Hourly Rate Or Full Price To Install Sydneykids Kits

[vidospace]

I am getting a budget ready for my upcoming purchase of Sydneykids full suspension kit for my R34 GTT (all or nothing!!!).

Whats a good hourly rate for the installation work? I have been quoted $75 an hour and a 12 hour estimate!

I just dont want to get ripped off getting it installed. I am willing to go anywhere in Sydney or surrounds to get it installed and am willing to leave it with them for as long as it takes, but dont want to get stung with a $1000 labor bill.

I know about Heasman, but they charged me $380 for a "tune" on my wifes CRX coil overs which only involved checking the shocks and rasing it (adjustable coilovers) + alignment with no parts at all! Mind you they did do a great job, but it was a bit expensive.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Duncan]

assuming that includes installing a bunch of bushes, 12 hours is pretty reasonable. And workshop rates of 70-100 are typical.

[dangerous_daveo]

And 12x75 isnt far off $1k... also double check that includeds a comprehensive wheel alinement too. Because if you add that in it prob would throw it over the $1k mark.

If you are unsure just ring up some other places, ask them what they think. Maybe even hit the place your going to for a fixed rate install?

[stasis]

do you have a low profile jack and jack stands? I suggest you change the shock absobers yourself its pretty easy. And change the swaybars yourself too theres a thread somewhere in regards of that. Leave the bushing for the mechanices. In this case you can cut the cost substantially.

I changed my set of 4 suspension, front upper and lower control arms and castor rod and the rear upper camber arm myself. After i was done i just took it for an aligment .

2c worth.

[Rekin]

i recently got bushes and shocks replaced at 2 seperate times, so im guessing it would have been cheaper if i did it all at once, but anyways

Shock/Spring installation

Remove old suspension, place new suspension = $200

Labour for Camber (front/rear) bushes, castor bushes, power steering rack bushes, subframe bushes + removal of steering rack & fit a supplied one = $300

+ wheel alignment = $100

So basically I paid around the $600 for labour BUT thats including removal/fit of power steering rack, so it would be cheaper if that was not done.

Hope that helps

[code blue]

This is what i've done so far

Shocks fitted were $230 with brakes bleed as well.

Swaybars $70

Castor bushes $120 inc wheel alignment

camber still to come...

[_Ryan_]

i recently got bushes and shocks replaced at 2 seperate times, so im guessing it would have been cheaper if i did it all at once, but anyways

Shock/Spring installation

Remove old suspension, place new suspension = $200

Labour for Camber (front/rear) bushes, castor bushes, power steering rack bushes, subframe bushes + removal of steering rack & fit a supplied one = $300

+ wheel alignment = $100

So basically I paid around the $600 for labour BUT thats including removal/fit of power steering rack, so it would be cheaper if that was not done.

Hope that helps

Where was that?

[Sydneykid]

It always beneficial if you have someone who actually knows something about what they are doing, better still someone who has done it before.

We have had some strange questions, like the rear camber kit does't fit. Which was because they were trying to put it in the lower control arms.

So far the recommended workshops on the Group Buy list has been the better results. ie; East Coast Suspension in Kirrawee, Heasmans at Sydenham, Exceller Steering at Bankstown and Jim Hunter at Blacktown.

Lots of guys have DIY. A successfull method is a working bee in your garage or backyard. Just invite a few SAU'ers along who know what they are doing, provide some tools, a few beers and a BBQ, havea party and do it all for under $150.

Cheers

Matt

[R.3.2.G.T.R]

looking at changing my std suspension to coilovers i recently purchased.. any recommendations and wot sort of price am i looking at..

[Rekin]

Where was that?

mine was done at Traction Tyres in Victoria

www.tractiontyres.com.au

Tell em Pat with the black r32 refered you, and you should be looked after

[abu]

looking at changing my std suspension to coilovers i recently purchased.. any recommendations and wot sort of price am i looking at..

Do it your self, its very simple.

3 bolts per corner, 2 at the top and just the 1 at the bottom.

Literally just drops out.

Edited November 29, 2007 by abu

[R.3.2.G.T.R]

sounds like a plan.. have read that bolts needs to replaced each time its removed.. any1 who has replaced this?

[Duncan]

nope you wont need to replace any bolts unless you damage them removing something - use good quality spanners and you'll be fine.

only thing if you are doing shocks/springs in your backyard - you will need a pair of spring compressors and some patience. about $30 from super cheap (the compressors not the patience)

[JBird]

Heasman are very expensive, turnaround was pretty bad when I had work done by them before too.

Do it yourself if you have a jack and stands. You may also need a breaker bar and torque wrench,.

If you got rear pineapples you can do this yourself as they are split and you only need to partially undo the bolts holding the rear.

In regards to getting bushes pressed in, take your control arms off and bring them to the suspension place.

+1 for spring compressors, I actually used vice grips - I jacked up the suspension arm to compress the spring and locked them.

Jim Hunter out at blacktown is pretty reasonable.

East Coast down at Kirrawee I can also recommend, they replaced all the bushes and rubbers on a friends Torana for around $700 and it took 3 days.

[R.3.2.G.T.R]

thnx for the info guys.. gave it a shot last nite.. replaced one of the rears with relative ease.. as abu said.. only 3 bolts needed to be undone and the bottom part to be slid out off the connector.. could not get the bolt on the other rear side opened.. lots of swearing and pulling involved.. will take it around to the tyre place to get them to loosen bolt with rattle gun and then replace at home

the fronts were a completely different story.. removed the bolt but was unable to remove the bottom part from the connection bolt by sliding out.. it moved half way out but wouldnt clear the bolt completely.. how do i go bout removing this part? im assuming i remove the bottom part first.. is this where i need to use spring compressor??

[JBird]

You have to put the spring compressors on before having the wheel extend after you jack he whole vehicle up!

I don't get what your saying but it sounds like the spring is pushing the strut/arm down so the bolt has a restriction on it from coming out.

Invest in a breaker bar, douse it in WD40

[Duncan]

no mate thats just the hub sitting in the wrong place. you will be able to lever it out of the way - and when you put the new springs/shock in, depending on how long it is, you might need to push the hub down to get it to fit

[vidospace]

Yeah thanks for the info all.

[R32Abuser]

Most of it is pretty simple to do. Bar teh bushes (which i got teh mechanics to do) everything else is almost just take out and bolt in more or less. If i were in Sydney id come round and do it with you for a carton, but Adelaides a bit far haha. key thing is having the right equipment and right space to do it in. If you want i can go through with you what u need to do on each part breifly if that would help. Shoot us a PM if u need any help.

[stasis]

Most of it is pretty simple to do. Bar teh bushes (which i got teh mechanics to do) everything else is almost just take out and bolt in more or less. If i were in Sydney id come round and do it with you for a carton, but Adelaides a bit far haha. key thing is having the right equipment and right space to do it in. If you want i can go through with you what u need to do on each part breifly if that would help. Shoot us a PM if u need any help.

All you need is a low profile jack, a set of spanners, breaker bar, WD40 (handy for tuff nuts), bright lights ohh dont forget the jack stands.