ztim

Does $200 labor sound right for changing the three parking brake cables on a 1984 Delta 88?

I already bought the cables for half of what the garage would have had to charge me. I figured a $67 an hour for labor sounds about right, but three hours to do the job? Especially if they have a lift.

88 coupe

Do you buy your ham & eggs at the supermarket, then go to a restaurant to have them cooked?

Norm

ztim

No, but the mechanic suggested that I do it to save a few bucks because normally I wouldn't cut them out of a profit. You still didn't answer the question.
thanks

88 coupe

Now it makes sense. Thanks for the clarification.

No, I didn't.

Norm

J-(Chicago)

Well, if your mechanic allows you to purchase parts outside of their shop, that is pretty darn nice of them. Most shops won't let you bring your own parts in for fear that they might end up putting on junk, and be responsible for it.
Unfortunately, $200 labor sounds about right to me, and yes it IS steep, but not compared to everyone else out there. This is exactly why most of us do all of our own wrenching. The more small jobs we have to farm out to shops, the less money we end up with in the paint job, or motor build funds.
All shops will have to say on this subject is, if you want to do it cheaper... invest in your own lift and tools.

You just have to weigh out the pros and cons of your current situation.
If you are working 60 hours a week, are 70 years old and have to lay in a 35 degree puddle of water on the drive to change these, 200 bucks then sounds like a pretty good deal. If you are 20 years old, with a part time job, and your buddy has an empty heated garage... 200 bucks is a total rip off.

ztim

Thanks J. I don't get social security and have to make due on a VA pension. I wouldn't mind doing it, but it would be kind of hard for me right now. If 200 is fair, then that's okay with me.

J-(Chicago)

It's unfortunate that you are in SC, I like working on these cars, and have had a lot of them. If you ever get around a camera, shoot a picture of the ol' girl.

ztim

Okay. I'll see if I can get my daughter to take a picture. She's good at that kind of thing. It's not a bad little car with a 307.

ztim

I went to a well established mom and pop garage and they said the labor would be $75. That's much better than the $200 a chain store would have charged. Maybe 88 got miffed because either he does not know of the economy in South Carolina or he sides with the name brand garages.

88 coupe

Maybe ztim has an overactive imagination.

J-(Chicago)

Lol.

I'm glad you found a fair price. 2 thumbs up.

ztim

The whole job which included back brake pads was $113 and some change. They even saved the old pads to show me they were wore down to the rivets. Not bad.