Is shops price to high for labor

Jeepenmadness

Active Member
Joined
Aug 30, 2008
Location
Autryville ,NC
1 thing was new 4.56 gears and lockrite front and back for 1800.00 on my 99 Jeep cherrokee

2 thing was slipyoke elm. kit and drive shaft for 1,000.00



this was at wilson off road in fayetteville , NC


It seams alittle to high for my blood..
 
I can't speak for East Coast prices now but last summer I had East coast Quote me 4.88 gears installed in my TJ and it was over 1200 so if you add a couple Lockrites at about $300 bucks a piece then 1800 is about right.

But as JPh0913 said give them a call see what they can say.
 
fwiw i paid $1010 in parts (4.56 front and rear, tru trac, 2 master install kits) from ecgs for my 01 silverado and paid $300 per axle at Universal automotive.

i'd say you could find it cheaper, keep shopping.
 
If you figure $300 per axle for gears and install kit, $300 for each lockrite, and $300 per axle to pull the axle and put in the gears, thats about right.

On the SYE and driveshaft, thats about $500 for parts ($200 SYE and $300 driveshaft) and $500 for install. $500 is a little high on the install in my opinion, but I've heard of much more outlandish things.
 
central09er said:
why is driveshaft stuff so much $$$ it doesn't take that much does it?
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driveshaft install is quick and easy, but SYE install takes time.

Of all the prices he stated, the only thing i see thats a little high is the SYE install. Everything else sounds about right.
 
99ncxj said:
driveshaft install is quick and easy, but SYE install takes time.
Of all the prices he stated, the only thing i see thats a little high is the SYE install. Everything else sounds about right.
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jeepinmatt said:
If you figure $300 per axle for gears and install kit, $300 for each lockrite, and $300 per axle to pull the axle and put in the gears, thats about right.

On the SYE and driveshaft, thats about $500 for parts ($200 SYE and $300 driveshaft) and $500 for install. $500 is a little high on the install in my opinion, but I've heard of much more outlandish things.
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i can see 200 on a sye that to me is priced right or maybe a little low but 300 for a driveshaft?
 
LP Gear in Taylorsviile wanted 1200 to install a gear and locker in my 10 boit with me supplying parts.
 
Jeepenmadness said:
Said his drive shafts are bab ass and no elses could touch them,,,, its wilson off road
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I'm not saying they aren'y high quality, prob are - but that right there is a funny statement.

A driveshaft is a tube w/ a joint, it can only be so round and so balanced. Maybe more "stout" w/ thicker metal or a HQ joint, but in the end, all tubes max out at "round" and "solid" lol.:lol:
 
On the SYE kit, contact Carolina Driveline. They are good people and in simple terms, they can take care of you. I haven't checked their prices in a couple years but I think it is still reasonable.

I'd like to say you could get a SYE kit and new rear driveshaft for about $500.

On the gear install, keep shopping around. If you want to save even more money (and if possible), remove the axles from the rig. It is a lot easier on the installer. Oh and ask non-4WD shops about the gear and locker install. A couple years ago we had a local guy that would do it for $150 if the axle was on the truck and for $90 if it wasn't!
 
LR Max said:
Oh and ask non-4WD shops about the gear and locker install. A couple years ago we had a local guy that would do it for $150 if the axle was on the truck and for $90 if it wasn't!
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Who is this guy? I need to sub my work out to him!
 
LR Max said:
Oh and ask non-4WD shops about the gear and locker install. A couple years ago we had a local guy that would do it for $150 if the axle was on the truck and for $90 if it wasn't!
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WOW I dunno man, $90? either that's a guy that expects to do the job way too fast (makes me real nervous), or has absolutely no value for his time (make me nervous).
Some jobs really just need time and patience invested, gears aren't something you rush.
 
*Not advertising here*
I charge $150 per axle to install ring and pinions. So assume a late model Jeep with a 30 front, 35, 44, or 8.25 rear. Front gear set with bearing kit is $200, rear with same parts will be $200-$250. Add in $250 for a front lunch box locker and up to $350 for a rear (8.25)
So about $1400 out the door with lockers. I am not a shop anymore, but do shop quality work.

I charge $200 for SYE installs. SYE kit will be $500 with driveshaft from most any online retailer.
So $700 out the door.

There are other options, but you just gotta shop around and KNOW who is doing the work and their credentials.

Around here, I am by far the most affordable and thus stay as busy as I want doing gear installs, etc. Regular "shop" rates around here are closer to what the OP stated he was quoted.
 
10 years ago I had my gears done ~ about 1200 each axles for 4.56 detroit rear (aMC 20) and 4.56 Powerlock in a D44
 
jeepinmatt said:
Who is this guy? I need to sub my work out to him!
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Hahaha, he was a local when I lived in SC a year and some change ago. Great guy, had a low profile fab shop. I dunno what his rates are now. I think he was the guy that did the 23 minute gear swap at WEROCK Dayton in 2008 (did it right). On the price, he was just a good ole southern boy and the standard of living was just really low. Everything down there was amazingly cheap. I could get a set of tires balanced for under $20.

$150 for in-truck sounds like a good price. I'd pay that.
 
For SYE/Driveshaft... Order a RE Hack & Tap from a vendor for around $200.... Install it yourself, you dont need to pull the tcase if you're scared of that...

For the Driveshaft, pick up a used XJ front driveshaft... look the write up and pick up the flanges/ect. from NAPA... You may to lengthen it -or- may not... Approx. $100

TOTAL: Approx. $300 and an afternoon of your time...

If you have an 8.25 in your XJ you cannot go LockRight... you'll have to pick up a Powertrax No-Slip ...
 
I know my shops labor rate is 90 a hour . but I have don all my work myself I plan on re gearing my diffs when I get the cash for the parts myself . have done it a lot and get better with experience. All the ones I have done I have not used a pinipn depth gauge and just go by feel.
 
The gear install and parts look good axle end. The SYE is High ask him to requote.

As for the gear stuff our quote would be very close to that.

I read on the forums nearly everyday people saying you can do this and that cheaper yourself and downing shops. Well no doubt a shop has to get paid for the work when you pay you should get clean, profesional, quality work and you get to pick it up finished. not run to the parts store 10 times, go to the junkyard and get a shaft or axle or whatever.

80% of what we do on differentials is the second time around, its either broke or noisy. I guess its a question of how many times you want to pay for it. All our diffs come with a 5 year warranty so if we are more expensive I guess you get what you pay for.

By selling parts out of state and talking to customers there are 3 Quotes scenarios I hear-

One is way cheap- Its either a backyard mechanic with no overhead and a second job (some good, most not) or they have shop but have no idea what there doing they are removing parts and putting them back in usually not the way they came out. these are the ones that call and when i give them a price for a ring and pinion they say they just need the ring how much for that.....wow

Second is way high- Legitmate shop w/ overhead that does not know how to set up ring and pinions maybe do 2 a year at most. they know enough to know they don't know and are scared its going to come back so they are going to charge double the first time around. These guys can take the diff apart and put them back together the way it came apart usually so you have a sporting chance and they get away with it until.......

Third is what you got quoted legitmate shop w/ overhead either know what they are doing or don't but at least want to be competitive in the differential industry and have done enough to know whats expected.


Wilson boys are good guys no doubt and are fair, i have dealt with them a fair bit and consider them an asset to the 4wd community.

I honestly don't know how skilled they are at diffs but I do know they care about there work and do not halfass anything. They ask questions and take the time to get the correct answers not just slap it together. They have never sent back a gear for warranty thats a good sign.
 
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