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replace shocks/struts?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Daniel Weiss, Jul 28, 2014.

  1. Daniel Weiss

    Daniel Weiss Junior Member

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    I just bought a 2005 Prius with 126,000 miles on it. It failed inspection for a cracked rear coil spring and the front control arm bushings starting to separate. A couple of the shops I got quotes from (including the dealer) recommended replacing the rear struts at the same time since the labor to remove the coil springs is the same thing as removing the struts. As the Toyota dealer put it, you take off the springs and you're holding the strut in your hand. He said that with the age and mileage of the car, I might as well replace the struts which he said were a surprisingly reasonable $80. Oddly enough, that strut price was the one item where the dealer was cheaper than other repair shops.
     
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    How much were you quoted for the entire job? Are you doing the front struts too?
     
  3. Daniel Weiss

    Daniel Weiss Junior Member

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    For just the rear coil springs and lower front control arms I got amounts ranging from about $750 to $1500. Adding in the strut replacement to the cheapest quote I got was an extra $300. I hadn't even considered doing the front ones at the same time since none of the mechanics I spoke to suggested that; I suppose it makes sense to do all of them at once, but I'm really not looking to spend any extra money right now.
     
  4. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    If you list your location, maybe some members can recommend a shop that can do this for you.
     
  5. Daniel Weiss

    Daniel Weiss Junior Member

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    Thanks for the advice JC91006, but I got quotes from 5 different shop, 4 of which I've used in the past. I think I got a good range!
     
  6. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    When I replaced my rear shocks, the parts from online Toyota dealers was right around $100 for the 2006 model. There's a guy that did a lot of lowering for Prius and Lexus cars, he did labor for the rear shocks for $80. Total cost was $180.
     
  7. Too Hyperbolic

    Too Hyperbolic New Member

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    Why can we not DIY this job???? You can rent a tool that compresses the spring. I did this a long time ago on a Mazda and the reason for all the labor is getting to the parts; in that case I had to remove the rear seat. I have almost 190K on my Prius, gets better mileage and runs better than ever but why dump $850 bucks on $200 bucks worth of parts and a Saturday? Someone tell me I'm crazy!
     
  8. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    No reason, and I have posted on how to replace the front struts and rear shocks. That certainly beats paying dealer service dept prices for that job.
     
  9. alexeft

    alexeft Member

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    You are not crazy! :)
     
  10. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    Absolutely, stay away from the dealership.

    I have read in the forum that one way to avoid the danger of releasing the spring is to disassemble the component from the car and take it to a shop. For about $20 per wheel, the shop will put the spring on the new strut. Seems like a fair compromise between safety and DIY to me.
     
  11. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    I'm normally a DIY guy when it comes to car stuff, but if the labor rate is cheap enough, I don't bother messing with the repairs.

    Ex. my mechanic charges me $10 to do an oil change, I just bring him my oil and filter. Yes I can do this myself, but hell $10 is like skipping McDonalds for lunch for 1 day. Not worth DIY
     
  12. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    It is very worthwhile to skip a trip to McDonalds. So DIY has double the benefit for you.

    And call me skeptical, but I doubt people who go to a dealership end up paying only $10 total OTD.
     
  13. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Everyone has their ceiling, there's factors to weigh. A competent, experienced shop that stands behind their work is worth something. Personally, compressing springs would freak me out.
     
  14. Too Hyperbolic

    Too Hyperbolic New Member

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    Can you link me to the post? Thanks!
     
  15. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    This forum has a search forum. DIY
     
  16. writes123

    writes123 Junior Member

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    I have a mechanic not dealership that will only charge me 10 bucks if I bring my own oil and filter. But then I have to drive quite a distance to him and I am quite confident in my oil changing skills.
     
  17. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    Sure, but the question is will you agree to other services then or later ?
     
  18. writes123

    writes123 Junior Member

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    Actually the mechanic never up sells any service. unless it's actively broken I have to initiate other services ie preventative maintenance. An example would be a differential fluid service, spark plug change. for timing belts jobs, he'll quote the price for parts and labor and labor only. He'll tell me what exact part including manufacturer for the Toyota or Lexus oem part and tell me that I may be able to get a better price. I just bring the parts to him and he'll install and warranty the work.

    It's rare to find a mechanic that is that honest and forthcoming. He charged me 60 per strut for labor my Lexus.
     
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  19. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    The downside I find in bringing a mechanic parts and paying only labor is there are no guarantees on the work. If the part is defective, you would then have to pay him twice to do the work again. Whereas if he provided the parts and labor, he would have to just suck it up and do it again on his own time.
     
  20. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    Is it the Toyota OEM or high quality synthetic oil that has you worried ?