Its realy hard to believe the labor cost to change 2 front shocks at toyota ... I mean I could do it in like 40min but of cource you won't get that lifetime suspension warranty? Anyone had a leaky squeaky shock replace?
$240, $280, $317,

What is it $200 bucks an hour?

Anyone?

That's how the stealerships make their money. Stealerships maintenance dept makes more than what the stealership sells in vehicles.

I think the average is about 100-130 an hour. But most dealerships, if not all will base their work off of what their system tell them a job will take. For instance, they could change a fuse in 2 mins, but their system says its a 30min job, so they charge 60 bucks in labor. Its a crappy system.

I see.. I would pay the $100/$130 for the hour to replace them but $300 for potential 30 min job? thats crazy ...I could buy both shocks 2 times for that much money...with one negative the dang warranty.

I think Toyota should do somethng about this as a lot of folks with x-reas are having failures... The clunk, squeek and leak.

At least my 03 XLE camry held up besides the warp rotors and left rear window.

Replace it yourself with factory parts. How will a dealership know the difference when it comes to your warranty?

If you really think you could change out your front shocks in 40 min then I can see why you would think the dealership is overpriced... but i'm willing to bet you couldn't. It's not the most difficult thing you'll ever do to a 4runner, but you're overestimating it's ease.

The rears can be done in 15 min if you know what you're doing.
The fronts will take considerably longer as you have to disassemble the shock/spring assembly to replace one or the other.

Completely agree. The rear is simple and if...IF you know what you're doing it's a snap. I'm not trying to justify the price, but if you've never touched your suspension and it's your first time so you're going a little slow then you can probably count on spending 4 hours + with prep time. And thats IF you have all the tools you need. Hell, if your using the bottle jack it'll take you a half hour just to jack it up... j/k

I have to agree on time. I just added spacers to the front (no spring shock disassemble) and it took me two hours. I was on the floor only using hand tools, no air this time. Of course, the back took about 25-30 minutes. So, while the hourly rate is pricey, the time is not too far off.

Well, okay I think I might have not have added the time for the spring compression so I gues s 1.5 hours ?
I have all the necc tools required, all air, SUV floor jack plus stands so thats not a problem.
I guess I do agree that it could ran a pro a good hour to do...


As far as the installing myself I could and would not mind taking my time but in order for me to have the lifetime warranty it has to be bought at and installed at a dealership according to toyota. My truck now have a 120K on the clock and I plan on keeping it for another year or two before upgrading.. I just dont want to have to buy another set incase these fail...

I love my V8 as I do pull my car trailer from time to time.

Then there is also the possibility that I have to get an alignment afterwards.

I guess I need to find a dealership that will put them on for $200 here in the carolinas... Anyone with links?