Labor hours for Front Lower Control Arms
 

Anyone know what the book hours are for replacing the front lower controls arms on a SC300? Local dealer here (Prestige Lexus in Ramsey, NJ) quoted 8 hours @ $140/hr. I was also planning on replacing my front brakes (calipers, rotors, pads) and they quoted another 6 hours for that. Seems to be double what I've been seeing from old posts here (circa 2011-ish).

Thanks,
Brian

Do it yourself and save 2k at those prices.... lol Probably a little high but they do that incase its rusted to **** so they have their time covered.

rotors/ pads - 1.5 hours calipers 1.5 hours bleed brakes 1 hours. so they added 2 there
control arms are 2.5 for both plus 1 hour for alignment.

So they are ****ing you basically.

These times are according to prodemand its what we use at my shop to quote prices.

Thank you - this is very helpful information. I'm scared to do it myself in case they are rusted to *****. Unfortunately, I don't have garage space where I can work on my car (parking garage doesn't allow it). Can't be they would mark up the labor hours for the controls arms by that much. The 8 hours didn't include the alignment.

replace brake lines at the same time
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...be443179b8.jpg


how much are they charging for the lower control arm part?
8 hours is to be expected but you may want to get a lower rate cause it is a very simple job that is not really brand/make specific, it is a simple wishbone suspension with a McPherson type strut.

I'm supplying the part - Supra LCAs. I'll probably order some Goodridge SS brake lines as well.

8 hours + alignment seems to be a lot.

recommend using an OEM spec brake line not a generic one, cause the OEM ones are perfect fit to attachment points and they are braided stainless just covered with the outer rubber jacket. The stainless outer braided ones are just looks not better.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...8df9f0c898.jpg

The additional time is because you are supplying the parts. They mark up the labor to cover the loss on the parts mark up. In essence the bay needs to make X $$ per hour parts & labor. W/O the parts the labor has to go up.
Maybe find a competent local shop that may not charge as much.

Just had mine done in February by a local mechanic, got charged $500 to replace LCAs and sway bar links.
I supplied the Supra LCAs. Took me about 30 phone calls before I could find someone with the right side arm. .
What a difference in the ride.

Call around to some alignment shops and see if they'll do it, you're going to need one once it's done anyway so might as well just make one stop.

I echo this, it is such a simple job that I can't imagine an alignment shop couldn't knock it out and do the alignment in half the quoted time you were given. I am slow and I know I can do it in that time. I race these cars, we swapped in a spare spindle I had built up in 25 minutes in a race (broken hub) and we weren't really in a hurry because we knew we were out of the running in the race. That's the hard part given the ball joint "popping out", the rest is just a few more bolts for the shock, the sway bar, and the eccentric bolts. The alignment should be the more time consuming part of the job. If I had to do it in my driveway it might take me 8 hours just due to having to drag everything out I would need, stop and answer the phone, go get a beer or two, check the internet for something randomly unrelated, etc. Yeah the more I think about it, 8 hours would be robbery.

Where in NY are you? If you're happy with the work, can you provide details on where you got the work done?

I am in Peekskill, NY, about 45 mins north of NYC.
Got it done here in Peekskill at Brian's Automotive. I am happy with the work. He specializes in older cars.

6 hours for front brakes :uh: They must be gravity bleeding it for 4 hours then :slap: