So...
The other day I took my pick-me-up truck to NTB to have my bearings / brakes checked, and as I thought, my calipers were sticking.
When I asked them about replacing them, the guy was first hesitant, saying that he didn't know if they could get calipers for my truck (it's a 1972 Chevy), and then after checking, said it would be a couple of days.
So that night, I went out to 2 different AutoZones, and picked up not only both calipers, but also rotors, brake pads, and bearings, so that everything would be replaced and new and I would not have to worry about it later.
So the next day I go back to NTB, and tell them I got the parts that they said would take a while to get, and they tell me that they can't install the parts I got, because of liability issues, and that they had to go through their own suppliers... even if that meant taking 3 times longer, or maybe not even having everything.
I asked if I could just wave the liability issue, and still no go. Fuckers.
So then I call around, and find a SpeeDee that is at least WILLING to do the work, but fuck me it was expensive. Damn near two hundred dollars to put them on.
Fuck that.
I post this whole convoluted story to simply point out that I am surprised when people ask me if I did the work myself on my truck (damn near everything so far), when most places either won't because they don't have the proper stuff to do it (I only know of 2 places I can get an alignment done, because all the others computers won't go back far enough...) or they want to charge me like, a bazillion dollars to do it.
To date, I have saved close to $6000.00 (at least) by doing the work myself. $1700 just in the front suspension alone, because that is what they would've charged me in labor.
A fun thing to do, after working on a vehicle yourself, is to call around and find out how much you would've been charged to have it done.
A couple of examples:
Master Cynlinder at Just Brakes would've cost me $300.00 to replace... the Master Cynlinder at AutoZone was $12.99, and it only took me 15 minutes.
Front suspension would've been $2500 (upper and lower ball joints, inner and outer tie rod ends, upper and lower control arm shafts, pitman arm and idler arm) at NTB for rubber bushings. ECE had the full kit, with Moog Poly bushings, for $1000.
The other day I took my pick-me-up truck to NTB to have my bearings / brakes checked, and as I thought, my calipers were sticking.
When I asked them about replacing them, the guy was first hesitant, saying that he didn't know if they could get calipers for my truck (it's a 1972 Chevy), and then after checking, said it would be a couple of days.
So that night, I went out to 2 different AutoZones, and picked up not only both calipers, but also rotors, brake pads, and bearings, so that everything would be replaced and new and I would not have to worry about it later.
So the next day I go back to NTB, and tell them I got the parts that they said would take a while to get, and they tell me that they can't install the parts I got, because of liability issues, and that they had to go through their own suppliers... even if that meant taking 3 times longer, or maybe not even having everything.
I asked if I could just wave the liability issue, and still no go. Fuckers.
So then I call around, and find a SpeeDee that is at least WILLING to do the work, but fuck me it was expensive. Damn near two hundred dollars to put them on.
Fuck that.
I post this whole convoluted story to simply point out that I am surprised when people ask me if I did the work myself on my truck (damn near everything so far), when most places either won't because they don't have the proper stuff to do it (I only know of 2 places I can get an alignment done, because all the others computers won't go back far enough...) or they want to charge me like, a bazillion dollars to do it.
To date, I have saved close to $6000.00 (at least) by doing the work myself. $1700 just in the front suspension alone, because that is what they would've charged me in labor.
A fun thing to do, after working on a vehicle yourself, is to call around and find out how much you would've been charged to have it done.
A couple of examples:
Master Cynlinder at Just Brakes would've cost me $300.00 to replace... the Master Cynlinder at AutoZone was $12.99, and it only took me 15 minutes.
Front suspension would've been $2500 (upper and lower ball joints, inner and outer tie rod ends, upper and lower control arm shafts, pitman arm and idler arm) at NTB for rubber bushings. ECE had the full kit, with Moog Poly bushings, for $1000.
mile1423:
I like when this happens when I am buying clothes or shoes...like I found them on sale, and then see them somewhere else for like a shit ton more than what I paid...total gratification 