Well since my mechanic wasn't really giving me a good price on a the skyjacker adjustable 4"+ trackbar, I decided to make up my own plotline. I told him that somebody on the forum had one that they weren't going to use and that'd they sell it to me for $250. Really what I am going to do is just buy it off summitracing.com. They are selling the same kit he was going to sell me for $200 cheaper. This way I'll buy it for it for the $270 or whatever it is, and then he will just charge me the 3-4 hours to have it installed. Should save me $250 by doing this. It sucks he had to charge me so much for the part because I would have went through him had he given me the real price. Anyways, I get the best of both worlds now. I'll get the problem fixed, and I'm still getting to give my mechanic the money for the labor.

 

Nice job. It always sucks when people you do regular business with still jack up prices a lot. But I guess they have to make a living too. Glad you found a better alternative.

 

I know it. But don't mechanics get their profit from the labor anyways? I mean I'm giving him the job because he usually treats us well, so its like a tradeoff thing. But I dont like it when guys jack prices up on the product so they can get the extra cash. I'm paying him 3-4 hours of labor, that should be satisfactory for him. Either he isn't researching hard enough for a good enough deal, or he's cheating me, and either one I dont care for. It's too bad because I like the guy, he knows what he is doing, and we get along great, but I hate it when he does this crap lol.

 

Yeah, you would think labor would be enough without having to jack up the prices. The best idea would probably be to just do as much researching as you can and get the parts yourself and just let him do the work for you for whatever else you get done. Or just get him to give you a quote, come here and get opinions, get the parts yourself and let him do the work. I wouldn't see where this would make him mad or anything as long as you are still giving him the work.

 

Did you call Thuren Fab? Just curious to hear what they said if you did. They really do make a better track bar and it mounts in the stock location without requiring the new bracket to be installed, thus saving you on some of the labor for installing the Skycrapper one.

 

lol, well i tried calling them this morning, but he didnt answer nor has he returned my phone call. thats a good point though. im going to try to call him again. thanks dude

 

Think about it this way. Yea he makes money on the labor but, there is a risk along with a set amount he can charge. What happens if the job ends up taking longer? So he has to make money on parts to that way there is less risk. Plus when he says that it will take him x amount of hours that dosen't include the work getting the parts he needs.

 

I do understand this, and I wouldn't ever underestimate his job (I know I couldn't ever do it), but I think $800 is a bit much for just a trackbar assembly, so I have no choice but to buy my own at this point. If he wanted to be reasonable while still compensatign for his risks that'd be fine and I would have went through him, but at this point, theres no way I can spooge all my load just for a track bar lol

 

Just for reference, I recently replaced the track bar in my '95 Ram 4WD (all stock) in an hour. The only special tool required was a pitman arm puller that I borrowed from Auto Zone (had to leave a deposit). The puller actually pushes out the tapered end of the track bar, a so-called pickle fork may have worked as well. The other end is just a through bolt.

Most places won't knock themselves out looking for the best deal in parts since they're busy, time is money, and theycharge a marked up price for parts anyways, so they can't lose.

The best first question to ask is always "How long does it take...", because at that point, they don't know what you're up to.

When I discuss a project with my mechanic, I already have my research done. If aftermarket parts are involved, I show him the catalog page or print out of the parts(s) I'm interested in, and let him decide if he can compete or not. Usually they can't, and once they know that you know your stuff, they don't try.

Then it gets a little simpler and I'll askhim to just quote installation cost (already knowing how long he said it wouldtake).

There is no doubt that being both price conscious and price savvy can make somemechanicsuncomfortable, and those that don't needor care about your business may not try very hard for you if they don't appreciate you keeping them honest. On the other hand, there are plenty of independents to choose from, and if you start out right with one of them, you'll usually end up right too.

 

I say buy it and put in yourself. That way the whole thing only cost 250 dollars. Plus you get to work on your truck. Always a plus.