Opinions About My Mechanic Bill Please

 
hank2
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Post by hank2 » Sat. Jan. 09, 2016 1:51 pm

On most applications, at Rock auto, you have a big selection of parts brands and quality levels. You eventually get a feel for which ones are a safe bet. Even the same brand name may have several different quality levels. AC Delco is one good example. On rare occasions you might find a part a tad cheaper on Amazon or elsewhere. If you know specifically what you're looking for.

On brake rotors, pads, etc. there is a crazy amount of choices. If you avoid the bottom of the line ( cheapest) no names, or some red anodized boy-racer crap, you'll do fine. Bottom of the line brake rotors are not a good idea. The runout will be excessive. Nothing against NAPA, but everything they sell is made by one of those companies.
Occasionally, you might only have one choice, because that is the only company that makes that part. Like a Dorman steering shaft for some older GM cars.

 
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Keepaeyeonit
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Post by Keepaeyeonit » Sat. Jan. 09, 2016 1:54 pm

Rick 386 wrote:Now contrary to what others think, and what was posted in this thread, on OEM parts my shop and all others' discount is only 22-30% off list price !!!!! Hell on Infinity parts I only get 15% off list price !!!!! Now using aftermarket parts like NAPA and others will sometime yield a greater markup if using the NAPA suggested list price. However sometimes their suggested list price is more than the OEM list price.
25 to 30% off list is what we would get too from OEM(in my case Ford) but I have paid 2x the account price form Napa for a part as a walk in shortly after leaving the job :mad: .
Rick 386 wrote:But again I will here state that your wonderful insurance company will not pay even close to that amount for mechanical work performed. In fact I believe BODY shops in MA are only receiving around $ 45.00/hour.
Thats just like going to your Doctor or Dentist for some work, the Insurance co will never pay what there charging they always discount it to a lower rate.
Starting Out wrote:I bought aftermarket brakes and rotors from Rock Auto for my 2002Pontiac Grand Am. They only lasted about 10 months and I needed to replace them. It cost me $135 from Rock, then I bought NAPA parts to do it again and it cost me again. If you get good parts the first time you will spend less in the long run. Your bill is not that bad for what you had done. Like they say, you only get what you pay for.
You have to watch part stores, They have price levels on parts which go hand and hand with quality, but you can get a Dorman part from Autozone for $$ or the same Dorman part from Rockauto for $ or the same part in a Moog but It's $$$ and a lot better.

OK Hank you beat me to It :lol:

 
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windyhill4.2
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Post by windyhill4.2 » Sat. Jan. 09, 2016 2:26 pm

hotblast1357 wrote: Ya I'm sure it is a nice a vehicle, but his has 172,000 miles on it! It has ran many miles already, I don't care what kind of vehicle it is, now a days, anything after the year 2000, your lucky to see 172,000 miles without a lot of drivetrain and suspension failures, wheel bearings, ball joints, cv axles, transmissions, etc. even if it is all highway miles, eventually things wear out.
They sure don't build them like they used to :roll: ......in the 50's &60's, getting 100k on power train was rare,since then,the power trains on Many vehicles are easily capable of 200k + WITH PROPER CARE & MAINTENANCE. :)


 
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hotblast1357
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Post by hotblast1357 » Sat. Jan. 09, 2016 2:34 pm

The roads are also a lot better than they where in the 50-60s

 
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Rick 386
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Post by Rick 386 » Sat. Jan. 09, 2016 10:10 pm

windyhill4.2 wrote: They sure don't build them like they used to :roll: ......in the 50's &60's, getting 100k on power train was rare,since then,the power trains on Many vehicles are easily capable of 200k + WITH PROPER CARE & MAINTENANCE. :)
Ding, ding, ding. We have a winner !!!!!!

That is exactly the issues now a days. Those older can remember that in the olden days, you traded in the vehicle at 50,000 miles. If you got 100,000 you were lucky and would not get much at all for a trade in value. Anything over that and you knew you were on borrowed time. Engines would not last much past 100,000.

As Windy says, todays vehicles will hit 200,000 without an issue but now the vehicle is getting rally hammered and abused. Now add in road salt and the other additives and your now 7-10 year old car is ready for some serious maintenance or is ready for the scrapyard. And if it is insured, the value is quite low if it is totaled.

Everyone states how well vehicles like BMW perform as they get older. That is because the mandated service has kept up with the mileage. Flushing brake fluid, etc., will make vehicles stop like they did from new. But how many others do this type of service to their vehicles ???

Rick

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