Update: DIY or spend $315?

[iGas]

I'm feeling a bit lazy this weekend, because it is the second weekend that I have off from work in the last 2 months (will have a total of 4 days off for the last 60 days of work). Hence, I don't feel like spending Saturday replacing 2 rear struts on my Camry.

Should I pay $315 for mechanic shop labor fees and spend the time to NEF in ATOT, or do it myself (spring compressor cost $45)?

See update below....

 

[Onita]

How long will this take you to do? Personally, I'd prefer to do it myself and save a ton of $$

 

[Skeeedunt]

If you're working that much, you should be enjoying what little spare time you have.

 

[iGas]

How long will this take you to do? Personally, I'd prefer to do it myself and save a ton of $$

4 hours or less, unless I run into problems.

 

[BoomerD]

If you're working that much, you should be enjoying what little spare time you have.

4 hours or less, unless I run into problems.

While I used to enjoy working on my own cars/trucks, when I was working a shit-ton of hours, I often just paid someone else to do things that I could do myself. Sometimes, a bit of "down time" is well worth paying someone else to do things.

 

[kranky]

Having had too many occasions where I tried to fix something and either made it worse or made the car undriveable (as I'm sure would be the case if I tried to replace struts), I now pay someone to do it. It's just not my thing.

 

[mvbighead]

Struts in the rear? That sucks.

I did shocks on a truck in about 30-60 minutes. Apparently them being struts must change things quite a lot.

 

[wirednuts]

i always work on my own stuff. costs $60/hr labor at least to pay a shop, plus the hassle of taking it there. i dont make anywhere near $60/hr, so i have been known to take work off just to fix my truck. thats rare though, i usually just do it on the weekends... but i have every weekend off too

 

[wirednuts]

Struts in the rear? That sucks.

I did shocks on a truck in about 30-60 minutes. Apparently them being struts must change things quite a lot.

its a lot easier to get struts in with two people. with a truck, yeah my back shocks i replaced in 20min.

 

[wirednuts]

Having had too many occasions where I tried to fix something and either made it worse or made the car undriveable (as I'm sure would be the case if I tried to replace struts), I now pay someone to do it. It's just not my thing.

why didnt i have friends like you growing up? (i mean, most didnt know how to work on cars but you say you actually have money to pay for the work!?!?)

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

I work a crap load myself. If I can get a fair rate I'll let someone else do it. But at $315 for 4 hours of work I'd do it myself.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

spend 315, id render my car unusable if i tried myself

 

[T2urtle]

Rather then mess with spring compressors, I would buy the Monroe quick struts and bolt off and bolt on. Should take you 15-45 min each side once car is in the air.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[iGas]

Thanks all.

I think I'm going to do it myself because my mechanic is busy till next week, and I'm going with KYB instead of Monroe.

 

[T2urtle]

I have Monroe's on the 96 camry fronts. They work nicely.

Monroe's are hit or miss on certain cars and so are kyb.

 

[hanoverphist]

i work on my cars to pass time if i have spare. its also a good way to wind down from a week of work bs. if you have a spring compressor the job shouldnt take more than a couple hours, really. thats like 3 or 4 beers in the garage.

 

[Imported]

If the $315 includes an alignment.. maybe. Otherwise I'd definitely do it myself.

 

[jlee]

Rather then mess with spring compressors, I would buy the Monroe quick struts and bolt off and bolt on. Should take you 15-45 min each side once car is in the air.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

This.

 

[jagec]

If the $315 includes an alignment.. maybe. Otherwise I'd definitely do it myself.

Agreed. The alignment that you'll almost certainly need afterwards is a big strike against DIY.

Also depends on the age of the car. The suspension on old cars can be a BEAR to deal with due to frozen-on nuts.

 

[redgtxdi]

What year is your Camry? I can drop camry struts in my sleep! Rears or fronts makes no difference.

Read if you dare........ http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=111829

 

[SSSnail]

If it was me, I'd pay $400 and call it a day.

 

[Black2na]

i work entirely too much i know the pain of working 2-3weeks on end only to have to spend one of your days off doing something to your own car or around the house and when you go back to work your still burnt out cause you didnt actully fell like you took the time you needed. in this case 4ish hours of work for 315 really isnt a bad price not to mention just dont have to deal with the BS.

let us know how the strut change works out for you and keep track of time i wanna see what you paid yourself (labor hour wise). thats how i look at jobs i do on my own cars when i could pay someone. makes me feel better or teaches me for future that i need to just throw money at someones face to deal with the hastle

 

[exdeath]

Most of the time spent doing the rear struts in a Camry is pulling out the rear seat, pillar trim, speaker deck, carpet, etc to get to the top mounts from the inside.

 

[Smasherbasher]

Most of the time spent doing the rear struts in a Camry is pulling out the rear seat, pillar trim, speaker deck, carpet, etc to get to the top mounts from the inside.

That would settle it for me. Let the pros do it.

 

[redgtxdi]

Squeeze your hand into edge of seat cushion, remove side rear seat bolsters with 1 bolt and voila......access to top of rear struts granted.

You may have to double wrench for rear most nuts on top of strut but easy peezy compared to pulling the entire rear apart.

I'm tellin ya. 30 minutes per side and I'm done.....completely!