hello everybody,
car just failed MOT
needs following to pass

n/side and o/side front suspension bushes replacing
n/side and o/side anti roll bar bushes replacing

Its an N reg astra diesel 1.7, always been a very reliable car so
reluctant to scrap it. any one have idea how much these repairs would
cost and good place to get it done in sarf London that won't rip me
off.

wrote in message 
news:2c1008ce-ebb9-4871-b582-8e95d8e78c17@c65g2000hsa.googlegroups.com...
> hello everybody,
> car just failed MOT
> needs following to pass
>
> n/side and o/side front suspension bushes replacing
> n/side and o/side anti roll bar bushes replacing
>
> Its an N reg astra diesel 1.7, always been a very reliable car so
> reluctant to scrap it. any one have idea how much these repairs would
> cost and good place to get it done in sarf London that won't rip me
> off.

Rough guess £300-400 without knowing the Astra that well, the part's aren't 
that much but some bushes can be a right pain.

In article <lIadnR-TjvjxjBPVnZ2dnUVZ8qrinZ2d@posted.plusnet>,  says...

> > Its an N reg astra diesel 1.7, always been a very reliable car so
> > reluctant to scrap it. any one have idea how much these repairs would
> > cost and good place to get it done in sarf London that won't rip me
> > off.
> 
> Rough guess £300-400 without knowing the Astra that well, 

You're fucking kidding, right?

N/S and O/S front bushes - just change the bottom arms. They'll be 
around £20 a side and an hours labour. 

N/S and O/S anti roll bar bushes are a couple of quid a pop depending 
on which ones it is.

At most you've got £50-£60 in parts and a couple of hours labour if it 
goes badly.

£300-£400? ROFLMFAO.


-- 
Conor

I only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow isn't 
looking good either. - Scott Adams

Conor wrote:

> In article <lIadnR-TjvjxjBPVnZ2dnUVZ8qrinZ2d@posted.plusnet>,  says...
> 
> > > Its an N reg astra diesel 1.7, always been a very reliable car so
> > > reluctant to scrap it. any one have idea how much these repairs
> > > would cost and good place to get it done in sarf London that
> > > won't rip me off.
> > 
> > Rough guess £300-400 without knowing the Astra that well, 
> 
> You're fucking kidding, right?
> 
> N/S and O/S front bushes - just change the bottom arms. They'll be 
> around £20 a side and an hours labour. 
> 
> N/S and O/S anti roll bar bushes are a couple of quid a pop depending 
> on which ones it is.
> 
> At most you've got £50-£60 in parts and a couple of hours labour if
> it goes badly.
> 
> £300-£400? ROFLMFAO.

Average charge out rate of £100.00 per hour (the op is in London) 



--

"Conor"  wrote in message 
news:6f6iodFa4536U2@mid.individual.net...
In article <lIadnR-TjvjxjBPVnZ2dnUVZ8qrinZ2d@posted.plusnet>,  says...
>
> You're fucking kidding, right?

Nope

> N/S and O/S front bushes - just change the bottom arms. They'll be
> around £20 a side and an hours labour.
>
> N/S and O/S anti roll bar bushes are a couple of quid a pop depending
> on which ones it is.
>
> At most you've got £50-£60 in parts and a couple of hours labour if it
> goes badly.

I'll just about agree on the cost of the parts give or take 50%, but I 
wouldn't count on getting away with 2hrs labour, most places charge £75 - 100 
just for the alignment after removing the arms.

"steve robinson"  gurgled happily,
sounding much like they were saying:

>> > Rough guess £300-400 without knowing the Astra that well,

>> You're fucking kidding, right?
>> 
>> N/S and O/S front bushes - just change the bottom arms. They'll be
>> around £20 a side and an hours labour.
>> 
>> N/S and O/S anti roll bar bushes are a couple of quid a pop depending
>> on which ones it is.
>> 
>> At most you've got £50-£60 in parts and a couple of hours labour if it
>> goes badly.
>> 
>> £300-£400? ROFLMFAO.

> Average charge out rate of £100.00 per hour (the op is in London)

Average main dealer rate, p'raps. But who the hell's going to take a 12yo 
Ashtray to a main dealer?

Half that, yes.

"Depresion" <127.0.0.1> gurgled happily, sounding much like they were
saying:

> I'll just about agree on the cost of the parts give or take 50%, but I
> wouldn't count on getting away with 2hrs labour, most places charge £75
> - 100 just for the alignment after removing the arms.

A TON FOR TRACKING? FUCK ME ROTTEN.

Adrian wrote:

> "steve robinson"  gurgled happily,
> sounding much like they were saying:
> 
> >> > Rough guess £300-400 without knowing the Astra that well,
> 
> >> You're fucking kidding, right?
> >> 
> >> N/S and O/S front bushes - just change the bottom arms. They'll be
> >> around £20 a side and an hours labour.
> >> 
> >> N/S and O/S anti roll bar bushes are a couple of quid a pop
> depending >> on which ones it is.
> >> 
> >> At most you've got £50-£60 in parts and a couple of hours labour
> if it >> goes badly.
> >> 
> >> £300-£400? ROFLMFAO.
> 
> > Average charge out rate of £100.00 per hour (the op is in London)
> 
> Average main dealer rate, p'raps. But who the hell's going to take a
> 12yo Ashtray to a main dealer?
> 
> Half that, yes.


Main dealer rates in london average around £150 hour

--

Adrian wrote:

> "Depresion" <127.0.0.1> gurgled happily, sounding much like they were
> saying:
> 
> > I'll just about agree on the cost of the parts give or take 50%,
> > but I wouldn't count on getting away with 2hrs labour, most places
> > charge £75 - 100 just for the alignment after removing the arms.
> 
> A TON FOR TRACKING? FUCK ME ROTTEN.

Thats london prices for you

--

In article , steve 
robinson says...

> Main dealer rates in london average around £150 hour
> 
I'm quite sure the OP can find someone with a set of spanners who can 
do the job for a lot less.

-- 
Conor

I only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow isn't 
looking good either. - Scott Adams

"steve robinson"  gurgled happily,
sounding much like they were saying:

>> > I'll just about agree on the cost of the parts give or take 50%, but
>> > I wouldn't count on getting away with 2hrs labour, most places charge
>> > £75 - 100 just for the alignment after removing the arms.

>> A TON FOR TRACKING? FUCK ME ROTTEN.

> Thats london prices for you

No, it isn't.
It's theft. Or a desperate attempt not to admit a cockup.

"steve robinson"  gurgled happily,
sounding much like they were saying:

>> > Average charge out rate of £100.00 per hour (the op is in London)
 
>> Average main dealer rate, p'raps. But who the hell's going to take a
>> 12yo Ashtray to a main dealer?
>>
>> Half that, yes.

> Main dealer rates in london average around £150 hour

No, they don't. Not for stuff like Vauxhalls, anyway.

BMW Park Lane, sure. Plus VAT, Sir. But not for a Vx dealer in the 
suburbs.

And, as I said, who'd take a 12yo Ashtray to a main dealer anyway?

"Adrian"  wrote in message 
news:6f6ongFa5tokU2@mid.individual.net...
> "Depresion" <127.0.0.1> gurgled happily, sounding much like they were
> saying:
>
>> I'll just about agree on the cost of the parts give or take 50%, but I
>> wouldn't count on getting away with 2hrs labour, most places charge £75
>> - 100 just for the alignment after removing the arms.
>
> A TON FOR TRACKING? FUCK ME ROTTEN.

No for a full alignment, bit different to the £40 quick tracking jobs.

"Depresion" <127.0.0.1> gurgled happily, sounding much like they were
saying:

>>> I'll just about agree on the cost of the parts give or take 50%, but I
>>> wouldn't count on getting away with 2hrs labour, most places charge
>>> £75 - 100 just for the alignment after removing the arms.

>> A TON FOR TRACKING? FUCK ME ROTTEN.

> No for a full alignment, bit different to the £40 quick tracking jobs.

Lovely, an' all - and I need to get round to sorting one for the Saab 
when I've done the upper & lower wishbone bushes - but don't forget that 
toe is going to be the only adjustment available on an Ashtray.

Even £40's OTT.

Adrian wrote:
> "Depresion" <127.0.0.1> gurgled happily, sounding much like they were
> saying:
> 
>>>> I'll just about agree on the cost of the parts give or take 50%, but I
>>>> wouldn't count on getting away with 2hrs labour, most places charge
>>>> £75 - 100 just for the alignment after removing the arms.
> 
>>> A TON FOR TRACKING? FUCK ME ROTTEN.
> 
>> No for a full alignment, bit different to the £40 quick tracking jobs.
> 
> Lovely, an' all - and I need to get round to sorting one for the Saab 
> when I've done the upper & lower wishbone bushes - but don't forget that 
> toe is going to be the only adjustment available on an Ashtray.
> 
> Even £40's OTT.

I pay around £44 on average for full four wheel alignment at a 
specialist who only does wheel alignment and ball joints. Goes up a bit 
if he needs to make shims but he's got three of the best alignment 
machines in the country. Worth every penny, but £100 for the same job 
and he'd be out of business in weeks.

Couldn't charge £100 per hour without getting lynched!!

-- 
Pete M - OMF#9

BMW 325i SE Touring
Range Rover V8 Turbo

"Wait! We can't stop here, this is Bat Country"

On Mon, 28 Jul 2008 05:57:03 -0700 (PDT),
marktaylor1973@googlemail.com wrote:

>hello everybody,
>car just failed MOT
>needs following to pass
>
>n/side and o/side front suspension bushes replacing
>n/side and o/side anti roll bar bushes replacing
>
>Its an N reg astra diesel 1.7, always been a very reliable car so
>reluctant to scrap it. any one have idea how much these repairs would
>cost and good place to get it done in sarf London that won't rip me
>off.

How far are you from Bexleyheath/Welling?

Pete M  gurgled happily, sounding
much like they were saying:

>>>>> I'll just about agree on the cost of the parts give or take 50%, but
>>>>> I wouldn't count on getting away with 2hrs labour, most places
>>>>> charge £75 - 100 just for the alignment after removing the arms.

>>>> A TON FOR TRACKING? FUCK ME ROTTEN.

>>> No for a full alignment, bit different to the £40 quick tracking jobs.

>> Lovely, an' all - and I need to get round to sorting one for the Saab
>> when I've done the upper & lower wishbone bushes - but don't forget
>> that toe is going to be the only adjustment available on an Ashtray.
>>
>> Even £40's OTT.

> I pay around £44 on average for full four wheel alignment at a
> specialist who only does wheel alignment and ball joints. Goes up a bit
> if he needs to make shims but he's got three of the best alignment
> machines in the country. Worth every penny, but £100 for the same job
> and he'd be out of business in weeks.

Indeed. OK, you're not in the SE, but...

Shame you're not handier, else I'd be bringing the 900 round to you. 
Anybody able to recommend somebody round the Chilterns/Herts/Beds/Bucks?

> Couldn't charge £100 per hour without getting lynched!!

Nor could you in London...

Pete M wrote:

> I pay around £44 on average for full four wheel alignment at a 
> specialist who only does wheel alignment and ball joints. Goes up a bit 
> if he needs to make shims but he's got three of the best alignment 
> machines in the country. Worth every penny, but £100 for the same job 
> and he'd be out of business in weeks.
> 
> Couldn't charge £100 per hour without getting lynched!!
> 

I'd be very, very surprised... but then again - where in the country are 
you?, I need my wheel alignment checked on an Omega (which most places 
I've tried run a mile from). I've had quotes years ago around the £120 
mark, which sounded reasonable considering the effort involved.

Then again, if I can find someone prepared to do it for less, and within 
a hundred miles or so, I might be interested.

Mike Dodd  gurgled happily, sounding much like they
were saying:

> I'd be very, very surprised... but then again - where in the country are
> you?, I need my wheel alignment checked on an Omega (which most places
> I've tried run a mile from). I've had quotes years ago around the £120
> mark, which sounded reasonable considering the effort involved.

Is there something peculiar about the tracking on an Omega?

It's a 20-minute job for a semi-skilled chimp on virtually every car.

Adrian wrote:
> Pete M  gurgled happily,
> sounding much like they were saying:
>
>>>>>> I'll just about agree on the cost of the parts give or take 50%,
>>>>>> but I wouldn't count on getting away with 2hrs labour, most
>>>>>> places charge £75 - 100 just for the alignment after removing
>>>>>> the arms.
>
>>>>> A TON FOR TRACKING? FUCK ME ROTTEN.
>
>>>> No for a full alignment, bit different to the £40 quick tracking
>>>> jobs.
>
>>> Lovely, an' all - and I need to get round to sorting one for the
>>> Saab when I've done the upper & lower wishbone bushes - but don't
>>> forget that toe is going to be the only adjustment available on an
>>> Ashtray.
>>>
>>> Even £40's OTT.
>
>> I pay around £44 on average for full four wheel alignment at a
>> specialist who only does wheel alignment and ball joints. Goes up a
>> bit if he needs to make shims but he's got three of the best
>> alignment machines in the country. Worth every penny, but £100 for
>> the same job and he'd be out of business in weeks.
>
> Indeed. OK, you're not in the SE, but...
>
> Shame you're not handier, else I'd be bringing the 900 round to you.
> Anybody able to recommend somebody round the
> Chilterns/Herts/Beds/Bucks?
>
Chiltern Tyres, Marlow. Never had a problem, they do all mine, never had a 
problem.  £23.00 for standard tracking, and last time I took a 4WD car down 
there last year it cost £50 for a 4 wheel alignment on my mates Quattro 
Coupe I'd borrowed for a while

Mike P

Adrian wrote:
> Mike Dodd  gurgled happily, sounding much like they
> were saying:
> 
>> I'd be very, very surprised... but then again - where in the country are
>> you?, I need my wheel alignment checked on an Omega (which most places
>> I've tried run a mile from). I've had quotes years ago around the £120
>> mark, which sounded reasonable considering the effort involved.
> 
> Is there something peculiar about the tracking on an Omega?
> 
> It's a 20-minute job for a semi-skilled chimp on virtually every car.

...and that's why I won't let a chimp near it.

Yes, it's a bitch on a miggy

Mike Dodd  gurgled happily, sounding much like they
were saying:

>> Is there something peculiar about the tracking on an Omega?
>> 
>> It's a 20-minute job for a semi-skilled chimp on virtually every car.

> ...and that's why I won't let a chimp near it.

Sorry, meant it's a 20-min job for a semi-skilled chimp to do it PROPERLY.
It's just that K-F allocate 5-mins for an untrained gorilla to do it...

> Yes, it's a bitch on a miggy

Ah. Why's it so hard?

Adrian wrote:
> Mike Dodd  gurgled happily, sounding much like they
> were saying:
> 
>>> Is there something peculiar about the tracking on an Omega?
>>>
>>> It's a 20-minute job for a semi-skilled chimp on virtually every car.
> 
>> ...and that's why I won't let a chimp near it.
> 
> Sorry, meant it's a 20-min job for a semi-skilled chimp to do it PROPERLY.
> It's just that K-F allocate 5-mins for an untrained gorilla to do it...
> 
>> Yes, it's a bitch on a miggy
> 
> Ah. Why's it so hard?

Dunno.... here's an explanation from Wheels In Motion, on an Omega forum...

(all I know is, I'm supposed to need the full geometry stuff)


---
Various methods are described to encourage you to resolve tyre wear or 
handling issues, additionally members in forums are keen to advise but 
often fall victim to the same miss-information, read carefully and stay 
ahead of 'alignment the big con'

Tracking/Alignment
Is linear, this measurement shows no concern for any other angle. This 
form of measurement is the most common in the World and the most damaging.
Angles measured 1

Four wheel Alignment
Uses the rear wheels as a scale to centre the steering rack.... then the 
front toe..... this is better but is assuming the rear is centred.
Angles measured 2

Four wheel Laser Alignment
Same as above.... be wise!

Geometry/Primary
Will image the exact rear centre line to permit a centred steering 
wheel.. additionally the front and rear camber positions will be 
measured. This is the most common form of Geometry and i consider this 
as 'basic'
Angles measured 8

Full Geometry/primary and Secondary
Is absolute but harder to understand. Few places even with the equipment 
measure the Secondary angles, these include...
Castor
KPI/SJI/SAI
Scrub radius
included angle
TOOT/Ackerman
Delta curve
and so on

Most areas that involve rapid tyre wear or handling issues need to be 
read from the 'Secondary' data, even more important if the car has been 
modified or for diagnostics after an accident.
Angles measured 15+

Not easy reading indeed, millions of pounds change hands every day for 
'Alignment', a need to be wise could save you £ssss

One more thing to make the 'blood boil'.. The Primary and secondary 
Geometry has a customer destination?

1: Primary is the 'dumb' customer version
2: Secondary is with held unless requested and named the 'Technicians 
version.

---

whatever that means. Basically £££

Mike Dodd wrote:

> 
> whatever that means. Basically £££
> 


...but as I'm scrubbing fronts at £150 each, replacing each year, it 
might be worth it

Mike Dodd wrote:
> Mike Dodd wrote:
> 
>>
>> whatever that means. Basically £££
>>
> 
> 
> ...but as I'm scrubbing fronts at £150 each, replacing each year, it 
> might be worth it

God's own North West. Liverpool in fact.

-- 
Pete M - OMF#9

BMW 325i SE Touring
Range Rover V8 Turbo

"Wait! We can't stop here, this is Bat Country"

Pete M wrote:
> Mike Dodd wrote:
>> Mike Dodd wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> whatever that means. Basically £££
>>>
>>
>>
>> ...but as I'm scrubbing fronts at £150 each, replacing each year, it 
>> might be worth it
> 
> God's own North West. Liverpool in fact.
> 

Pie-country, Lancashire, here, so Liverpool is a typical shopping day 
out; Do you mind if I ask if you have any contact details, or name of 
the outfit?

On Jul 28, 1:57 pm, marktaylor1...@googlemail.com wrote:
> hello everybody,
> car just failed MOT
> needs following to pass
>
> n/side and o/side front suspension bushes replacing
> n/side and o/side anti roll bar bushes replacing
>
> Its an N reg astra diesel 1.7, always been a very reliable car so
> reluctant to scrap it. any one have idea how much these repairs would
> cost and good place to get it done in sarf London that won't rip me
> off.

I would not be too surprised if it will be cheaper to buy a (same age)
replacement if you can not do it yourself...