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The Pub For General Automotive Related Talk |
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#1 | ||
*Honker*
Join Date: Jan 2022
Posts: 985
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It has come to my attention that mechanic rates vary wildly.
I've paid $80, $120, $160, and $165 AUD per hour for people to do very basic stuff such as change a wheel bearing or control arm, etc. Most mechanics around here are $160 currently which I think is a bit much, all the McDonald's mechanic's are $160, such as rapid tune and ultra tune... The little unknown Indian mechanics seem to like to charge $80-$100 per hour. How much do you people pay on average? |
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#2 | ||
*Honker*
Join Date: Jan 2022
Posts: 985
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Also, why does Pedders charge $150 for an alignment whilst Rapid tune charges $90 for example?
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#3 | ||
DIY Tragic
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Sydney, more than not. I hate it.
Posts: 21,993
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$120+/hr minimum
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#4 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 734
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Pedders
$160/hour Wheel align $90 Be carefull of the lazy wheel aligner "close enough is good enough "" Carried out by trained donkeys , no idea of hourly rate for donkeys ,sorry. Yes some wheel aligners have less intelligence than a donkey and can be more lazy than a sloth . |
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#5 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,361
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It all has to do with overheads.
If the workshop is a small operation, with no franchise fees & low rent (outer suburbs or country), then the labour rate can be sub $100 per hour (+gst). If, on the other hand the operation has office staff, high Sydney type rent & franchise fees then it can be over $200 per hour (+gst). To equip a modern workshop nowadays, is getting very costly. For example a decent scanner can cost $6,000 - $8,000, plus twice yearly updates. I've run a workshop for nearly 50 years, ask me how I know these things. Dr Terry |
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#6 | |||
Thailand Specials
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Centrefold Lounge
Posts: 49,102
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Quote:
This exactly, the hourly rate is indicative of overheads, with commercial rents you're also responsible for ALL of landlords outgoings too. |
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#7 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 6,900
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I think my mech is now $140 + GST. Yes, Pedders is $160 but I find they can usually do suspension and steering related stuff quicker, and quite often they can give you a quote so you know what you are up for right at the start.
You will find the $120+ wheel alignments are different to the $90 ones. I got a $120+ alignment done once, and it took the bloke quite a long time because he had to add shims to get the geometry right. The $90 ones won't go through stuff like that. I get the 120+ alignments done once in a while. $90 for quick toe and go.
__________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rides (past and present) Current: 2004 Ford Falcon 5.4L 3v Barra 220, Manual Past: Mitsubishi Sigma (m), Toyota Seca (m), Toyota Seca SX (m), Toyota Vienta V6 (m), Toyota Soarer 4L v8 (a), BA XR8 ute (m), T3 TE50 (m), BMW Z4 (m) AFF motto - If contrary views trigger, please use ignore button. ![]() |
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#8 | |||
PURSUIT 250
![]() Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: sydney
Posts: 5,790
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Quote:
you get what you pay for |
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#9 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,361
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Wheel alignments are a whole other story.
Most tyre shops just do a check toe in adjust, they wouldn't know how to adjust camber & many have never even heard of castor. That is the difference between the $90 job & the $200 job. Dr Terry |
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#11 | ||
Cabover nut
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Onsite Eastcoast
Posts: 10,875
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I find most do, Cav.
__________________
heritagestonemason.com/Fordlouisvillerestoration In order that the labour of centuries past may not be in vain during the centuries to come...... D. Diderot 1752
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#12 | |||
*Honker*
Join Date: Jan 2022
Posts: 985
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Quote:
One of the tyre shops even put the car in BF XR6 spec. A clown show. |
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#13 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Hervey Bay
Posts: 5,225
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Ahhh... Still on that old chestnut.
I'm thinking your not paying enough. If you cant get satisfactory service out of what your paying someone now you need to up the ante. I figure into the $225 to $250 per hour range. You obviously need the best of the best! |
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#14 | ||
HSV - I just ate one!
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Middle of nowhere
Posts: 3,129
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where is "around here"?
__________________
I dont care if some prius driving eco-hippy thinks its politically incorrect for me to drive a V8..... I'm paying for the fuel! |
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#15 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 6,900
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Airtasker ftw.
__________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rides (past and present) Current: 2004 Ford Falcon 5.4L 3v Barra 220, Manual Past: Mitsubishi Sigma (m), Toyota Seca (m), Toyota Seca SX (m), Toyota Vienta V6 (m), Toyota Soarer 4L v8 (a), BA XR8 ute (m), T3 TE50 (m), BMW Z4 (m) AFF motto - If contrary views trigger, please use ignore button. ![]() |
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#16 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 889
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I recently bought 4 rims fitted with NanKang Chinese tyres that were less than 2 years old. I wanted the rims, but not the tyres, wrong size and specs, but the tyres were unused, still had the furry bits on them.
Took them to a dealer who specialises in used tyres, and offered them to him, free. He ummed and ahhed and complained that it would cost him (being a one man operation who was not busy at the time) $60 to strip the rims. As it takes all of about 2 minutes to strip a rim, i.e.10 minutes @ $60 = $360 per hour ! At this point, I said "OK, you don't want them, then ," shut the lid of the ute, and drove away wondering WTF ? |
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#17 | ||
DIY Tragic
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Sydney, more than not. I hate it.
Posts: 21,993
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Sounds like his fishing attempt was lost at sea.
We had a far more expensive version of that aversion to work, just today, I wanted to clean an intercooler off a failed turbo motor and was overruled; too hard and not necessary. It was full of oil from the last breakdown, the newly rebuilt motor ran away and damaged itself badly. Driven distance was less than 50 metres. ![]() |
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#18 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 734
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hi
Even the Wheel align specialist in my area could not Wheel align 4x camber/caster bolts . It could not possibly be any easier. Asked for increased caster by 1 deg with 1/2 degree split . Result not adjusted Never been back for the Toyota but the ""Pj Ranger spot on ""yet the Ranger has shims ,,,,,,,,,work that out 2nd Toyota had very very light steering 1 deg caster etc asked ""dealer""" to 2---2.5 deg result turned caster up to 2.5--3.25 deg . Adjusters were as far as they could adjust ...............really ,,,, Price in Australia is not a reflection of quality . Have every single road worthy report should be rechecked . Fail yet passed ball joints oil leak muffler major holes wrapped in repair tape undersized discs caliper dragging extractors riding on chassis seat belts ***Prepurchase missed as above plus more brake fluid fail rotting radiator core cooling system pressure test ,,, thats xtra on top of the $160 inspection way over charge aircon These are all overcharged no matter how much because above is poor service Don`t even get me started on good parts that are failed badly yet 24hrs before they were in excellent condition Rubber stress lines that cause suspension bushes to fail instantly . |
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#19 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Melb.
Posts: 4,443
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Merc dealer - left kidney....
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#20 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Taromeo
Posts: 10,483
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South Burnett - I pay $75 per hour and he is a very good mechanic, very thorough.
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