# Repair Estmate reasonable? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** plymouth, laser\ **Created:** [July 13, 2022, 6:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/repair-estmate-reasonable/185230 "2022-07-13T18:07:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tom777](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e79b87/32.png) [@Tom777](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tom777)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2022, 6:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/repair-estmate-reasonable/185230/1 "2022-07-13T18:07:47Z")
1992 plymouth laser 1.8L … front end work… is this estimate reasonable? I am in Missouri. seems high to me (but so does everything else) ``` replace control arm with ball joint (both sides) ``` replace F stabilizer bar control Link (both sides) Replace outer Tie Rod end (one side) labor &parts… 1360. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2022, 6:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/repair-estmate-reasonable/185230/2 "2022-07-13T18:45:09Z")
30 year old car, inflationary times and high demand for auto repair work… Doesn’t seem high to me at all. ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2022, 6:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/repair-estmate-reasonable/185230/3 "2022-07-13T18:53:39Z")
Prices can vary based on the shop and locale so multiple estimates would be a good idea. Seems a bit high for my area (OK) but… Rates in a larger city can easily be higher than a small town. One thing not mentioned is an alignment. That is a must for a repair like this.( ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2022, 7:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/repair-estmate-reasonable/185230/4 "2022-07-13T19:29:51Z")
I think I paid about $500 some years ago for both control arms, no tie rod ends. But do both, not just one and yeah alignment. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2022, 12:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/repair-estmate-reasonable/185230/5 "2022-07-14T00:16:23Z")
Control arm/ball joint replacement Parts cost for right & left side: I’m guessing $600 . Labor: 3 hours ($300) Stab link parts (both sides) : guessing $150 Stab link labor: 1 hour ($100) Tie Rod Part: $75 Tie Rod Labor: 1 hour ($100) Total: ## CA/BJ: 900 Stab L: 250 Tie R : 175 ``` 1325 ``` So quote seems pretty reasonable. Replacing tie rod requires adjusting toe (a type of wheel alignment) at the very minimum. Be prepared, may need a complete front end alignment after this work is completed. ---
**Author:** ![bcohen2010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@bcohen2010](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bcohen2010)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2022, 6:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/repair-estmate-reasonable/185230/6 "2022-07-14T06:25:11Z")
I am as cheap as the day is long, and I think this is a fair cost (assuming of course, the use of quality parts, and that the required alignment will be performed). And I am happy to hear that a Plymouth Laser still exists. I remember when this was a fairly common car…now I haven’t seen one in years. ---
**Author:** ![old\_mopar\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6bbea6/32.png) [@old\_mopar\_guy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/old_mopar_guy)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2022, 6:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/repair-estmate-reasonable/185230/7 "2022-07-14T18:46:51Z")
George, where are you getting $100 per hour? In my area of southern NJ, labor rates start at $150 per hour, and they average a little over $200. Those rates are for smaller indie shops, and I imagine they are even more for larger shops. ---
**Author:** ![cwatkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@cwatkin](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cwatkin)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2022, 6:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/repair-estmate-reasonable/185230/8 "2022-07-14T18:58:59Z")
I am in a city about 100 miles from St. Louis in a mostly rural area. Labor rates were around $100/hr last time I took a car in but that might be more these days… I haven’t seen a Laser for quite a while either. There is a friend who had an extra Mitsubishi Eclipse which I think is basically the same thing last time I talked to him but it was starting to rust out pretty badly and he was thinking about selling it while used car prices are so elevated. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2022, 7:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/repair-estmate-reasonable/185230/9 "2022-07-14T19:04:10Z")
> [@old\_mopar\_guy](#): > > In my area of southern NJ, labor rates start at $150 per hour +1 My indy mechanic charges $140 per hour, and–IIRC–the dealership charges over $200/hour. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2022, 7:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/repair-estmate-reasonable/185230/10 "2022-07-14T19:23:11Z")
> [@old\_mopar\_guy](#): > > where are you getting $100 per hour? My usual method, guessing. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2022, 7:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/repair-estmate-reasonable/185230/11 "2022-07-14T19:26:34Z")
> [@George\_San\_Jose1](#): > > My usual method, guessing. Don’t you think that guessing will just cause confusion for people asking questions here ? ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2022, 7:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/repair-estmate-reasonable/185230/12 "2022-07-14T19:27:53Z")
No. Educated guesses perfectly acceptable here imo. Best is the perfect, but good is better than nothing. OP is invited to address Volvo’s query above as well. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2022, 8:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/repair-estmate-reasonable/185230/13 "2022-07-14T20:06:45Z")
I replaced shocks, struts, and links on my aging Pontiac. My total labor cost was $85 for an alignment. My only point is that for those keeping a 30 year old car going, most repairs should be done by the owner. Whether the local labor rate is $100 or $200, should not be relevant. If you have plenty of money, it’s no problem, otherwise diy or trade for a newer model. Like said if you have to ask the price, you can’t afford it. I’ve kept plenty of aging cars going but having to pay a professional for all the repairs would have soon made a new car more cost effective. For example is $5000 for rocker panel work too high compared to $300 diy?