I live in the upstate New York Area (Syracuse). I am looking for a shop that specializes in bushing replacement. My Jag is now 15 and I'm about to replace the shocks but wanted to do the whole suspension while I'm at it. I just moved to the area and still trying to find my way around so any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

 

Welcome to the forum Terrance,

You may find more local knowledge on recommended shops for suspension work in the USA North East Region forum:

USA North East - ME NH VT MA RI CT NJ NY PA - Jaguar Forums - Jaguar Enthusiasts Forum

Please follow this link New Member Area - Intro a MUST - Jaguar Forums - Jaguar Enthusiasts Forum to the New Member Area - Intro a MUST forum and post some info about yourself and your vehicle for all members to see. In return you'll get a proper welcome and some useful advice about posting to the forum.

Graham

 

Don't use a chain repair shops, try not to use a Jag dealership. Look for an independent European car repair shop. Google for those types of shops in your area. Try to source the parts yourself, if you let the shop buy them you will get geeked hard.
Can you do any of the work yourself, that would save much. To so a complete front end rebuild is ganna cost a ton of money.

 

Upstate Imports Auto Repair LLc. CNY'S #1 European Car Specialist

http://cantechautomotive.com/services/

http://www.mechanicadvisor.com/ny/ki...ean-car-repair

 

I agree with Tim's comments. If you shop around you'll find a huge difference in the prices for the same rubber bushing.

Not to complicate things, but don't forget the lower ball joints are on the lower control arm that has to be removed for a couple of bushings to be pressed in.

You know Terrance, this is going to sound obvious, but I got burned last week so let me share. If you're going to get a quote that you can hold them to, be sure to have them give you the quote for the final jobs specs.

In other words, don't do what I did and take a quote they offered that bundles parts and labor, realize they jacked the parts price up 200%, tell them you'll provide the parts and expect to be able to argue for what looks like the quoted price minus their "anticipated" parts price. It puts you in a tough position when the final bill is larger than you expected.

If you don't want to burn bridges, it is kind of tough to look them in the eye and ask if they are making up for the profit lost with the parts' inflated price.

This topic can get complicated but bottom line - I do wish I had cycled back and nailed things down with a simple question: "How much will this cost?" after we agreed I'd buy the parts seperately. It was a crazy day, I didn't and I paid for it.

 

I took my car to a shop WITH my parts in tow. He flat out told me that they don't like taking customer parts (could be cheap, may not warrant) and in so many words they don't make as much. Soooo this will be the last time I take it to them other then a future trans pan drop and filter fluid change. They know the cars trans, have done them after that back to my normal shop.
I made the appnt last week to take car in TODAY, they had it all day, put on the two sway bar bushing and lend links and swap out a lower radiator that I got that had blade cuts in it (?). Well they didn't get the car done today but clearly had it on the rack because he called me and gave me some THE SKY IS FALLING repairs that I will need to make. Brake fluid change, leaking rear end, leaky oil pan. I have had two other shops look at this car in the last 6 months, asked them to give me a state of the bottom of the car, none of them told me of these things. My car uses no oil, the floor in the garage under the rear diff is spot free. Sure at 100 they may be wet with fluids, but if I were a unsuspecting don't know crap about cars owner they would have got me on the hood for all that stuff for another 500+.

 

Tim, You made me smile - I feel your pain, that's the same thing that happened to me. Oh well you live and learn right? Maybe we helped Terrance about the same thing.

John