The car dealership is up to $75.

[RobJohnson]

Because the regular mechanic's busy with mechanicizing farm equipment, I had to have another guy in town do some stuff on my motor vehicle.

This is stuff never done by the regular mechanic, whose charges are eminently reasonable, and so I have no comparison.

The second guy, the one who did this work, allowed me to purchase the parts, and charged only labor.

First repair: installation of new serpentine belt, front-end alignment, installation of new tie rod.

I paid $19 for the serpentine belt, $20 for the tie rod.

Labor charges: $75.

Second repair: installation of new brake shoes and fluid hose, plus machining of brake rotor.

I paid $18 for the brake shoes, and $16 for the fluid hose.

Labor charges: $50.

Someone said this is too much, but the guy has a sterling reputation, and I don't think so; in fact, it was less than I expected it to be.

How does all this compare with anybody else's experience?

At rates that low, I would of gave the guy a tip.

You got a very good deal.

[Thor]

I concur with the rest of the folks. Dealerships in MN are charging $90+ per hour for labor. Then, they go by some book that says it should take "X" number of man-hours to do a particular job, even when it can be done more quickly. Here in Texas, the labor rates are a little lower. Frank, you're getting a good deal. I charged a friend of mine $60 to repair a starter. All in all, it took me about an hour and a half to pull it, get it repaired, and reinstall it. The repair, itself, cost $35. So, she had her starter fixed for under $100. A rebuilt starter from the local auto parts store was $175.