Replacing struts on 2001 Accord LX V-6

Wow. I just priced replacing struts on my 2001 Accord LX V-6.

The local Honda dealer wants $122 each for oem replacement struts -
which just happens to be the same price as replacement Bilsteins off
the web . . . . . . and the service person estimated 4 hours
of labor at $78/hour for installation - that's $320 for installation!

An independent garage where I have had other work done before quoted
me $520 just for labor to replace the struts!

I'm wondering why there is a $200 difference in the cost of labor and
if maybe the dealer is low balling the labor to get me in there so
they can make up the difference with the cost of the struts . . .

Thoughts?


George

 

wow thats alot for labor....

I had my GFs 99 Accord LX/Sedan struts replaced @ a local honda shop
for 150.00 total for all 4!!

I get all my parts from http://www.alloembmwparts.com/ since they
always offer free shipping and have tons of OEM parts for all makes, i
think KYB GR-2s is what comes on honda and thats what I got from these
guys @ a really good price + free shipping (these are heavy)


not sure about the Bilsteins shocks, since they are HD shocks I would
think they would offer a rougher ride, something I don't think i would
like on my 2001 Accord V6/EX Sedan

good luck

skip

 

It's an awful lot more than I paid the last time, but I didn't specify
OEM struts.

But why are you needing to replace all four struts on a 2001? How
many miles or km are on it? Are you certain they're bad?
Ron

 

Yes, I know . . . $320 - $520 . . . and a pretty big difference
between the two shops and I don't understand it, especially since the
lower price is a quote from a dealer while the second is a quote from
an independent shop . . . unless maybe the independent doesn't
really want the work . . .

Yes, I want to firm up the ride on my Accord, particularly the initial
'set' when making turns and the nose dive when braking . . . too
floppy for my taste . . .


George

 

The struts aren't 'bad', although I can feel that they have softened
up after 60k miles. I've just never liked the way they work. The
Accord was a compromise car and I've always wished it handled better
(I know, wrong car for handling). On my last car I waited till around
90k miles to replace the struts with some good aftermarket ones and
they were so much better that I wished I had changed them earlier . .
..


George