I am about to get my struts sectioned to install some megan coil-over conversion brackets, as well as weld in some strut tops (camber in front and static ones in the rear).

I am curious if $50 a corner is a good/fair price for the removal, cut, tig weld, and install of the coil-overs.

Is this at a shop? Friend? That is only like 2 hours labor (at a shop rate) to R&R 4 Z struts. I'd say that's a deal if their work is quality. Perhaps I didn't interpret 'removal' correctly, you do mean the person(s) will remove the struts from the car? I have done the cutting/welding myself but I have a welder and have friends with a nice welder. I would give my $200 to someone if I could not do it myself.

it is a shop, and yes they will do everything; i drive my car there and pick it up later with everything installed.

I have never personally gone to him before, but the guy has had a shop going for 10 years and has a very good rep on the some volvo forums.

thanks 70 cam guy, fair price it is!!

I have a bad feeling about any shop that says they'll do this job for $50 per corner. I would expect you to pay 5 or 6 times that amount per corner to do it right at a minimum. Andy: $50 for 2 hours labor? The last time I worked in a shop was in the mid 90's and we charged $75/hr. 15 years later I know the economy sucks but I can't imagine shops making any money at all without that labor rate at least staying flat if not going up.

Edited May 4, 201014 yr by jmortensen

R&R four struts, cut and TIG weld, install shocks/springs, and weld in camber plates for $200? I think the mechanic doesn't understand what he just estimated.

agreed, you better make sure he knows what is involved.. these are not Camaros,where you can drop a strut in like 10 minutes.

I have a bad feeling about any shop that says they'll do this job for $50 per corner. I would expect you to pay 5 or 6 times that amount per corner to do it right at a minimum. Andy: $50 for 2 hours labor? The last time I worked in a shop was in the mid 90's and we charged $75/hr. 15 years later I know the economy sucks but I can't imagine shops making any money at all without that labor rate at least staying flat if not going up.

Jon, you're right, he was was saying 50/corner at 4 corners. $200 is only like 2 hours of shop time at an independent around here. My friends charge $95/hour and they are on the low side. Dealers around here are upwards of 150-190/hr. This is also why I asked if they were removing the struts too because I've dealt with my spindle pins already and no way can a shop come close to 2 hours. Hell, even a team of techs would be hard pressed to R&R 4 Z struts if the spindle pins don't cooperate, without any sectioning.

With the way some of the guys on HBZ are doing that S13 coil swap I could see the cut&weld going faster than the cut/section/weld we've done. Bring me a strut and I could cut it, and weld on that lower perch they are using fairly quickly. In that situation, I could see that $200 is not unreasonable for an experienced welder/fabricator

This is why I asked if this was a friend and if they were removing the struts, it seems silly low. I guess I was premature, if my friend said $200 to cut/weld my struts, I'd be cool with that. If a shop I don't know says $200 to do everything, I'd wonder exactly what John Coffey just said

Just a thought, do you have any Spares -just incase you want to revert to stock or repair damage.

As for a recommendation, you are at the right spot. I am sure that this thread will yield the right info.

The total cost came to $300 out the door, which i had no issue at all paying. Thankfully the shop let me lurk around while all the work was taking place and take photos of the whole process, so I know how difficult it actually was.

Here is a shot of the car after it was finished at the shop.

There is no way that I could actually drive the car without raising it up just a smidge.

So how did you raise it up?

drove up on some 2x4s so that I could get the floor jack under the front cross member, and then raised the front of the car by an inch. I was able to clear the small hump to get out of the parking lot, but the rears were still rubbing on everything on the drive back home.

Today I will be adjusting ride height; probably a half an inch up in the rear and half an inch lower in the front.

also as far as RLCA angle goes... it isnt bad at all. They are just a tab above parallel, so raising the rears that half inch should correct it.

COol, can't wait to see daytime pictures. Are those Diamond Racing wheels? The stance looks killer but yeah, it's looks pretty low in the rear

yep they are diamond racing wheels, 15x10 -25 with 225.50 tyres all around.

Here is the write up on the daytime photos after a slight bit of ride height adjustment. More will be coming next week after I order some RLCAs to fix the toe and camber.

http://crazyoctopi.blogspot.com/