So I paid to have my suspension installed because the wife was complaining about me spending to much time with the truck.

Here's what I had:
install QA1's
install hotchkis springs/swaybars.
install pro-thane bushings (already pressed into sleeves)
install pan-hard bar
install drive-shaft loop (while they're there)

They've had my truck for two days and all they've done are the first two (and an alignment that will get completely screwed up once they put in the bushings).

How many hours do you gurus say this should take? I'm gonna fight these idiots if they try to charge me for two days...

Coldie

ARG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

i dont know how long it should take but i do know that it should not take two days. make sure they show you an itemized(sp?) list of everything they did and how long it took.

 

Cold one,

JMHO, they should have started with the bushings since the springs and shocks would/should be integrated into the front suspension reassembly.

My best guess (each as a seperate install)

Shocks = 1.5 hours
Springs (front) = 1 hour (loafing)
Springs (rear) = 3 hours ???? Spike?
Swaybars = 1.5 hour TOPS
Panhard bar = 2 hours, maybe 3 (depends on their ability to read instructions. )
Driveshaft loop = 15 minutes (PSP/JLP design), 1 hour Metco/JDM 'ring style' unit

Bushings = tough call there chief

So far, that's roughly 9 hours time

They should have been DONE in two days time.

Bob

 

They said one day (8 hours)

At noon on the first day, they made some excuse about the lift they needed to use already in use.

Today, they said bushings would be hard because they had to flame them out (don't think so, anyone confirm?), so they just did the front end.

I'm going to go pick up the truck (I need it to haul fireworks tomorrow )

What will REALLY **** me off is if they try and charge me for disassembly of the front end twice and two alignments.

I am not getting any happier...

I'll let everyone know what the scoop is shortly.

Coldie

 

The bad news is that it may be too late to argue, but...you shouldn't pay for their inefficiencies.

The entire hotchkis suspension, including sway bars, and the shocks should take 2 hours if the installer is quick to begin with and knows Lightnings, although the shocks may lengthen the time. So, I'll double that time to be safe.

If they were smart, they would have raised the rear bed (or removed it) and that would have made the entire rear suspension work a breeze. The driver's side shock is tedious to remove, one bolt on the panhard bar is dificult to install and the stock sway bar bolts are also tedious to remove (without an air rachet).

The driveshaft loop time is dependent on the driveshaft loop you got. If it's Ruslows, the most difficult part is removing the driveshaft.

So, with the above in mind, here's my guess (one worker):

Hotchkis and shocks: 4 hours (with plenty of breaks)
Panhard bar: 3 hours (without bed removal)
Driveshaft loop: 1 hour
Bushings: 1 hour
Alignment: 1 hour (assuming it has to go on a different rack)

Total time: 10 hours

Could it be done in 6 to 8 hours? Yes, if they've done several and planned out the work. Raising the bed would have dramatically reduced the time, if they did that first.

Buy your wife a flower arrangement and another gift that you pick out and give it to her tonight. Ignore the truck for a weekend and plan time with just her. The truck "problem" will go away quickly.

Spike

 

First off, I should have run when they said they didn't have a hoist for the bed (I know, stupid me, but I trusted a single recommendation)

Second, instead of buying her flowers, I told her instead of spending time with her on Friday, I had to work on the truck. I'm going to let her sort out the bill (she's mean, black belt and nationally ranking in fencing and rifle)

hehe. I was just trying to do something nice for her so she could spend more time with me and now these idiots have screwed it up. I won't spend time with the truck instead of her, it'll just take that much longer till I get everything together.

Coldie

PS: so what I'm seeing is for what they have accomplished, it should have been 5-7 hours. We'll see what happens. I was really hoping on calming down before I went over there, but oh well.

 

Pick it up and remain calm when you explain that work and time should be compensated and you'll gladly pay for a job well done. But also state, without question, that you shouldn't pay for their learning curve.

If you loose your nerve, the "pricing" will spin out of control.

Spike

 

Not a bad idea.

I prefer the: work on the truck, g/f gets mad and won't call me so I get thrown in the doghouse. While working on the truck I plan on how to make it up it to her. So then I'm done with the truck and not worrying about when to get the stuff done to it, so I can focus more on her. So far it's worked flawlessly for me. But if you can't take being in the doghouse for a day avoid this method.

 

Thanks for the advice Spike. Wish me luck, the wife is picking me up to head over there...

Coldie

 

I walked in and they wanted to charge me for 8 hours of labor plus an alignment.

After a bit of discussion, it was down to 6 hours and an alignment but I wouldn't pay for the alignment when they put the bushings in.

I'm going to put the bushings in myself and get my free alignment and call it a day.

Oh yeah, it had 10 miles on it because they said they had to check if it was tracking straight for the alignment.

Coldie.

 

On that note...

will the old bushings need to be pressed out? Or do they just pop out?

Coldie

 

Coldie,
Be glad your truck is back in your hands. Stay away from there. They have bad news written all over it. I would pay for another alignment before going back there. Easily could have be done in 8hrs. I have done all the above except the panhard. The bushings do have to be pressed out and pressed in. I have a mac-daddy vise and it wouldn't do it. Had a shop do the press work. Get your wife out in the garage to pass you tools, read instructtion, turn wrenches. If she is anything like mine she will last about 5 minutes then leave you alone. We have a deal, whatever I spend on toys she gets the same amount in jewelery. In Feburary she got a 2.0 carat solitare (ouch!). Give me a shout if you get stuck on the suspension I should be able to talk you through it.

 

I have decided there is no standard for pricing/time when it comes to suspension work. I had one shop quote me 1 days work and $500. Another said 2 days and $300. And finally I had a buddy install it at the dealership where he is employeed, with another guy after hours, and they did the whole job in 2 hours for $200. So I guess its in who you know and how much you are willing to spend

 

It's Carnutz in Bellevue btw... (for all the Seattle folks)

I'll have to figure out what to do about the bushings then...

Thanks for all the help folks.

 

Coldie,

I followed Silver Bolt's tip and procured a set of OEM bushings for which to cannibalize. $107 fro Fordpartsonline...

The inner sleeves need to be burned out then the rubber removed/ground off where necessary for the Urethane.

I'm beginning this 'little' project also. Will advise as to what happens, tips, etc.

Bob