Labour to change springs

Technical Area Steering & Suspension
1
  1. My model of MX-5 is: NC 3.5 (2011)
  2. I’m based near: Cirencester
  3. I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: Need to budget for replacement shocks…

Does anyone know how many hours a garage will charge to replace all 4 shocks?
The original springs will be maintained and any bushes, cups etc replaced as required.

I have the Haynes manual and the work is a bit beyond my capabilities these days, especially the front shocks

TIA

2

I’ve had a whole Roadster suspension bar droplinks done including 2 wishbones (professionally) in about 3 hours not including lasering which I’d strongly advise like seized bolts needing cracked so I’d wager around 2 hours IF…only if…there are no major difficulties and they are competent.

1 Like
3

I would have thought 3-4 hours, ( took me about 6 hours at home ).
Unless they have already been off, it will probably need new drop links these seize then just spin and have to be cut off.

1 Like
4

My mechanic swopped out my oe Bilstein shocks for MeisterR’s in just under an hour and a half. I had stripped the boot gubbins out of his way which took me about 20 minutes max.

1 Like
5

I swapped mine over on my last ND at home and it took 4 days :rofl::rofl::rofl:

I did the front followed by the rear.

That time did include my son taking the full shock assembly to his works garage to swap the springs over.

I didn’t fact messing about with spring compressers :flushed:

20200313_151255
20200313_1512551920×933 273 KB

1 Like
6

Thanks all

My local garage estimates 1 hour per corner @ £70+vat per hour (£336)

7

£40 per wheel when I had the lowering springs fitted
which is the same work involved as changing the shocks. I was advised to give all the fixings a good dose oof releasing spray a couple of days before.

8

That seems very cheap given the additional steps involved in removing the front shock.

I’ll look up parts prices over the weekend

9

We’ll just to make you all sick then, my mech charged me £40.

10

To remove a shock absorber, transfer the spring and re install with new nuts, bolts and bushes as required?

Remarkable value.

11

No, replace oe with new Meister’s.

12

Argh - a different easier job than I’m looking at

Thanks anyway

13

Well he did the same as you’re looking done when the oe Bilstiens were fitted with Eibach springs. Took him two hours to do that swop at the time. Again, I had stripped the boot out. He charged me £40 for that job also.

15

You need an MX5 specialist who knows what they are doing, not an ordinary garage.
Used to be about £200 for all 4 corners, should be about £250 now from a reputable set up

1 Like