MOT Failure Today - Offside Rear Upper & Lower Suspension Arms (excessive play)

[Woody]

Hi again guys. I took the motor in for its MOT test today and it failed because "Offside Rear Upper & Lower Suspension Arms -excessive play in a pin / bush.
The garage is a local guy which specialises in Vx motors. He quoted 2 hours, £120 labour, and £155 Vx parts (upper & lower).
My car is a Vec C 2004 Gsi 3.2, does anyone with the "knowledge" labour wise, and price experience of parts, think this is a "fair" charge ?
I would like to think it is, but am not sure of either the work required, or the "real" cost of the replacement parts so perhaps someone in the know could advise as to if this is a fair price, or a little top heavy ?
Many thanks and what a fantastic place VecC.com is
Cheers

[paulvectrac]

How much labour wtf ain't that dear neither are the parts where in the n/w are you matey I might be able to fit them for ya if ya close enuf

[06sri]

you are out of your mind if you pay that.

[Woody]

Hi Paul, very kind of you m8 , I'm in Warrington though, a "little way" away. Is he dear ? Are the parts much cheaper in reality ? You know I had a feeling that he wasn't the cheapest guy on the planet and now you have left me really wondering

Thanks

Woody

[Woody]

Incidentally, he did make a point of telling me that unlike the VectraB where the pin/bush are available seperately, on a VectraC they are not ? Is that true ?

[06sri]

cant find the upper arm, but lower one is this i belive: £60 free postage, 3 bushes in total including botom ball joint, id possibly consider changing the other side too

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VECTRA-C-S...item4cf5e82b7c

[06sri]

im no mechanic, but surely in a garage with ramps both these jobs should be a hour max?

[Woody]

Thanks for the link m8 . The other side, I forget upper or lower, has an advisory but he said it isn't bad enough to spend the money, but I take your point and would normally like to keep things like suspension, shockers etc in balance. The Vx parts cost quoted to me was £77.50 per upper or lower hence the £155. So that's a good price from ebay m8.

I don't know what labour is involved or tools equipment etc. He said 2 hours = £120 cash , nice when you can get it LOL. I suspect the Vx dealer local to me (L***ers) would want as lot more. Don't you just hate it when the guys with "the knowledge" , "take advantage"...... Grrrrr, LOL, Maybe not, maybe it's a reasonable business rate, but so frustrating if it is an "easy" job for someone who could help locally ?

Cheers lads

Woody

[plasma]

Right.. the genuine upper control arm is approx £70-£80 from the dealers and the lower one is approx £40 cant remember if thats including vat or not...

As for labour time i would say about an hour to do it, if its both on the same side. Aftermarket parts can be got cheaper ie upper control arm for approx £30 or so on ebay.... and £25 ish for the lower control arm through somewhere like genuine part search as aftermarket lower arms arent available...

most garages charge about £40 per hour.. £60 ph plus is reaching dealer costs...

btw, the bushes are now available just to replace the outer one on the upper control arms but can be a pig to change.

[plasma]

cant find the upper arm, but lower one is this i belive: £60 free postage, 3 bushes in total including botom ball joint, id possibly consider changing the other side too

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VECTRA-C-S...item4cf5e82b7c

that for the front of the car not the back lol!

upper control arm..

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nk...op=3&_osacat=0


avoid the cheapo ones as you'll be replacing it again in a years time.


lower control arm

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VAUXHALL-V...item337aa09b95


theres only one bush on the inner of that and they dont normally go..