How many labor hours for these installs?

[ketelhut]

I'm too old & broken to do this by myself.

My Son-in-Law helped me with the last modes requiring crawling under Jeep but he's in North Carolina, so I'm taking it to someone. Before I go there, I'm hoping to get some type of estimate on hours needed for the following installs:

New Tie rod
New Drag Link
Replace already relocated steering stabilizer with new
New Ball Joints
New Knuckles
Bolt on skids for LCA's & FAD

I've already purchased all the parts & just looking for labor estimate.

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[Ratbert]

Not sure about the rest, but my local shop estimated 2.4 hours ($360) for this RockJock steering system.

 

[ketelhut]

Thanks John, that gives me a good start. Now if I can get estimate on hours for Ball Joints. I'm thinking the stabilizer & knuckles have to come off to do some of the other stuff. So no extra labor just because new parts are reinstalled in place of the old part removed. With Jeep on a lift bolt on skids should go quick.

 

[Old Jeeper]

I'm too old & broken to do this by myself.

My Son-in-Law helped me with the last modes requiring crawling under Jeep but he's in North Carolina, so I'm taking it to someone. Before I go there, I'm hoping to get some type of estimate on hours needed for the following installs:

New Tie rod
New Drag Link
Replace already relocated steering stabilizer with new
New Ball Joints
New Knuckles
Bolt on skids for LCA's & FAD

I've already purchased all the parts & just looking for labor estimate.

Done a lot of those...

In my shop that was a couple of hours, but I do it often and know the tricks. If you have never done it add an hour at least. By the time you find all right size sockets get Jeep set up for the installation, and take off tires, etc, odds and ends that eat your lunch.

On thing you forgot, so do most SHOPS...Dial In!!! Dial in may take as long as it took to install, unless you are a real pro who can do in your sleep.

Dial In: Now that its all installed it has to be confirmed, you are dealing with angles and degrees. The way I did in my shop was I drove it around the block at city speeds and if nothing wobbled or pulled I hit the highway and see what happens at 70 mph..

Ask if after the installation they confirm the suspension parameters. A good shop will have done it...

 

[Steveo]

If I did it, I'd estimate a week but it would take three.

 

[Camaroboi13]

I would guesstimate 5.5 hours from a shop. It would take a good shop 3-4 hours but then they’re not making any money off you. Pricing would be somewhere in the $750-850 range would be my guess.

 

[ketelhut]

Thanks for the input. Don, thanks for the "dial in" suggestion. I was also planning on having an alignment done after installs.

 

[redbeard]

OP - I would expect two days of work, maybe a little less. It's not hard work, but it's just a little time consuming is all. Unfortunately labor is billed against time, not degree of difficulty.

Not sure about the rest, but my local shop estimated 2.4 hours ($360) for this RockJock steering system.

I'm also in the COS area. Which is your preferred shop? I'm new to Jeeps, and lean towards doing my own work if possible. But a good recommendation is nice to have.

Also, I installed that RockJock Steering system along with a Rusty's Trackball Brace when I did my Clayton 2.5" Overland lift kit. $360 isn't terrible, but it's not a difficult install either. I was able to get it the tie rod dialed in close enough to drive it for the alignment afterward without any issue.

 

[Beachcomber72]

If I did it, I'd estimate a week but it would take three.

Ahh. You must work at my local dealer.

 

[Ratbert]

OP - I would expect two days of work, maybe a little less. It's not hard work, but it's just a little time consuming is all. Unfortunately labor is billed against time, not degree of difficulty.



I'm also in the COS area. Which is your preferred shop? I'm new to Jeeps, and lean towards doing my own work if possible. But a good recommendation is nice to have.

Also, I installed that RockJock Steering system along with a Rusty's Trackball Brace when I did my Clayton 2.5" Overland lift kit. $360 isn't terrible, but it's not a difficult install either. I was able to get it the tie rod dialed in close enough to drive it for the alignment afterward without any issue.

CORE Off Road in Castle Rock. They're not cheap, but they consistently do good work and saved my ass when I stripped the screws of my front diff a week before heading to the Rubicon Trail. They also did some exceptional fabrication work to mount my ARS roof rack to my AEV rear bumper (the first to do it).

Maybe they'll give me a discount if you mention me

 

[redbeard]

CORE Off Road in Castle Rock. They're not cheap, but they consistently do good work and saved my ass when I stripped the screws of my front diff a week before heading to the Rubicon Trail. They also did some exceptional fabrication work to mount my ARS roof rack to my AEV rear bumper (the first to do it).

Maybe they'll give me a discount if you mention me

Thanks! Castle Rock is nice and close for me, too. I think I checked with CORE Off Road on regearing when I didn’t think I’d be able to get an XR package. Then I actually did and didn’t need it done after all.

I’ll keep them in mind though, and I’ll make sure I ask for the Ratbert discount!

Sorry for the hijack OP, back to your regularly scheduled programming.

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