PGH Cutlass

Over the winter i started buying front suspension parts for the 71 cutlass,I had the front tie rod ends done right before putting the car up for the winter so thats finished. I brought upper and lower control arms,ball joints,springs and shocks.I was told it would cost $500 to do the work,it didn't sound bad to me but my buddy thinks i can save money by taking the car some place else. I'd like to hear what you folks think?
Kay

Highwayman

You can save a lot more by doing it yourself. It isn't a bad job if you have a floor jack, jack stands and common tools. Rob and Allen have some good threads on this with plenty of pictures to walk you through it.

Highwayman

Here's those threads.


https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums/chassis-body-frame/33383-lady-gets-front-end-job.html#post264807


https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums/brakes-hydraulic-systems/39450-72-disc-brake-backing-plate.html#post318444

MDchanic

+1.

- Eric

RetroRanger

$500 does seem a little high lets assume a shop rate of $75 an hour thats over 6 hours of time i would think most any shop could do it in 4 or less hours....

Im guessing on the shop rate I mostly do my own work

As the other responses indicated its not difficult and its well documented but if ya gotta bring it some where you gotta do what you gotta do.

ask a couple places for estimates, then chose a place your comfortable with

PGH Cutlass

thanks for the links

1965cutlassragtop

i just did tubular upper and lower front control arms, sway bar, springs, shocks, steering linkage, front disc brake conversion, complete brake lines, & rebuilt rear drums. my mechanic charged me $550...$185 of that was to cover misc. parts costs. so he basically charged me $365 in labor, which is LOW LOW LOW for all that work. he's a good friend, and i help out where i can to save him the time.

but that quote you were given still seems high for just the control arms, ball joints, springs & shocks.

Lee_A

If the $500 includes the alignment, then that sounds like a fair deal.

Lady72nRob71

Nice thing is that if you do it yourself, you can allocate the time to strip, clean and paint the control arms and other suspension and frame components!

1965cutlassragtop

exactly, i painted my frame rails & crossmember with POR-15. stuff works great, don't need to go crazy prepping the surface, and it dries rock hard with a nice clean shiny look to it (just don't get it on your skin cuz it takes months to come off). here's a pic of underneath the front end of my car after the upgrades. notice the shine on the engine support bracket, look so much cleaner than before, that's what POR-15 will do for you!! i didn't have to paint the control arms cuz they came powder coated.

2d4931cc.jpg

Highwayman

Yeah, it allows slackers like you and Allan an excuse to turn an afternoon job into a 4 month project.


It did come out incredibly nice and well worth the effort.

PGH Cutlass

just control arms, ball joints, springs and shocks

oldsguybry

He He , how about putting all the suspension parts on , and then take the car in for a alignment ... It seems the alignment is the hardest part to do on your own , the rest is just brute force . What shape are the control arm bushings and bolts in ?

PGH Cutlass

i got new tubular control arms with that stuff included, and lol they were the fastest things i ordered in my life, i ordered monday got them tuesday

PGH Cutlass

very nice good