Is this too pricy?

[graycamry1999]

Hello,

I need to change the 2 strut mounts on my 99 camry. The right side is much noisier than the left side.
Anyway, I asked my mechanic if changing both sides at once would save me some $ on the labor and he said: "Absolutely not"!!!.
1)Is this true?
2)Secondly, he is asking for a total of 321$/side. How does this sound?
3) does changing strut mounts require an alignement?

Thanks a lot.

[jg09]

$321 per side? Go to another mechanic! I don't know about you, but I can do that work for free in my own driveway if I needed to.

[RIP]

Changing strut mounts is a pretty cut and dried procedure. Should be able to compare prices over the phone. The mounts themselves cost around $80-120 each. I'm sure they can be had cheaper on the net.

Don't see how changing both would get you a discount. Change two and you double the labor. That's the majority of the fee in the quote you got.

[Mike Gerber]

3) does changing strut mounts require an alignement?

Yes.

Mike

[jg09]

Does your mechanic do alignment, too? If so, then that might add to the price, but it still shouldn't be that much.

[graycamry1999]

Thank you all for responding.
Yes, $321 includes the alignement. He says that it takes 1.5 h for each mount. The mechanics in my area ( Bowie, MD) charge anywhere between 80 to 90$/h. He is asking for 78$ for the alignement therefore total labor and parts per mount would be $243.

I guess I have to shop around.
The rattling has been going on for over a year now.


Thanks,
Leila