I purchased some bilstein leveling 5100s and I'm more of a diy'er but I cant compress a huge coil spring so I'll need it installed 'professionally'.

I checked with Ford and they quoted me $458 before buying new hardware for the install.

4wheelparts quoted me $413. Still before fresh hardware.

I don't really know anywhere else where I could get this done that I would trust. If this is the going rate now a days then I'll pay it but it seems a bit high for what they are doing realistically.

 

Yeah if you're supplying the parts and all they're doing is the install then I'd say that's pretty high.

The labor time to replace the front struts reusing the old springs is 2.2hrs for a 2WD. The shop I work at would charge $115/hr so that's $253 plus $75 for an alignment for $328 total. Sounds like they're trying to charge you something like $153-174/hr depending on which shop you go to if they charge the same $75 for an alignment.

For the record I'm not in a cheap area either, the last time I checked my area makes the top 5 list for best pay in my field and we charge accordingly.

 

Thanks for the feedback. When I first researched all of this I was seeing quotes around 170+ on the low end which honestly isn't bad but that was about 4 years ago. I added my own inflation to the price and was expecting something more along the lines of what you said actually. I wonder if I have to just check with a bunch of different ford dealers...? Do you think their prices might vary? The guy I spoke with at the service desk was pretty arrogant to be honest, he even called my bilsteins to be "very dangerous, that's why we install quick shocks"

 

You should try calling around more and not mentioning you have aftermarket struts, just say they're Ford OEM if questioned, and remember it's only 2.2hours of labor so if the number sounds wrong call them out on it and make them break the price down.

In my experience most service writers have no automotive training because they are sales people, not technicians or mechanics. I've even worked with some who had no automotive background at all but got hired for their sales backgrounds in wholesale produce or mens underwear, and yes those are real examples. My point is that when they give you a ridiculous quote, make some wild claim about Bilsteins being unsafe and cheap Monroe Quick-Struts being great, or just say anything that doesn't sound right, it's probably because they don't know what they're doing.

When you find a place I would just talk to the tech directly when it comes to the specifics of what you'd like done, and I'm sure the tech doing the work will have no issue with your Bilsteins, just make sure to show them the correct orientation of the lower spring seat as some guys get this wrong, and if in the end the work is done well, tip the tech $10 and know that if you have any issues down the road he'll remember you for it and jump through hoops to make it right.

 

Good advice I appreciate your help. I'll have to keep searching it seems until somebody decides to be reasonable at a dealership.

 

I must be liked pretty well where I had my Boss Coilovers, and Boss rears installed, $210USD, including the realignment. That was about 3 months ago.

 

4 wheel parts quoted me on labor:
$200 for front
$60 for rear
$88 for alignment
$6.64 for lubes/cleansers/
354.64 total labor

For parts:
$104.49 each for front bilsteins 5100
$75.99 each rear bilstein 5100

 

I didn't think there were Bilstein 5100s for the 2009-2014 gen... huh. Anyway that seems like a very good deal, Mule.

 

Martian, I didn't think it was a bad deal either. Hopefully in the next month or so I can get them.

 

If your a DIY'er go to harbor freight and buy a heavy duty coil spring compressor and install yourself. You can actually barrow spring compression tools at auto zone.. but, I would suggest using 2 of those while compressing the coil springs.. they are not so heavy duty.